I love my work in real estate because it's a form of matchmaking: helping sellers get the right contract for their needs, helping buyers find the best house for their family – then making sure that all the pieces of the transaction are done well so that the settlement is a win-win situation. I measure my success in my clients being happy and the other principals and agent feeling that they were treated honestly and fairly.
The most important values I bring to my work come from being a real estate customer myself and from being a teacher. In six real estate transactions of my own (four as buyer, two as seller), I learned that there are specific qualities one wants in an agent:
Honesty – all the necessary information, positive and negative, so that my client can make a well-informed decision.
Respect – for my client’s wishes and the value of their time
Empathy – knowing from personal experience what it’s like to go through all sorts of real estate purchases and sales.
Clear Communication – language used carefully, easy and reliable phone and/or email messages
Broad-ranging and well-organized Information – on our market conditions, specifics and comparisons of homes or parcels of land
Energy and Resourcefulness – I’ll investigate for the information my client needs, find other professionals to help with inspections or repairs, negotiate skillfully on my client’s behalf, and in general do whatever I can to help with the sale or purchase.
These are now my professional standards—I try to be the agent I would want to hire!
I used to be a teacher (of U.S. History, at Williams College in Massachusetts and Virginia Tech) and I’m still an educator – now, I’m helping adults make wise decisions about real estate investments. The “exam” I want you to help you pass is to be happy with your sale or purchase. As I mentioned above, I’ve been through this myself. My husband Bob (who’s a professor of Geosciences at VT) and I bought fixer-uppers as our first and second homes, relocated from New England to Virginia in 1986 and bought a house “for now,” searched for and bought some land, then finally in 2003-04 had the opportunity to design and build our own dream home – which was carefully planned to also be an efficient residence for our older years. I LOVE to consult with clients about remodeling or building a custom home: I have lots of relevant experience and I know the local folks who can turn your dream into reality. (I’m also a good resource for information on deer-resistant gardening, local sources for food and wine, knitting and weaving supplies and like-minded 'crafty' companions, and travel destinations in Britain, France, Italy, and California.)
I began my real estate career in 2002, received my initial training in Roanoke and Blacksburg, and have taken advanced training to earn the “Graduate, REALTOR Institute” and “Accredited Buyer Representative,” e-Pro, and NAR "Green REALTOR" designations. I'm committed to continuing education and take all the classes I can to expand my skills so that I can better serve my clients' needs. In the fall of 2005 I joined Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS ® . I am delighted to be part of a wonderful team, with great agents and an exceptional support staff in our offices. Townside is a long-established local firm, and the Coldwell Banker franchise offers distinct advantages to our seller and buyer clients.
Please give me a chance to get acquainted with you and help you make your real estate dreams come true!