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 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” designations. I'm a Continuing Ed junkie, taking 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!