Every smooth real estate transaction begins with good communication skills. Whether you are an agent representing a buyers or a seller, there are certain steps you must take when you are under contract on a house. Agents co-oping the deals must TALK to one another in order for a successful transactions to take place. Sounds like a “no-brainer” right? Not exactly.
Every once in awhile, Chris and I will cross paths with another agent in our industry that does not believe in communicating. They go S-I-L-E-N-T right after they accept our buyers offer (ssshhh.. They might be sleeping). They won’t return calls or emails during the entire two week inspection process, making it very tricky to know whats happening. Their lack of communicating, makes for silent holes in the transaction.
Since we can not pick the agents we get to work with, every transaction is different and new. Sometimes we get seriously lucky and get to work with agents like Robin Springer, Dori Olmstead, Tina Schafer, Tony Le, Brenda Gunderson or the Bob Zawaski’s in our industry. But occasionally we end up working with a dud. Case in point, we recently had to terminate a deal with a non-communicative agent. Since it was an agent that we have unluckily worked with before, we were able to warn our buyers to “expect delays” due to poor communication right from the get-go. The trickle down effect of her crappy work ethic made us not be able to do our job well. Its transactions like this one that are spread at cocktail parties. The ones that give real estate a bad reputation. Even though Chris and I worked our ass off to get the bids, meet the inspectors, give good sound advice, without words from the other side, we can’t always hold a deal together.
Now that we are in an age of smart phones, digital files and signatures, title companies with transaction time lines etc. there is little excuse for not being communicative while under contract. All the tools are there for one to use. They simply require using your arms and mouth. There is no excuse not to communicate in this industry.

Tracy Dau
Broker | Earth Advantage | OR
She/Her
When you meet Tracy Dau, it doesn’t take long to realize where her true passions lie.
She loves houses and loves matching her clients with the place that’s perfect for them. Ask her clients and they’ll tell you she’s a whirlwind of energy, a juggler of projects, a creative force, a good listener and a tireless advocate. She comes to the job with a vision for what’s possible and the background to make that happen.
Maybe it’s because she grew up in the breathtaking town of Juneau Alaska, where it rains 250 days a year. It’s the kind of place where you either give into gloomy weather or dig deep and find the will to preserve. Maybe it’s because her folks instilled in her the drive to succeed.
For the past sixteen years she has gutted and restored many houses, using any opportunity to work with her hands. Blending her formal training as a fine artist and designer with her experience as a builder, these old-house remodels have become her creative canvas. Her time as a product developer and architectural consultant at
Rejuvenation House Parts introduced her to a community of like-minded folks who encouraged her to become a REALTOR®.
She is drawn to vintage homes. The artist in her is drawn to their detail, the builder in her to their craftsmanship. Their charm and imperfections make them all the more fascinating and soulful.
That’s what drew her to her first home. Stripped of all her painted-lady features, she sat sadly on a corner lot in SE Portland waiting to be loved and cared for. She had a yard full of shopping carts, a tree that had grown through her facade, motor-oil soaked mattresses and a basement full of the neighbor’s missing car parts, and yet, in spite of this her husband Nate and Tracy bought and fixed her up. This renovation lead to the next house-love-affair, followed by another and another. It only made sense to apply this knowledge and the valuable lessons learned along the way to help others looking to buy or improve their own homes.
Which brings me to why she became a REALTOR®.
Tracy chose this job because she is passionate about houses and loves the chance to develop relationships with her clients. When you choose to work with Tracy, she will advocate for your best interests, guide you through the home buying process and protect you from the stressful moments as they inevitably arise. She will advise you every step of the way to enable you to make good decisions, stay centered and reach your goals. Even after your transaction has come to an end, Tracy is still available to
answer your questions and help with your home projects.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. Her hobbies include teaching her children, Lander and Olivia, about nature, hunting for sea creatures, spotting birds, drinking bourbon in the winter and gin in the summer, eating chocolate and traveling to warm destinations.
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