From an outsider’s perspective a career in real estate can seem like a dream. With HGTV cranking out series after series depicting agents showing a few houses one day, a short montage of renovation and a happy family reveal, it makes it all look so easy. With it’s flexible schedule and theoretically enormous income, what’s not to love?! Well, as with any job, there is more to being a REALTOR® than meets the eye. A truly dedicated realtor, in my mind, is far more than a salesperson. Although marketing and showing a home in it’s best light is indeed a much needed skill, a good REALTOR® is most importantly an advocate for their buyers and sellers and, as such, there is great depth to the job. All said and done, our work requires us to utilize a very diverse set of skills and this blog series lets you in on the nitty gritty of some of the less commonly acknowledged hats that we wear.
Real Estate Agent as a Project Manager:
You get what you pay for and when you opt to hire a full service realtor, such as myself, you can anticipate to not only receive vetted contractor referrals from me, I can also be highly involved with scheduling and oversight of these contractors.
For sellers, we formulate a comprehensive and strategic plan to guide them as they prepare to list their property. Working with the seller to execute the plan is one of my favorite hats to wear.
On the flip side, similar work is done on behalf of the buyer as they perform their due diligence on the property that they plan to purchase. Immediately after a buyer has had an offer accepted we jump into action scheduling important inspections to ensure that our client is making a well informed decision about the physical health of the house in which they are investing. Whether or not our buyer can be there we attend all inspections of which there are generally a minimum of four. In the case of Anna and Daniel, there was a lot of work to be done when they found their charming little cottage in Creston-Kenilworth. Keeping budget and location top of mind, they decided to dive into a fixer. As is often the case with a house that has deferred maintenance, there were a number of issues found during the inspections that needed further investigation. All said and done, I organized bids and repairs with 9 different contractors over the course of their purchase. Because I love learning new things, I truly enjoyed the process. Learning about the inner workings of this house through thorough investigation allowed for Anna and Daniel to be well informed but I also gained knowledge that contributes to even better service for future clients. Although I consider this coordination part of my job, I often forget that not all agents are willing to take on this role with the same level of commitment, it felt oh so good when, over a champagne toast at their new home, Anna and Daniel expressed their gratitude for this behind the scenes work on their behalf. It was a great reminder that going that extra mile really does matter.
Whether buying for the first time, selling a cherished family home or relocating to this fantastic city, it is truly an honor to see my clients through their transition and make the process fun and painless.
Through the kitchen, you’ll find yourself in a spacious den with a big window and bookshelves. 
A rare find! Beautiful Old PDX style modern home, built both for efficiency and classic beauty. Perched up off the street this home offers light filled open spaces, gourmet kitchen, custom details and so much more.
Above it all, located at the top of Manzanita and overlooking the beach as well as Neahkahnie Mountain, this lot offers potential paradise views in ever direction. Situated on a quiet neighborhood street, a quick drive or leisurely stroll from downtown Manzanita.
market was sufficiently flowing so that we could find a new property, write it contingent on the sale of their current home, and start the “ballet” as I call it.
I’m glad to see blue is on the list, because I’m loving the idea of a navy blue bathroom.
Since purchasing her first house in 2013, Erin lovingly updated and restored her 1912 one bedroom Arbor Lodge home. As an artist, the home became one of Erin’s many canvases and artistic expressions. Most notably, the walls. Erin meticulously peeled back various layers of wallpaper to reveal the story of the home and the many lives it contained in the past 106 years. When Erin decided to sell her home, she wanted the next owner to love it’s character as much as she did so we left them as is. We did not paint the walls or cover them up. Instead, we highlighted this unique feature not seen or duplicated anywhere else. Erin’s basement housed her artist studio complete with paintings in process and years of overrun paint down the walls and on the studio floor. Her two car garage housed her massive flat file of artwork, a kiln and a wheel. Add to that, the custom designed and built trellis draped with wisteria framing the entire front of the house, the garden full of heirloom roses, lilies, two flowering dogwoods, and
