Situated only a brief journey from downtown Seattle are two island communities that supply a slower life-style to professionals seeking to escape busy metropolis life. Bainbridge Island is accessible through a 35-minute ferry journey from the town. “Being on the ferry gives you a transition from work to home,” says Michele Schuler, a Washington-based actual property affiliate for Realogics Sotheby’s Worldwide Realty. “You can shut down as you’re coming into Eagle Harbor — now you’re home.” Although accessible by automobile, Mercer Island additionally presents a lakefront life-style to residents who get pleasure from kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, or simply being near the water.
Specialty data
Schuler, a Seattle native who has lived throughout each islands herself, acquired her begin in company finance for a expertise startup earlier than transitioning into actual property full-time, after a stint renovating homes. “Having a background in technology and corporate finance gives my clients confidence,” says Schuler. “I am very data-driven — and I attract clients that are too.”
Schuler makes use of her data of statistics to coach consumers on how aggressive the market is and assist them to make knowledgeable choices and set practical expectations — in addition to replace sellers in the marketplace and mortgage rates of interest. “The point is to be informed every step of the way,” she says.
Having a background in residence renovations has additionally turn into a useful gizmo. “People are generally not realistic about what it costs to execute a remodel,” says Schuler. “I can help temper this. I can also connect them to contractors and designers who can help them to envision their spaces.”
Managing feelings
Schuler began her actual property profession shortly earlier than the 2008 market crash. “At that point in time, short sales were a huge opportunity, as hard as they were. The emotions that came with that hardened me and gave me the stability to persevere.”
“In one case, a client wasn’t treating me very nicely,” she says. “When I removed myself and looked at their perspective, I could objectively do my job and move forward in a productive way. We were able to come out the other end, and now they are my friends.”
In Schuler’s recommendation, listening and making an effort to empathize together with your purchasers is essential. “Whether you’re shopping for a house for a new marriage or because of a divorce, it’s such an emotional transaction. But getting to know people and being curious about why they are having emotional reactions can create actionable steps to move beyond that.”
Neighborhood spirit
Schuler believes the actual property business is “evolving at a very fast pace right now. You have to keep up with it or you’ll fall behind.” Whereas she factors out previous challenges of siloed approaches, she as an alternative recommends connecting with others within the business with a purpose to be taught and develop as a realtor. “Invite somebody to lunch, pick their brain, and go to panels they might sit on,” she says.
Since turning into a Sotheby’s Worldwide Realty agent, Schuler has skilled the collaborative nature of the model’s community of worldwide brokers. “It’s a collaboration. We share tools and feedback, we listen and we talk about the market,” she says. “We help to make that path easier for the next broker who’s coming along.”
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