What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

Besides being a licensed Realtor® & Military Relocation Professional, I possess the following:

• B.S. in Business Administration, Management from Saint Leo University
• 5 years in mortgage lending
• 2 years in property management
• 10+ years as a rental property owner / landlord
• 4 years (6 international moves) as an expatriate relocation client
• several hours of industry-specific continuing education to maintain my Virginia Real Estate license

Do you have a standard pricing system for your service? If so, please share the details here.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Towne Realty is a full service company.  Pricing in very specific, that is why it is best to discuss a seller's/buyer's needs ahead of time, so I can explain how pricing works for each situation.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

Becoming a Realtor® seemed like a natural progression for my skillset.  Pairing my love for helping people with my industry experience in mortgage lending, relocation, property management and the like, I have a competitive edge that helps me negotiate well on behalf of my clients.  I love the whole process and the effect of helping people achieve their homeownership goals, regardless of whether they are selling or buying.  What I loved about mortgage lending was discussing my client's financing needs and pairing them with the best product and features available to them.  I guess you can say that helping clients with their real estate offers me the same.  I love helping people with homeownership!

What types of customers have you worked with?

I work with a diverse set of clients! From first-time home-buyers, NATO, military, expatriates, luxury, up-sizers, down-sizers, and investors, my residential homes skillset stays sharp and current for each of my clients.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

I recently helped a client purchase a beautifully updated home in their desired school district- a total winning scenario.  They didn't want to sign another 1 year lease and miss out on the great rates, so under a time crunch, we managed to find this beauty and close in less than 30 days!  I counseled them about the importance of getting their financing in place ahead of time to streamline their buying process.  They selected a reputable lender through our discussions and once they had an accepted offer on the home, we were able to focus on the inspections and other aspects of the sale, staying on target for closing.  It was a great experience, and I'm thrilled to have offered them all the tools they needed to make informed decisions throughout the entire process!

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Look for experience and reputation, and proof of work.  Many sites allow agents the chance to display their professional highlights so you can gauge how their approach and personality may work with yours.  Go to their website and see how they represent themselves.  Do you get a sense that they will properly represent you?  Speak to several providers so you can get a feel for who you feel most comfortable with.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

If you've recently decided to either sell or buy real estate, consider what prompted you to make this decision: what are your motivations?  From there, consider what you're currently paying for housing (rent, mortgage, utilities, maintenance, etc.) and figure out how much you want your new housing payment to be.  Once you speak to a professional, you'll then be able to answer their engaging questions.  Doing this will save you time and help you get the most out of your consultations.