Client Stories


changing market

The prep work and pricing strategy paid off better than expected.

During the Spring season when my clients were looking to sell their property, the real estate

market was undergoing a lot of changes. In April, my clients neighbor sold their home at the height of the market and for well over what they were asking. As you may guess, this set up expectations with my sellers. 

I always make sure to do extensive research the area. I found that in the same neighborhood, Sometimes the lack of interest in a home can signal to potential buyers that there may be something wrong with the property, despite it being well-staged with new kitchen countertops and freshly painted white walls. The house quirks, such as a small yard and a brightly painted 

(red)basement, combined with its high asking price, likely contributed to its lack of success.

I advised my clients on the importance of proper pricing strategy in the current market. I educated them on how overpricing could lead to prolonged time on the market and how underpricing could result in lost dollars. After reviewing comparable properties and discussing a strategy, we agreed on a competitive asking price that my clients were comfortable with. Our goal was to be low enough to attract the attention of as many buyers as possible and get multiple offers.

With my suggestions (and my personal vendor recommendations) my sellers made their house sparkle with new fresh paint, new lighting fixtures, new kitchen countertops. The house looked amazing and prepared. Even the garage was so clean it was also photographed. 

The prep work and pricing strategy paid off better than expected. We added an Offer Review Date once we could see there was going to be more than one offer coming. They received 5 offers that day and ultimately accepted a cash offer, above their asking price and with no contingencies!

 …and a couple of weeks later, the house behind them went on the market. But unlike my clients’ property, both it (and the larger home described earlier) took double-digit days to sell and both sold for a much lower price than my Sellers house. Good strategy, good pricing and good prep work are key to a successful sale!


New Beginnings in Tacoma

Every home purchase is unique.

When my client approached me about purchasing a home in Tacoma, I didn’t think twice about

saying yes. I had the pleasure of meet this client-turned-friend several years prior at an open

house. Since then, I assisted him in selling and buying multiple homes, including the one he

was visiting when we first met.

My client was going through some life changes and needed a fresh start. Truthfully, I did not

really know much about this area of town, but I knew my buyer and what he wanted to see. At

the time the listing agent was hoping to get more than his list price. The market was shifting,

and a builder had put time, money and effort into remodeling the home. My buyer was willing

to try a lower price and was not in a rush.

After a strategy discussion, we decided to offer quite a bit lower than list price though my buyer

was willing and able to pay full list price. Well, that didn’t work, but my client was patient and

could wait. The builder/flipper was going to hold out for full price. Instead of working with us,

they took the home off-market for some improvements.

We watched and waited. New out door

paint, new flower boxes, new grass and tree trimming to name a few.

We changed up the strategy and offered them list price (with their $20,000 of improvements)

and we inspected the home, asked for more improvements (about $5-7,000 in value) and left in

all contingencies. The house closed and my buyer is happy and settled.

The morale of this house story every home purchase is unique, and, in this case, we adjusted

our strategy and patience paid off.


The Sound of Fun

The number one thing on their wish list was to be on the water.

When my clients pictured their dream home, the number one thing on their wish list was to be on the water. You can often find them on their boat and wake surfing in when the sun’s out.

One summer day, a house on Lake Washington became available in their price range, though it required a complete makeover. Despite not being fully prepared for the purchase, the house had captured their hearts. It checked all their boxes. I worked quickly to get them pre-approved but made sure we went over all the terms and conditions of the offer they would be signing. I educated them on the current market to build a comprehensive strategy and help them make an informed decision.

Unfortunately, their offer was beat out by another client’s cash offer. They learned from the experience and continued to prepare themselves, getting fully approved, going through the underwriting process and getting emotionally ready for the next opportunity. The listing agent taught us one thing: when it gets loud in the summer on the lake, people call it “The sound of fun.”

Fast forward two years later and the couple started to lose hope, but then the perfect house finally surfaced. My clients saw it online and I was the first to arrive at the home as the listing agent was just attached the key box to the front door. We chatted and discovered we had mutual friends and contacts.

This time we were ready. We beat out six offers by using the escalation addendum and a good strongly written offer. 

To really stand out from the other offers, we included a rent-back option in the offer, which made the sellers feel confident and comfortable with the transition. This extra step put my clients at the top of the list, and they finally achieved their dream of owning a lakefront property.

If you’re ever near Lake Washington and hear “the sound of fun,” I can guarantee my clients and their family are happily contributing to it.


The BRiAR House

Outbid 2 other offers, stayed within the client budget, and a baby announcement

I was introduced to this client couple through a mutual friend. I am so thankful for all the referral introductions. I take my responsibility very seriously when helping a client look for a home. Once we meet, I am all in for the task!

When my clients started looking for their family home, they had two children. They knew they needed more space than their current living situation. They mentioned they wanted to buy a home to last them about seven or eight years and then they would purchase a home with more land. They wanted to move out to a place with a country feel.

The market was bursting at the time they made their first offer. It turns out others like the same house and there were multiple offers. The house escalated beyond my client's budget.


I took a little freedom and showed them another home out of the initial area they were looking. They absolutely loved it and thought it was the kind of home they wanted someday down the road. We did the research, learned about the neighborhood, the schools and they made an offer. Even with the seller receiving multiple offers on the Offer Review Date, we were able to include an escalation and still outbid other offers and stay within my client's budget!


They were overjoyed with their new purchase and also had news, they were expecting another baby. It's such a privilege to get to be a part of a family like this.


Shoreline Crafstman-style

$70,000 over asking price, 6 days on the market

My client listed this craftsman-style home in August but her story as my client begins before then. This seller, my client is a part of several of my client success stories!


First, when we met I was hosting at a condo open house in Magnolia. Though she and her partner were not interested in that particular condo, they were interested in working with me in the future and we began their home buying process.


I was able to help her successfully purchase in a multiple offer situation! Once they expressed their love for this home, I immediately began to talk with the listing agent and presented an early offer. (the listing broker did not have an offer review date posted) At that time in our market and in this area, I had prepped my clients to be ready to offer first. They followed my lead and we were able to snag this one just a bit over the list price with a strongly written offer. They were over the moon!

Down the road a bit, she was ready to sell. Life brought some changes and my client wanted to get back to the city. I was grateful for her call and to work with her again! We did some yard maintenance, painted some of the bright colors neutrals. I painted the front door a bold blue color, from white, and had the house cleaned, professionally photographed, and staged. It looked amazing with just a few updates. Once back on the market, I set the offer review date to get the maximum dollar for her. On that day she received multiple offers with no contingencies. Her house sold for $70,000 over the asking price.


The Bryant House

First and only offer on a house, beat 6 other offers

When I got the call from my son & daughter-in-law about a house they saw, I was on the East Coast. It's a running joke in real estate. As soon as you go on vacation someone will buy a house! But because we are such a team at Lake and I have a brother-in-law (John Blacksmith) also a realtor at Lake & Company, I was able to set up a showing for them the next day.


They loved the house. It needed work and after the pre-inspection, they had a good idea of what those costs would be. They knew the items on the list they would have to take care of ASAP and the things that could wait. Having a good inspector is key, and fortunately, my list is full of them.


We talked in length about the strategy in making their offer. What would actually secure them to be the best offer, besides the obvious, the most money! We developed the game plan for the specific offer review day and time. We all consulted with their lender, Gail Bean at Homebridge. Gail was also able to talk through any questions they had before making the offer.


By the time the offer review day came about (just six days later) they were ready to roll. Because I had begun a good relationship with the Listing Agent, she was not at all surprised to see their offer. The offer we presented was on time, very cleanly written and the best one.


These special buyers of mine were the winning offer of six total offers.


This was their first and only offer on a house! The strategy, the pre-inspection, the due diligence on the title, the neighborhood, and all that entails when purchasing all happened within those six days.