My Real Estate Mission...

I love my job: everyday I come to work to help my clients make wiser decisions about one of their most imporatnt financial investments.  This means really assessing and understanding my clients' goals, being a good listener as well as a good communicator, responding quickly to their needs and questions, and making sure they have the best information possible so they can make proactive, educated decisions.  This philosophy has always been my approach (regardless of my profession) and it requires me to continually improve my skills, knowledge base, and ways of doing business. 

This is my fulltime career, not my hobby. I take pride in helping my clients with their real estate goals. I enjoy my profession and always look forward to earning my clients’ business and their referrals. My decision to become a Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst® and Certified EcoBroker® was driven by my passion for advancing building science technology, energy efficiency programs, and environmental ideals. Regardless of our different politics, locations, or economic situations, I think we can all agree that saving energy and reducing our bills is a constant goal. My training as a Building Analyst® allows me to help you determine how you can save money and resources and reduce energy and waste when buying/building a home and while owning a home.  This increased energy efficiency and safety mean you will personally benefit during home ownership, have a more marketable home when it's time to sell again, and also help our sustain our natural resources. I can help you with everything from little bitty behavioral changes all the way to major construction overhauls. You just tell me how green you'd like to be.

I find this specialty knowledge benefits all of my clients regardless of their interest in “green” because it really comes down to helping them find and maintain superior homes and take better care of themselves through their immediate environment. My building science credential fits right in with my EcoBroker certification because it trained me in the actual “diagnosis” of building problems and opportunities using the latest technology, science, and equipment – all of which are at your disposal when you become my client.

I am committed to educating all of my clients about the real estate and energy renovations process, including aspects of financing, negotiating, home inspections, energy auditing, renovating, green retrofitting, investing, and overall real estate market appreciation. After our transactions, I continue to offer guidance and resources about maintaining and refurbishing their homes and keep contact with my clients regularly. They become informed and confident consumers, and have a more relaxed and positive buying or selling experience.

I make my living by delivering exceptional service to my clients such that they willingly and consistently refer me to other people who need help with real estate.  So when you decide that you'd like to buy or sell or build a home in the Triangle area, please contact me so I can do the same for you.

 

Delhi India 2007

Red Fort, Delhi, India Nov 2007

What Came Before Real Estate…

Before I was a Realtor, I was a mental health therapist and educator for about 7 years. I joke with my clients now that being a real estate agent is pretty much just like my previous profession… except that now there are houses involved.  While this is joke, it is not a total exaggeration. 

I became a therapist and educator to help people have both a professional sounding board and an open-minded source of information. My goal was always to assist people in making wiser decisions by helping them ask more questions and learn about more choices. I loved my job because I helped people reduce their stress and feel more empowered and confident.  

So it was not such a huge departure when I found myself drawn to real estate. Not surprisingly, I now use almost all of my therapist and educator skills as a Realtor: still helping people understand and question their wants and needs, still guiding them through a major life decision to their goal. What I love best about transferring to this profession is that I am able to see almost immediate results after working with my clients and they have a tangible asset to show for their decision making.

  

Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK Aug 2009

Background Information About Me…

Peripatetic since the age of 2 (child of a jet-setting advertising executive and a roving cultural anthropologist), I was raised abroad, lived on 4 continents growing up, and have visited over 25 different countries, most of which were in Europe and South & East Asia. I have lived in 4 U.S. states in the past 15 years (so, yes, I understand what it means to move around.)

  • I picked up and moved to Chapel Hill on a whim in early 2006 after visiting it for the first time on a 3 day road trip on my way to Charleston. (I never made it to Charleston.) The people, culture, weather, economy, and scenery were all so hospitable and appealing, that I immediately moved here. I have not regretted that decision in any way since.
  • I try to leave the country at least once a year to visit new places and expose myself to other cultures, people, architechture, and ideas.  I find this makes me more well-rounded as well as grounded.  (Coming soon: China in April 2010!)
  • I am a fanatic gourmand, enthusiastic advocate of the Slow Food movement, lover of the public library, avid museum go-er, beginning gardener, perpetual student, ongoing home-fixer, dumpster-diver, energy efficiency nerd, opera enthusiast, and eternal traveler
  • Member of Keller Williams Realty Agent Leadership Council (Chapel Hill 2008 & 2009)
  • BPI Certified Building Analyst Professional® (2009)
  • EcoBroker® Certified (2008)
  • Licensed Real Estate Agent (NC) and Member of National Association of Realtors (2006)
  • Master of Science in Counseling Psychotherapy (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
  • National Certified Counselor & Licensed Addiction Counselor
  • Master of Arts in Alternative Education (University of Kentucky)
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology & Anthropology (Washington & Lee University)
  • In previous professions, I have been a personal & group therapist, program supervisor, and educator in various public, private, and nonprofit agencies
  • Likes: inquisitiveness, challenges, revolution, travel, old houses, dry humor, sustainable building, green retrofitting, home construction projects, big sunglasses, irises, chunky soups, homemade cheese, and fresh spinach
  • Dislikes: apathy, lack of curiosity, unwillingness to learn, refusal/denial of change, driving across bridges, thoughtless home designs, McMansions, energy hogs, drive-through eateries, the smell of baby powder, lima beans, and tapioca pudding


Jaipur, India Nov 2007

More about me...

You should learn as much as possible about your prospective agent before signing agency with him/her. After all, this is the advisor who is going to assist you in dealing with what is probably your largest financial asset.  I love what I do and I want you to interview me and ask as many questions as it takes for you to feel comfortable considering me as your representative. So, please call or email me if you'd like to know more about my background, my philosophies, and my goals. I welcome your inquiries.