Beckie Stephens: Real Estate Survival

olympia real estate agent
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olympia real estate agentAs a long time REALTOR® in the Olympia area, for over 23 years, Beckie Stephens, Managing Broker at RE/MAX Parkside has become an expert at educating home owners on how to sell a home at the highest market price.  Beckie has always believed it takes more than a great location and a sign in the yard to sell a home – and over the last 3 years that has rang very true.

Beckie’s years of expertise are evident to sellers when she walks through a potential listing.  A seller learns what current buyers are searching for and what steps they will need to take to receive a top dollar offer for their home.

Beckie is very comfortable giving home owners a “to do” list because buyers are tired of fixer uppers, short sales, and bank owned foreclosures that are beat up – many want a “move in ready” home.  Sometimes the task is simply clearing a bit of clutter, doing some deep cleaning and getting little maintenance items done.  But often times it’s things that are very delicate to discuss, like a bad smell and severe lack of maintenance.   She is well known for her honesty and tact but not pulling any punches with what needs to be done.  She also realizes that not every seller can spend thousands of dollars putting in granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in order to sell their house – so she helps guide sellers to low cost solutions with potential for high return on the investment.

Beckie has a great resource list and a team of folks to help her clients who need it, but sometimes she may be the one who helps them personally.  She often uses a professional stager to assist the sellers arrange their household in an appealing way.

A survivor in a hard hit industry, Beckie weighs in on how she has weathered the real estate market swings.   She says “giving your clients the service they deserve and hope for and having a really positive outlook.  It’s pretty simple, just be of service, be positive and do your best to know your craft.  Every type of home sells, from McMansions to plain jane fixers.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and we have to really make sure we help each client equally.”

She says almost 90% of her business comes from referrals and repeat clients.  Her niche is making it a fun experience.  No one would call Beckie stuffy!  She says that she has heard too many times from sellers and buyers – that their agent didn’t communicate enough and they were cold or “all business.”  She strives to make communication key as well as follow through.  With email, texting and social media today, she says she feels like it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with anyone no matter what time zone they are in.

Beckie comments that today’s market is the best it’s been in over four years.  “I’m having a blast – but we could use more homes to sell – our inventory is low and buyers are out in great numbers.  Rates are super low and there are more programs to get people into homes if they know where to look,” says Beckie. She encourages buyers to purchase a home, rather than waiting.  It might surprise buyers to know in our area it’s cheaper to own then to rent.

Beckie can be reached either by phone/text at 360-789-6381, email at bs7896381@gmail.com or via her RE/MAX webpage:  www.beckiestephens.remaxagent.com

RE/MAX Parkside

300 Deschutes Way,, Suite 200

Tumwater, WA 98501

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