Five Questions With: Barbara Stamp

BARBARA Stamp is a sales associate for Residential Properties Ltd. in Barrington. A lifelong resident of Bristol, she has been a top producer for the company since she joined the office in 1992. / COURTESY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES LTD.
BARBARA Stamp is a sales associate for Residential Properties Ltd. in Barrington. A lifelong resident of Bristol, she has been a top producer for the company since she joined the office in 1992. / COURTESY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES LTD.

Barbara Stamp is a sales associate for Residential Properties Ltd. in Barrington. A lifelong resident of Bristol, she has been a top producer for the company since she joined the office in 1992.
PBN: In the past year, we’ve posted three stories involving you as a listing agent for properties in Barrington or Bristol that sold for prices that broke ceilings. How long have you worked in this region of Rhode Island and what makes it special for homes?
STAMP:
I have worked for Residential Properties for 24 years, before that I was working at North Farm Condominiums in Bristol where I was the office manager and in sales. I think what makes the East Bay special is a sense of community and small-town feel and the proximity into Providence. Driving down the main streets in Bristol and Barrington gives you a sense of warmth, but both towns are alive with energy. The main street in Bristol is dotted with quaint shops, restaurants, beautiful historic properties and a red, white and blue stripe on the road designates the Fourth of July parade route. It is real Americana. What drives the Barrington market is the top school system, sense of community and close proximity to Providence. Both Barrington and Bristol are wonderful boating communities with access and views of the water from most locations.
PBN: Is there a particular type of home that you are most familiar with selling, i.e., waterfront or historical, type of architecture? How long did it take you to come up to speed as an agent with architectural styles of Rhode Island homes?
STAMP:
I don’t specialize in a particular style of home. After 25 years plus in real estate, most of that is second nature.
PBN: When did you become a Realtor and was there another career you considered?
STAMP:
I started my real estate career in the ’80s, before that I was working for five surgeons in Providence as office manager and assistant. I always enjoyed working with and meeting people so when I was offered a job at Residential Properties, I felt it would be a good transition. My first taste of real estate began when I was a young girl. My dad, who is now in his 90s, sold real estate for a small company in Riverside called Mason and Winegrad, so it was in my blood from an early age.
PBN: What advice do you offer clients when you price their homes? Are they often thinking, I put this amount into renovations, therefore, it will be worth that much more on resale?
STAMP:
Pricing is key. I try to price my listings close to the market value or if you are very motivated and want to build excitement, price it below the market. Oftentimes you will get multiple offers. I don’t take overpriced listings. It is never a win-win situation. Renovations such as kitchen and baths will have a good return, but maintenance items like roof, heating, electrical, painting don’t really don’t add value to the price.
PBN: What is the second-home market like in the East Bay waterfront communities, and how is it different than the West Bay or oceanfront communities?
STAMP:
In general, the second-home market is much smaller in Bristol, Kent and Providence counties than it is in Washington and Newport counties. Bristol and Kent counties offer beautiful waterfront within commuting distance to Providence and other areas of centralized employment. Many cities and towns in these areas, in addition to water access, offer an appealing lifestyle that features recreation, public schools, cultural and historical interest, restaurants and shopping and other services to appeal to a permanent population. Certain areas in this section of the state attract second-home buyers. Poppasquash Point in Bristol stands out in my area of expertise that appeals to second-home buyers. The secluded section of town is accessible by only one road and it is surrounded by water and views to the east south and west. The area is comprised of large private lots and boating out of the protected harbor. Both high-end properties that I recently sold were both sold as second homes. The majority of second-homes in Rhode Island are located in Newport and Washington counties that front the Atlantic Ocean and that are less commutable to the urban cores.

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