Becky Pulley is a real estate agent with Century 21 Topsail Realty in Tiverton, who holds licenses in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. She spoke recently with the Providence Business News about recent sales trends and her career.
PBN: You work with a variety of buyers and sellers. How do you find your clients, and are they coming to you through referrals?
PULLEY: The majority of my business starts with people I know that want to buy a home or need to sell a home. I genuinely care about people, their wants and budget. In helping them achieve their goals and worth through their purchase or sales process, they are happy to refer their friends, family and co-workers. In treating others the way I want to be treated, or the way I want my family and friends treated, the cycle repeats itself in attracting like-minded buyers and sellers.
PBN: What is the best advice to give someone selling their home for the first time in decades, particularly if they haven’t followed the current sales?
PULLEY: Use a professional and full-time Realtor. Find a Realtor that matches your sales style and is someone you can work closely with. Find the person that builds trust and mirrors ethical behavior. Many people care about how their home is presented. When it comes to presenting your home for sale, every element counts. The seller needs a Realtor that can see who the potential buyer is, and is able to minimize your personal items and stage your home. You will be moving upon the sale of your home, start packing personal items and creating space for others to reside in your home. Each home and sales process is unique, whether it is for a fast sale, top dollar or your own unique circumstances.
PBN: How did you enter the profession?
PULLEY: I sold my insurance agency to move with my husband’s career. Upon relocation, I worked as a licensed mortgage broker. I found myself putting deals together as a mortgage professional with “for-sale-by-owner sellers.” I enjoyed working with people and helping them find their homes, much more than crunching numbers, so I got my real estate license.
PBN: How is the spring 2017 market different than last year’s market?
PULLEY: The spring market has been very busy. I have many more buyers than there are homes … to meet the demand. In some areas, homes are selling the first day on the market. In Westport, Mass., [homes] under $300,000 not only sell in the first three days, they have bidding wars. [Sales of ] well-priced properties in Tiverton, Warren, Bristol, Plymouth, Middletown and Newport are very steady.
PBN: What would you suggest to people who haven’t decided whether to buy a house this year?
PULLEY: If you’ve been putting off buying a home, this is the year to move forward. Interest rates, we are told, are going up, which means you will afford less home for more money. If you are considering selling, make the call today to get your home on the market. With more buyers than homes for sale currently, you are in the best position to get top dollar and sell quickly.
