Susan Vanderburgh

I've invested in real estate and helped family and friends do the same. It is natural for me to know what makes a particular property marketable, desireable and functional.

I currently represent family and friends by referral only because I believe that purchasing real estate is not just a simple personal decision, but actually one that involves emotional and financial judgment. And when one is emotionally involved, it is necessary to have someone with sound judgment help with the financial decision.

From being a first time homebuyer to first time investor to a seasoned buyer and seller, I understand all sides of a real estate transaction. Even the toughest sales decisions are easy for me. I wish to help people I care about. I do not believe in bribing anyone for business or chasing after new clients. I have a professional license and I am bound by my own ethics and ethics of the industry to make sure that I do the right thing and the best thing for my clients every time. I respect my clients and I wish to receive the same in return. My respect for people I work with means that I do not "spam" or send out mass emails or letters that I did not personally write. My respect for people also means that earnings I gain from real estate transactions are put to good use and it's mainly to take care of family and those in need. When you work with me, you are not simply choosing to work with just another agent. I hope that you will find that crossing paths is a blessing soon to reveal itself.

I will represent everyone who is serious, who found me through an ad or a family or friend who is serious. I do not select or reject clients based on price range.

Here is a summary of skills that are helpful in my representaion of clients.

Communication:
Excellent written and verbal skills. I like to personally respond to phone calls and emails.

Sales background:
It's hard to believe but what was a part-time night job was not just a part-time night job. I started selling real estate as a telemarketer. Yes, I was one of those people who called during your dinner trying to sell you a vacation in fabulous Lake Tahoe. Believe it or not, I was trained by a professional actor and I was so impressed by the trainer, I tried to create my own training for myself. But he really did a great job with all of the new telemarketers. The telemarketers that call me nowadays are nothing compared to what we used to do. When I have to ask a telemarketer to fax me what he's reading, it really is not a good sign.

Credit and Collections:
I've worked as a collector for a national bank. I've also worked on lawsuits and spoken with clients' lenders on bad debt. I know how to protect my clients' rights as borrowers.

Law:
I'm not a lawyer, but I've worked with lawyers long enough to know how to write contracts that only attorneys are not afraid of. This skill is very helpful with the standard real estate forms that agents have to use as well. I am familiar with many aspects of law, including real estate, landlord/tenant, credit/collections, divorce, bankruptcy, title and foreclosure.

Business/Financial/Accounting:
I've owned about 5 small businesses and enjoy it. When other agents are asking what is a financial statement, I can tell you what makes the business worth or not worth buying

Buying at foreclosure? I've hosted auctions for the auctioneers and I know the inside out of auctions and inspections and buying bank-owned, short sale or default properties. Try asking an agent to define each one for you.

Investing?
Yes. Always looking for great deals. The difference between an investor that has a robust portfolio and one that has problem properties is one who knows what he's doing and one who has a knowledgeable team on his side.

I work closely with all my clients and my role is more of a counselor than a salesperson. I am "fulltime" in the sense that I am on "fulltime" alert of industry changes and what's hot in the market or the trends long before the media gets the information. Clients who are loyal are the ones who benefit from not being taken advantage of by people who falsely claim they know what they're doing and put on a show.

Residential sales and loans (single units, multiple units)
Business property
Familiar with 1031 exchanges and other tax exemptions to save money
Served as a Business Consultant with the San Francisco Small Business Development Center
Experienced negotiator to make "win-win" deals in the toughest situations
Saved homeowners from the auction block days before the auction
Ability to shop and originate loans that are beneficial to the client
Unique perspective on evaluating real estate with a slant on investment and equity and appreciation potential
Routinely can anticipate market demands and changes

Sold a home in less than 9 days, $80,000 over asking price

Used design skills to help the home sell for more money

Used construction and remodeling knowledge to command better market price