We Love Our Clients. See Some Of Their Stories…

From Uncertainty to Dream Home: A Journey of Patience and Success

These sellers first reached out to me 2 years ago when I was marketing extensively during the sale of their neighbor’s house.

After 30 years at their current address, they were thinking about moving into a new home closer to their son’s new business. 

The only problem was, their son hadn’t bought his business yet, so they weren’t quite sure where they wanted to end up.

We stayed in touch while they checked out many homes for sale in the area they wanted to end up (Kirkland/Bellevue) to get an idea of what was out there.

Finally, they bought their new business and were ready to put down roots.  They found it would be easier to finance their new property if they moved into a short term rental while getting their old home ready for sale.

We helped them get it all fixed up and payed for professional staging so it would look its best.

The big day came and….

They got it sold, and now have cash in their accounts ready to go shopping for their new dream home closer to their kids and work.  Dreams really do come true!

🏠 She is The Key to our Successful First-Home Buying Journey 🎉👌

My partner and I planned to move to Seattle from out-of-state and found Emily Cressey’s YouTube channel and immediately knew we wanted to work with her.

She’s an experienced, knowledgeable, and detailed real estate agent that made this process so easy for us.

We were fortunate to have Emily as our partner through our first home-buying process as she was able to 1) negotiate concessions, closing costs, and even appliances with the builder, 2) communicate efficiently with all other parties, and 3) represent us in-person with the builder and inspection to ensure things were according to plan.

All in all, I would highly recommend working with Emily, she’s the best! Thank you for everything 🙂

From Fixer Upper to Fabulous: A Sold Success!

What happens when you sell a fixer house for the very tippy-top of the market range?  We found out: Buyers get a little nervous.

This little house in Kenmore had been owned as an investment and rental for many years.  It was adjacent to a buildable piece of land, also for sale…  There were a lot of different things different prospective buyers wanted to do with it…. Remodel it, rent it, build something new, or buy the full acre and develop it all.

All the buyers had good ideas, but they were all a little nervous about whether their plan was best.

We actually got all sorts of offers on this property and ended up putting it under contract twice, and having buyers try to back out twice…  However, the second time the buyer was locked in with a very strong contract, and we had to remind the him that he would lose his (substantial) earnest money deposit if he didn’t perform.

Happily, he bought the lot at a great price for my seller, and he is eyeing the lot next door as well.

We always prefer people to be happy with their transactions, but we are also here to ADVOCATE for our clients.  We want them to get what they are owed, and understand the TEETH in our paperwork.

This is one of the reasons why I spend so much time reviewing contracts with my buyers and sellers.  I don’t want them to just blindly start signing things they don’t understand and then try to back out or change their minds.

And if someone is acting in such a way that harms my client, like trying to back out of a signed contract, I’m going to do everything I can to advocate for my client.  In fact, this is how we recovered $22.5K of forfeit earnest money on another transaction this month.

Everybody likes to be a “nice person” and be “approved of” by others.  But when it comes to advocating for clients, realtors must step up and be the bad guy, when necessary, to make sure their clients are protected.

The good news, is that we were able to sell this fixer house for $50K over asking price and $40K over the next highest offer.  We were thrilled to do it, and excited to see what comes next for our client.

Slowly but Surely: Embrace the Journey
and Savor Every Step

It wasn’t an easy transaction either.  The lender they were working with was verrrrry slooooowwww and ended up delaying their transaction by almost three weeks.  (This is why I recommend working with vetted lenders, who don’t do this.)

However, I called the buyer and lender daily (I even buzzed her from Sea World while I was on vacation) to continue to push the deal forward, cleared contingencies like getting water quality reports from their HOA, and worked closely with the Seller’s Agent, so we would not lose our seller, who was concerned about whether we would be able to close at all.

It was a pressure cooker of a deal, and a good illustration of why who you work with matters.

In the end, we HAPPILY got the job done.  There was a LOT of cheering all the way around on this one.  And the buyers were pleased to move in and make it their own – Jim even carried his beautiful bride over the threshold on the day of closing!!!  Hurrah!

Congratulations on sticking with it, even when it was VERY TOUGH!

Well earned cheers on this one!

Client Delights in Exceptional Service and Raves: A Stellar Experience!

“I am so glad I used Emily Cressey as my real estate agent to help me buy a condo in Everett, WA.

I had a specific time-frame in which I was looking to move, and Emily discussed the financing time frame so that we would make it work. When it came to negotiations, she did a great job, and we were able to get several concessions from the seller. The news of the seller’s acceptance came late in the evening. What a relief! Through multiple phone calls and emails, she even convinced the HOA to do some repairs on my behalf. Emily even went above and beyond, helping with the move!

I ended up getting a top-floor condo with a balcony and a dog-park where I could connect with my neighbors. So far, my cat and I are very happy. I am almost completely moved-in, and I enjoy being close to work & shopping, meeting the members of my new community, and planning for getting a dog of my own.

I love my new home and would highly recommend Emily Cressey to other home buyers, first time or not, who want to work with a responsible, communicative, and talented real estate agent who will listen to their needs, be respectful, not pushy, and help you feel like a VIP all the way through!”

New Ownership and Exciting Possibilities! 

After following the Dave Ramsey plan and socking away a breathtaking down payment, John was ready to stop renting and move into a home of his own that was close to work.   This dog-friendly condominium neighborhood is right across the street from a park on the Lake – what a great place to make new friends! 

We negotiated to have the seller pay to replace the sliding glass door (which had a blown seal) and worked with the HOA to address some items in the attic.  Glad to see your plans come together so quickly… and we found that beautiful top-floor unit you were hoping for!

🏡 Proud New Homeowners! 🎉🔑

Congratulations to Strom and Emily B. and their super-dog Loki on their fabulous new home near New Castle. 😉

This home was remodeled and used as an Air BnB, so it was really tricked out with some nice touches! Emily and I especially loved the magical color-changing fireplace and remodeled kitchen! And we’re sure Loki is going to love the yard!

Strom: I’m going to be sending you my favorite resources on fruit tree growing here in the PNW so you can get your home orchard established ASAP! Cheers!

Emily Helped Us Sell Our House Fast In A Falling Market

am so grateful to Emily Cressey and her Team. Getting our house ready to be listed in the market was stressful until we met with Emily Cressey. She gave us all the information we needed to have the house ready to sell. In a short time we had over 27 Showings and 3 offers.

Along the way Emily answered all our questions and gave us the advice we needed. We believe Emily’s Realty team went above and beyond any realtor group would do. On the Closing day we were beyond happy! Thank you Emily Cressey! Will always be grateful, Irasema Wiley!

Matt and Ana were relocating from Portland to Seattle for a new job and found me through “The Living In Seattle” YouTube Channel.  They were looking for home that would accommodate both their daughters, including one who liked to fix up cars and trucks and really needed a garage.
They came to town several times from Portland to explore different areas and get a feel for what neighborhoods they might like best.

We made a few offers that got beaten by higher bidders, but we didn’t give up.
Eventually we found a wonderful home and made a strong offer with the help of their amazing lender, Austin, who helped them with their financing – knowing they would be able to get the loan so they could waive their contingencies in order to make their offer stronger.  This turned out to be important since we were up against an all-cash-offer. 
They won the house, gave the seller a lease-back and were able to move in at the end of the school year – perfect timing for both families.

Now they are enjoying living near Martha Lake in Bothell, WA and I owe them a night out on the town to celebrate!

We Sold Brian and Mary’s Everett, WA Home To A Buyer Who Visited Our Saturday and Sunday Open Houses.

Brian and Mary were excited to show me photos of the new house they were buying in Texas. The only problem was, they had to sell their home in Everett first. Plus they wanted a lease-back so Mary would have time to finish her job at the school before they had to move.

My co-listing agent Laura Lee and I set to work staging their home (and getting them to move a lot of items into the garage). When we were done, the home looked a lot bigger, and the owners had obviously taken very good care of it and undertaken several remodeling projects.

We “held it open” for two days, inviting interested buyers to come and spend as much time as they wanted the first day it was on the market. We had several eager parties who came to BOTH days of the open house, and one of them ended up making the winning bid. She knew the friendly neighborhood and fenced back yard would be just right for her golden retriever puppy!

Brian and Mary were thrilled to have a solid offer with no contingencies, and a 2-week rent-back, because it made it much easier for them to transition to their new home.

Bon Voyage! We will miss you!

After The First Buyer Got Cold Feet, We Put This House Back Under Contract The Same Day With A Back-Up Buyer Who Was Renting Nearby And Had Come To Our Saturday And Sunday Open Houses.

Lynette and Rick and enjoyed living in their home for almost 50 years. They had raised their kids and grandkids there and it was full of many happy memories. When they were ready to let it go, it was still an emotional process. I enjoyed hearing their many stories about the mischief gotten up to in that home.

To get top-dollar in a flattening market, we couldn’t rest on our laurels.

They decided to do lots of updates to make sure deferred maintenance items were taken care of and they updated the paint and flooring through out to make it look great. The sparkly quartz counter tops in the kitchen were a special bonus.

With video marketing, flyers, calls, and Open Houses, we managed to get a great turnout to the home. We had multiple offers, which was good, because the first buyers ended up getting cold feet and backing out of the deal after just 12 hours. We had someone waiting in the wings, though, and were able to sign up their above-asking price contract just a few hours later. Phew!

Lynette and Rick were thrilled to see their legacy continue for the next family that would move into the home and enjoy the wonderful neighborhood they had loved.

These empty-nesters were ready for a change. With their kids in college, it was time to downsize and try something new.

However, the real estate market was cooling and the sellers wanted to go with an aggressive listing price. We decided to “go all the way” with our marketing and engaged drone photos, matter-port tours, professional videos and photos, flyers, calls, emails, and 4 Open Houses! It worked!

We were able to garner multiple offers and the competitive bidding situation helped the home sell for top-dollar so the sellers could quickly be on their way.

“Highly recommend working with Emily Cressey. She helped us buy a house in Magnolia with no craziness. She had the inside track on the sellers and ensured we were the first ones to tour the property and got the offer in super quick. We didn’t have to do any of the crazy stuff that is standard in the market like releasing the escrow or waiving the financing contingency because of the negotiation strategy that Emily had developed for us. She figured out a couple of things that were key to the sellers and made sure that our offer was the most attractive even though we weren’t the highest offer. She is always available and always on top of things and quickly figured out what we wanted after the first weekend looking at houses. In addition, she has a great rolodex of services that you’ll need in this process – lenders, insurance brokers etc.” – Abishek Reddy

Ian and Carolina were ready to sell their Lake Stevens townhome and head to sunnier climes in Arizona! It was going to be a big move due to their two dogs, two cats, two LARGE fish tanks, and many beautiful house plants. My co-list agent Laura Lee and I helped them stage their home for sale, making it look spacious and move-in ready.

The home was a big hit! We ended up selling it to a buyer who loved it so much, she wrote to tell us she had “tears in her eyes” when she toured the property, she felt so strongly that this should be her next home!

Needless to say those buyers wrote us a very strong “$60K above asking price” offer.

Jamie and Lisette found Emily on her “Living In Seattle” YouTube Channel. After meeting and deciding to work together, they begin visiting Seattle neighborhoods to see where they would like to live that was close to Jamie’s work and had a great dance studio for their daughter.

They settled on this beautiful custom-built home in Lake Stevens near a wooded greenbelt full of trails and friendly neighbors.

We were able to negotiate an extended closing date while we waited for their home to sell in Canada.

Nick and Tink sold their home due to relocation for work.

“When my wife and I decided to sell our home in Marysville, WA, we got referred to Emily Cressey by our pastor. Emily came out and helped us plan what to do and when to do it since we didn’t have very much time to get the house ready before our move out of state. From furniture arranging, cleaning, professional photography, videos and drone shots – Emily got the job done when it came to marketing our home. We had a big open house, and we could see on our ring camera how people were lining up outside to come in and see the home. Buyers started sending us offers the first day the home came on the market, but we held fast, waiting to see what the market would bring us. Because Emily was familiar with the market values in the area through her research, we had a good idea of what to expect and when we got an incredibly strong early offer, we decided to take it and sold our home for 35% over the asking price. Emily’s professionalism, organization and marketing really came through for us and we were thrilled, and so was the buyer. We would happily refer her to others and have actually already done so!” – Nick H.

Emily Cressey was outstanding during our home buying process in a market not advantageous for the buyer.

“Emily Cressey was outstanding during our home buying process in a market not advantageous for the buyer. She made sure that we went through all the list of priorities in what we were looking for in a home. Emily went to work researching locations/competitive prices… reaching out to sellers agent when we lost on a bid to figure out where we fell short. Always on time at home tours and a text/phone call away at each and every point .Emily has been wonderful with after home buying resources and l have found a realtor for life !if you are buying a home… she is the real estate agent you want/need by your side. Thanks @Emily Cressey” – Roxanne

I am speechless! It is a meaningful one to me, and I am very happy you not only remembered it but are showing me this level of recognition and appreciation. You have my enthusiastic thanks.

Thank you Emily for being such an amazing person, realtor, and friend!! You were a support system for my family from beginning to end during our home buying process. We greatly appreciate all you did from sending follow-up emails, zoom calls to explain paperwork, being present during the inspection, and simply always being available to chat about questions and concerns. You are awesome!!

First-Time Home Buyers begin their journey to homeownership & building their real estate empire at a young age.

“My wife and I were referred to Emily as our real estate agent when we bought our first home in Everett. She was insightful, thorough, and extremely helpful as we toured different properties, considered the possibility of a fixer-upper versus something more fancy, and weighed the options near school, work and the price. Emily let us set the pace and let us take our time, which made for a fun and more exciting experience. We actually got the first condo we made an offer on under contract but had to cancel the deal because of issues with the HOA. Emily reassured us that this was fine and an important part of the due diligence process. In the end, we were able to find a home we liked at a comfortable price point, and Emily negotiated for us to not only have an inspection (in today’s competitive market) but also to have some repairs done by the seller. We were so happy when the home finally closed. Even though it was cold and dark, Emily met us at the property with keys in hand to celebrate the move-in together. We enjoyed working with Emily Cressey as our real estate agent and would happily recommend her to others.” – Sam and Tran Webb

Monika and Ravie worked for over 6 months to secure their home without overspending their budget or forgoing protections like an inspection.

They were very patient, stuck to their budget, and didn’t get frustrated, despite a very challenging market in which they wrote offers almost every weekend.

After so long searching together, these clients became good friends… they took ME out to dinner to celebrate their closing!

After fixing up their home and getting new jobs, their next step is buying some investment property or land!

This Lynnwood home garnered over 22 offers with our marketing plan, and we were able to create a “paper auction” which elevated the offer price by more than the entire listing commission.

Adam and Letty decided to move out of their home (along with their kids and pets) so they could really get it ready to put on the market. They rented a home nearby while they fixed up the paint and flooring – making this house shine.

Their strategy worked.

We got it on the market with a huge launch – professional photos and videos. Flyers, online ads, phone calls, emails.

Through our Open Houses, we met buyers at the property and helped cherry-pick the most interested so we could get their offers in on the property.

I negotiated through the night with a huge field of buyers. One buyer stuck with it, outbidding everyone else, and we finally signed the contract with him at 1:00AM in the morning – setting a new price record for this Lynnwood HOA Community.

We were able to sell this Lynnwood, WA home to an Open House Buyer participating in a 1031 Exchange the first weekend it came on the market as an ideal investment property.

By giving her “cut to the front of the line” high priority help, we locked up her Lynnwood house under contract and she avoided those taxes!

After the death of their parents, these sellers were pretty broken up and had to work together to organize the sale in addition to managing their everyday lives. We worked as a team to coordinate an estate sale of the interior contents, fix-up some paint and carpet issues, and we brought in professional staging.

“Emily was a saving grace for our family! She took us under her wing throughout the whole process of preparing and selling my parents home in Bothell. She helped not only deal with the logistical things, but the emotional aspects as well. She went above and beyond by setting up some of the contractors and the home inspection, giving us open ground to figure out what fit our family best with the pre-sale care of the home, going to the home to let contractors in when we were unable, taking the reins with the big mountain of legal paperwork, and most importantly calling when it was the most perfect moment to care for emotional matters.

“She was attentive and interested in making sure you were given just the right amount of information for your personal capacity. She was always enthusiastic throughout the whole process and kept the positive momentum going to help keep us grounded during a sorrowful time. She worked incredibly hard and earned every last penny of her commission. If you want someone who will help guide you through one of the most stressful things you can go through in your life, Emily is the person to pick for your journey.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Emily. We are forever grateful!” – Mel Murray

“Emily was so instrumental in helping me find my new home. She was always available for questions and last-minute scheduling. Her kindness and ability to provide a valued experience made all the difference. I’m so thankful for Her. She was quick to respond to my text or emails. We made a great team get to the overall Goal!” – Deborah DeQuier-Bowden

“From the start to the finish of the process, Emily has guided us, and above all, she instilled confidence in us so we can go ahead and buy the home WITHOUT looking at it first hand. I highly recommend Emily to help you buy/sell your house.” – Tammy

When you’re looking at a lot of houses you want someone who is going to be pleasant to be around and that’s Emily to a T!

She was so helpful and made the experience a breeze. She was knowledgeable, but not pushy. My style is kind of enjoying going through a house at my own pace. She has so much real estate experience and knowledge to share but her priority is putting her clients at ease and giving them the best value and experience. I’d recommend her any time!

I think my heart just exploded! Thank you so much…

Dan and his girlfriend were ready to move to a new state…

Together we scrubbed, polished, staged, and photographed their home, along with Laura Lee here at HomeSmart. With aggressive advertising, we packed the house with buyers!

We found a buyer at the Open House the first weekend the home was listed.

14 days later, Dan had cashed out and was riding his motorcycle to Arizona and a fresh start!

From Day 1, Kai wanted a room with a view.

We looked at several units in Capitol Hill before finding this building in downtown Seattle. After talking with the site-agent of this new-construction building, I identified a unit that was higher up and had a better view than those units that had been listed on the MLS.

It was our little miracle that helped Kai’s dreams come true.

Here’s what Mom had to say:

“Please know that we feel this whole process has been a God thing and that you were gifted to us by the universe! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we will be honored to share your name with anyone looking for an awesome, kickass agent. You’re the best!” – Chris, Dawn and Kai

“We explained our worries and our needs from the new home. Emily totally understood our situation and was there for us to make it happen! Emily was thoughtful, professional, and effective throughout our transaction.” – Meg

(Note: This is a photo of their house overlaid with their daughter’s hand-written & illustrated Christmas List asking Santa for a house of their own.)

This made my day! After all the hard work, it totally paid off.. Love your work, and the results will come out naturally… Thanks for this wonderful feedback…

When you are all tied up with a lot of things, hearing notifications in your phone from different people and this one message stood up… I just got this warm text message from a new client… So sweet!

Getting Good Information Regarding The Seattle Housing Market

I saw your youtube videos regarding home buying in Seattle. They were quite nice and gave me really good information regarding the Seattle market. Me and my husband were looking for a home in the North Seattle area but are not comfortable jumping onto big realtors. Also, the current housing market is super intimidating. If you have any good info on where we can start our home buying journey, it would be great! Thanks!

As A Professional Event Speaker…

She connected with us immediately and her message was incredible!

Emily — In hearing your stories & learning your skills you gave me some great pictures — which is great as I’m a visual and tactile learner!  I look forward to blossoming in a new and powerful area. Watch out world!

I really enjoy your email.  You have a great attitude and positive outlook.

I wanted to specifically thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You have definitely contributed (in a huge way) to my success.

Wonderful To Work With… Communicates Clearly and Promptly With An Eye For Detail.

As a property manager, I have worked with Emily managing and renovating one of her rental properties here in Ogden, UT and have found her to be wonderful to work with.  She communicates clearly and promptly, submits funds on time and has a good eye for detail.  She is respectful, positive and a pleasure to work with.  I wish all of my property owners were like her!

It’s not just about being friendly and having good communication. Her understanding, business approach, ethic and ambition to what needs to be done will assist her and you in being a success in Real Estate. Anyone will be lucky to be working with her. 

We Truly Value The Relationship We Are Creating

Working with Emily has been amazing! We truly value the relationship we are creating with her and look forward to helping with her real estate investment strategy for years to come!
 

Emily and I have been working together for several years and she has always been professional, prompt, kind, and wonderful to work with. 

She is the real deal. Emily is thoughtful and has great insights and experience with a breadth of knowledge and experience.

I have had the pleasure of working with Emily on several multi-million dollar commercial real estate syndications, shared the stage at adult real estate education events and seen her work as a coach, presenter and business partner. She is the real deal, is thoughtful and has great insights and experience with a breadth of knowledge and experience. Emily has excellent communication skills, good ideas, and a true love for both real estate and people. If you have a chance to work with Emily, you will be in good hands.

Emily Is Well-Informed, Insightful, and Consistent

I have enjoyed having Emily as a real estate mastermind partner and find her to be well-informed, insightful and consistent. Her 2 decades of real estate experience means she is a valuable professional to have on your team.

She is very bright, creative and always has constructive comments and questions.

I have enjoyed being a business partner with Emily for the last 15 years on five commercial real estate deals. She is very bright, creative and always has constructive comments and questions. She is dependable, does what she says and always has a positive attitude. I enjoy working with her and have found her to be trustworthy and helpful.

I have experienced first hand Emily’s ability to motivate an entire audience to take action.

“Get ready for an information packed learning session with one of the most sincere and inspirational speakers I know.  Emily will share insights that help you step to the next level.”

David Finkel, Co-Author, The Maui Millionaires.  www.MauiMillionaires.com

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Karen is a proud first-time buyer!

Karen was working two jobs when she met me. A single woman, she only had herself to rely on, and a clear goal – she wanted to save up and buy a house of her own. Her dream came true when she decided to lease-purchase a home that I had available.

She took great care of it when she lived there and was able to purchase it after just one year.

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The proud look on Karen’s face says it all. This is one of my tenants who was able to purchase her first home – on her own! – after leasing from me for a year! Congratulations, Karen!

The typical For Sale By Owner home sold for 23% less than agent-assisted home sales.

90% of home buyers searched online at some point during their home buying process.

88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker