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This year I was just selected as Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR) 2008 Rookie of the Year!  This is a very exciting accomplishment for me....especially considering it is an award given by my fellow peers in the industry.

The Rookie of the Year is presented to a REALTOR® who has been licensed for five years or less and has shown outstanding dedication to the real estate industry and the local community. GCAAR (made up of more than 11,000 real estate professionals in the greater capital area) is the organization for REALTORS^® in Washington, DC and Montgomery County, Maryland.

I am not the type of person who gets into things just to be there.  When I chose to get into real estate, I turned down other opportunities because I saw real estate as a great career track, a perfect blend of my marketing and entrepreneurship.  I hoped and counted on being a leader and making a difference!

I am extremely fortunate -- my running start has brought me early success.  I was the Rookie for the Year for the Friendship Heights office of Long & Foster (2007).   I am currently the #1 Individual Producer at Long & Foster's Friendship Heights office which ranks me among the top of Realtors® nationwide.   I was also just honored to be on the cover of REALTOR® Magazine's "30 Under 30" issue this June.  And a month before that, it was 2009 Washington Life Magazine's "The Young & the Guest List" and Washington City Paper  naming me "Best Real Estate Agent" for 2009. It's been an unbelievable start to 2009, but I never forget my unassuming first priority - working with my clients.

My focus has been on the Generation X and Y buyers who are often seeking their first home.  I understand the complexity and the psychology of the purchasing cycle, especially for this age group.  Younger buyers often like to start their home search on the web and come to the buying process very well informed about their options.  Once they are ready to jump into the fray, they want quick response time to their questions and someone that can listen, know their needs ,and lead them through the jungle of buying or selling a home.  That's why I have worked to develop a website with lots of depth.  I am on all the major social networking sites.  If you type my name into Google, you are likely to have me come up with all things D.C., such as restaurants.  I make myself available.  I believe in real estate at the speed of life!

So far, my approach has been successful for my clients too.  I have helped many people purchase homes who initially were on the sideline or didn't think they could afford their own home. I put them in touch with great professionals and educate my clients that home ownership is about things far deeper than dollars and cents.

If you are looking to buy in the D.C. area, check out my Atlantic Coast Connection website, which features testimonials from many satisfied clients.

2009 is a great time sell real estate.  I say that as someone fairly new to the industry, but also as someone who got off to a rapid start.  Based in DC and also licensed in nearby Maryland and Virginia, I am very much at home in this fast paced city.  The last few years have been a challenging time but I did very well because I worked hard and remembered a few basic principles.  Good realtors have a grasp of business, economics, finance, and marketing, but real estate is in essence a customer service business.  If you can package what you know for the customer, you will be successful.

I found you can do well selling a professional her first condo in exciting DC or an executive a luxury home in Virginia.  By being helpful, well prepared, and enthusiastic in the present transaction, you can build for the future.  I am confident that when my clients move to their next home or venture into investment property, I will be the one they call.

Let me share a few customer testimonials with you that underscore what's important to be successful.  I appreciate my customers and love the industry.  As I venture out into Active Rain, I am sure that many of you can add to my lists of tips for success. 

1.  Be prepared - you are entering into a relationship.

"Rachel Valentino forgoes sleep and laughs at the concept of downtime. This is how she gets so much done. And this is why her clients are so happy.   Her work ethic was evident from the start; before our first meeting she had prepared a packet of materials that anticipated all of my questions. It was a reassuring flourish of professionalism.   Rachel listens carefully and traffics in empathy. She expertly lays out all possibilities. She asks for unvarnished thoughts along the way.  She treats you like a friend, not like a means to a commission."

Brenden Jackson

2. Listen to the customer - he usually knows what he wants even if he can't put an address on it...

"Every step of the way Rachel did a perfect job, so much so that I was left confused by the horror stories I had heard from so many other people when buying a home. I almost couldn't figure out why I didn't have any of these problems, but I know it was because Rachel did an excellent job.....She also did an excellent job finding places that fit into what I was looking for. So much so that the third place I saw on the first day we went to see houses was the one I ended up buying. I naturally we went to see a lot of other places after that, because as a first time home buyer I felt the need to see a lot of places and get a better handle on the market. I have been in my townhouse for only two months now, but I know that it is the perfect place for me at this stage in my life, and I have Rachel to thank for that."

Kevin Hines

3.  Treat every individual as an important client - especially if you want to build life-long business relationships...

"Rachel always treated us like V.I.P. clients, which we greatly appreciated. If people can be judged by the company they keep, then it speaks very highly of Rachel that all the professionals she has referred us to have been top-notch. From our mortgage broker to the locksmith, even right down to the neighborhood pizza joint, Rachel's referrals have made moving into our first home a smooth transition."

Anne Marie & Brian Frere

4.  Know your area - and freely share your knowledge with your clients.

"The only reason that I'm in my home today is due to the dedication, willingness, devotion, eagerness, diligence and perseverance of Ms. Rachel Valentino. She took the time to research and send properties that were in my price range and desirable neighborhoods, listened to my complaints and frustrations, was organized and made every appointment, all the while demonstrating exceptional professionalism.... I was very pleasantly surprised to witness her vast knowledge of the Washington DC area and her willingness to visit all of my interested properties."

 Deanna McPherson

5.  Be available to your clients.  All the hi-tech communication devices in the world won't matter to your clients if you aren't accessible.

"Rachel was extremely responsive to all our emails and phone calls, emphatic to the emotional whirlwind we were experiencing . . . To all first-time home buyers, Rachel makes a stressful, but extremely rewarding experience, a little bit easier to handle."

Kristofer Dodge and Kelly Rain

6. Follow through for your clients so that the transaction is smooth for them.

"As first-time homebuyers, we appreciated your willingness to take the time to walk us through the whole process, from taking us from home to home (to home...) all the way through negotiations with the sellers and final closing. Your positive attitude, good listening skills and attention to detail made the process a surprisingly pleasant experience."

Chris French

"As a first-time home buyer I was very nervous about the huge financial commitment I was about to make. On top of that, I worried that my home search would drag on in what was a turbulent market. Rachel made sure that I saw only the properties that met my many requirements while also serving as a fantastic guide in writing and negotiating my purchase agreement. Thank you, Rachel, for helping put my mind at ease during what is normally a nerve-racking process. I couldn't imagine being happier with the way things worked out."

 Adam Cole

 Are you ready to buy or sell your Washington DC property with Rachel Valentino?

The Atlantic Coast Connection: Long & Foster Real Estate

Cell: (202) 270-6972         www.rachelvalentino.com