Laurie Westheimer

I have been passionate about real estate for as long as I can remember. So many of the stories we tell are about the idea of "home." But, as is the case for so many, I did not just grow up and become a Realtor. I actually had several careers before landing in this field, but that experience definitely helps with the many hats I wear with this career. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in English Literature with a plan of going to law school. Instead, I spent 15 working as a Litigation Paralegal where my duties spanned from interviewing accused criminals (in jail), to preparing and serving paperwork, to finally writing motions and managing complex commercial litigation files with paperwork that took up entire rooms and clients who were often worried about the outcome of their lives and livelihoods. I left that world to try my hat as an entrepreneur and I owned a popular and successful boutique for almost 10 years. In that span of time, I also was asked to be the marketing and public relations/media manager for a professional soccer team. Why do I mention all of this past experience? Because being a Realtor is not just about opening doors for people and looking at homes. It requires strong communication skills (speaking, writing and listening), patience and understanding working with people who are in emotionally charged situations and who don't always see eye-to-eye. It takes solid organization and management skills as well as an understanding of the contracts and forms and timelines to keep transactions together. It also takes the ability to advocate for clients and negotiate even in the most challenging and uncomfortable of situations. It also requires strong knowledge and "tech-savviness" in creative marketing and social media. It requires patience and the ability to think outside the box to come up with creative solutions when problems arise. These are all skills I learned and perfected in my various careers before becoming an agent. Becoming an agent is the best decision I have ever made. Since 2015, I have sold over 100 homes and rank within the top 5% of agents in the Dayton/Miami Valley market and across the country. I love working with clients through the entire process from the fun part (looking at homes!) to the more challenging parts. For buyers, that means helping them learn the process from start to finish (even if it is their first time), helping them get financing (sometimes involving credit repair or alternative loan solutions), and writing competitive offers to get the home of their dreams (even in a sellers' market). For sellers, that means coming up with a solid plan on how to get a home sale-ready within a specified timeline and advising them how to get the best price and with the terms that work best for them. It means coming up with a customized marketing plan and campaigns that find the most-likely buyers. For both, it means dealing with inspections and repairs, appraisals and deadlines. Sometimes everything goes smoothly, but even when things get challenging, I have the ability to think on my feet and problem solve. My clients repeatedly compliment me on my creative thinking, dedication, negotiation skills, compassion, professionalism, flexibility, responsiveness, sense of humor and clear communication skills. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. I would love to help you with your real estate goals. Want more information? Get more helpful resources at www.thewestheimergroup.com.