Cheryl Richey

First of all, I would say CONGRATULATIONS for getting to this step! Then, I would tell you that transparency with your lender and realtor is very important so that we can all be on the same team. It's important to share with me what your must haves, want to haves and absolutely cannot haves are to know how to recognize the difference. Buying a home should be a fun and exciting time. Understand that many people, while they don't want to, will move a few different times in their lives, typically during those important transitions in their lives (getting first house, getting married, having children, empty nester, etc.) and your home is your best savings account, so don't beat yourself up if you can't have all of your must haves right away...you will get there! And finally, TAKE THE ADVICE that your Realtor and Lender tell you, especially when it comes to paying your bills, not getting new debt and waiting until after the closing to go on that home improvement shopping spree!!!

I would ask you if you have identified what is most important to you; selling your home for as much as possible, or just getting a quick sale? What are you trying to accomplish in your sale? Then, I would advise that you DETATCH from your home. You are preparing to let your home become someone else's home, so you need to depersonalize it so that the new owner can see themselves in it, instead of how many years you have been there. Listen to your Realtor with the advise given, from how to de-clutter to how to create curb appeal and a place that buyers will want to buy. We have trained for this to make this as easy of a process as possible!

I have worked with first time home buyers, seasoned buyers and sellers, Veteran's, 203k/renovation, rural development/USDA, new construction, vacant land, farm & ranch, relocation, investors/1031 Exchange and pretty much anything else you can possibly think of!

A recent transaction that I am particularly fond of? I have so many of them! But one that probably stands out is a client that was relocating across the country. The houses were not on the market for very long, so we had to be able to move fast and they could not fly to see the homes in person every time one came available that they were interested in, so instead, we did video tours and they told me exactly what was important to me and I followed those directions precisely because I was their boots on the ground, so I wanted to show them the house as if it were their eyes there directly. We were able to give a very aggressive offer, get it accepted and move through the inspection and closing process quickly. Afterwards, we became friends. I have since gone on to help a few of their friends who have also relocated, and because of the experience they had with me, they have felt comfortable in knowing I would give the same treatment to their friends and family.

I got started in just being an assistant to a Realtor. She would pay me in coffee and gift cards. After doing that for a couple years, I decided since it was something I enjoyed doing so much, I should just go to school and get licensed. I passed the exam and then tucked my license in my back pocket so to speak, for a few years, afraid to go for it fully because I was a single parent and wanted the stability of that reliable paycheck. After being laid off from Corporate America back to back from three different companies because I was so good at what I did, that they could hire someone else sub-par and pay less, I was tired of being at the mercy of someone being able to dictate whether I could pay my bills and constantly be like the statistic of most people that are one month away from homelessness. So, in a moment of complete vulnerability, I sat in front of my team lead who would become my broker and told him my why. Within 30 days, I had my first offer written. That was enough to build my confidence that I could do this. I jumped with both feet and haven't looked back!!!

I am a certified land consultant and I have taken classes to be a broker and to run my own brokerage. I have also taken additional training for 1031 Exchange, Reverse Mortgage Buyers, 203k Renovation Loans, VA, USDA and probate.