Tom OConnell

My biggest advice to buyers is to get prepared before you start looking at homes. Know your budget, get pre-approved with a reputable lender, and understand what your monthly payment will realistically look like—not just the purchase price. I have great lender referral partners that I have hand picked over the last 15+ years. Once you start looking, don't focus only on how a home looks. Consider the location, condition, future resale value, neighborhood, comparable sales, and any potential maintenance or improvement costs. If you're buying new construction, understand builder incentives, upgrades, lot premiums, and the contract before signing. Most importantly, work with a Realtor who knows the local market and will give you honest advice—even when it means telling you to walk away from a home that isn't the right fit. My job isn't just to help you find a house; it's to help you make a smart investment and negotiate the best possible terms while keeping your goals and interests first.

My biggest advice to sellers is don't just put your home on the market—create a strategy to get it sold. Pricing, presentation, photography, marketing, and negotiation all matter. Start with an honest evaluation of the market and price the home based on current comparable sales, competition, condition, and buyer demand—not simply what you hope the home is worth. A well-priced home can generate more attention and create stronger negotiating leverage. Before going live, make your home show its best. Decluttering, cleaning, making strategic repairs, and professional photography can make a significant difference in how buyers perceive your property online and in person. Your Realtor should have a customized marketing plan designed to get your home in front of the right buyers—not just put it in the MLS and wait. Finally, communication is critical. I believe sellers should always know what's happening with their home, what the market is telling us, and what we can do to improve the result. My goal isn't simply to list your home. It's to strategically position, market, negotiate, and manage the sale to help you get the best possible outcome.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of clients over the years, from first-time homebuyers to experienced investors and homeowners selling their longtime family homes. I work with buyers, sellers, relocating families, new construction buyers, move-up buyers, downsizers, luxury clients, landlords and real estate investors. I’ve also helped clients who are purchasing from out of the area and need someone they can trust to be their eyes and ears locally. Every client has different goals, circumstances and priorities, so I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I take the time to understand what each client is trying to accomplish and then build a strategy around their specific needs. Whether you're buying your first home, selling a home you've owned for years, relocating to the area, or building a real estate investment portfolio, my role is to be your consultant and advocate throughout the process—not just the person who opens the door.

One recent transaction I’m particularly proud of involved helping clients who needed to sell their existing home and purchase their next home within a very tight timeframe. Coordinating two transactions at the same time can be stressful, especially when timing, financing, inspections and closing dates all have to line up. We developed a clear strategy from the beginning, prepared the home for market, positioned it competitively and created a strong marketing plan. Once we had a buyer, I worked closely with everyone involved to keep the sale moving while simultaneously helping my clients secure and navigate the purchase of their next home. The two transactions ultimately came together within about 30 days. What I enjoyed most wasn't simply getting both deals closed—it was being the person my clients could call when something unexpected came up and knowing I had a plan to keep things moving. For me, that's what being a Realtor is really about. It's not just about putting a home on the MLS or writing an offer. It's about managing the details, communicating consistently, solving problems and protecting your client's interests from beginning to end.

I got started in real estate because I’ve always enjoyed working with people, solving problems and helping others make important decisions. I quickly realized that real estate brought all three together in a career where I could make a real difference for my clients. I’ve now been in real estate for 16 years, building my business primarily through relationships, referrals and repeat clients. In 2019, I moved my license to the John L. Scott Lake Tapps office, where I continue to serve buyers and sellers throughout Bonney Lake, Tehaleh, Lake Tapps, Sumner and the surrounding East Pierce County communities. Over the years, I’ve worked with first-time buyers, longtime homeowners, investors, relocating families and sellers navigating everything from straightforward transactions to challenging situations. What started as a career has become a business built around relationships. I don't look at my clients as transactions—I look at them as people I'm fortunate to help, and hopefully people who will trust me enough to call me the next time they, a friend or a family member needs real estate advice. That relationship-first approach is a big part of what Tom Sold It is all about.

Yes. Beyond my real estate licensing and years of hands-on experience, I believe my greatest education has come from 16 years of working through real transactions and continually learning the market. Real estate changes constantly, so I stay current on market conditions, contracts, negotiation strategies, financing considerations, new construction, marketing, and the unique factors that affect buyers and sellers in Bonney Lake, Tehaleh, Lake Tapps, Sumner and the surrounding East Pierce County communities. My experience includes working with first-time buyers, sellers, investors, relocation clients, new construction and more complex transactions where strong communication and problem-solving are especially important. I also believe education isn't just about collecting designations or certificates. It's about knowing how to apply what you've learned when it matters most. Every transaction presents different challenges, and I continually educate myself so I can provide clients with informed advice, anticipate potential issues and help them make confident decisions. Ultimately, my clients benefit from a combination of professional training, 16 years of real-world experience, local market knowledge, negotiation skills and a commitment to continuing education.