Real estate is my passion! I believe 100% in the product and how it makes a difference in people’s lives. My personal motto is “empowering people through property’ and I have spent over 30 years helping people through property.

My background was in counseling and as a Medical Social Worker with Waikato Hospital I covered Accident and Emergency on a 24/7 basis. Real Estate feels like another version of that job. Helping people through some pretty big decisions in their life.

During my time in real estate I have owned and managed companies, been the Northland District Real Estate President and served on several boards, but at the end of the day my greatest pleasure is in selling homes and dealing with the people who own them. In 2010 I sold all my company interests, and concentrated on the best of Real Estate which is back at the coal face.

I have experience in commercial real estate and do keep my hand in with the odd building sale. I bring a combination of management experience and people skills with me and I pride myself on getting the best price for an owner by using thirty years of real estate selling combined with business management and people skills.

Why Me?
Some years ago, I was standing in front of this famous Van Gogh Painting “Stary Night”. (It is in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam). I remember standing amongst a crowd of other people and being totally under its strange and fascinating spell. I remember thinking “that’s so simple I could paint that!”. Years later I tried, and tried, and tried, and although some of my work was passable, I could never capture the movement, colour, and mood his painting drew from me. (Incidentally, the view is from his asylum window, so he was quite mad at the time.)
And strangely this relates to Real Estate sales. If you asked me today “Why would I use you , what can you do for me that I cannot do for myself?” or “What makes you different from any other agent?” I would have difficulty answering. I could give you all the standard marketing, knowledge and negotiating answers, but that is not really any different from what anyone else would say. What I have is 35 years of Real Estate sales experience and that has built a set of skills and a special kind of instinct.
1) It is not what I do, so much as when I do it.
2) It is not closing the sale but knowing when and
how to close it to your advantage.
3) It is not simply negotiating the price, but knowing
how to read the other party, so that I know what
their top dollar is before they know.
4) It is not simply marketing your property through
the various mediums but knowing how to target
the right buyers and how to enhance and
showcase your home’s special features and
benefits.
5) It is not simply getting an offer on your property,
but how to add value and desire to your home so
that you get the best market price.
6) It is not about just knowing the market today but
being able to guide you through what is going to
happen tomorrow.
Based on my extensive experience I have a proven track record of getting the best price, far in excess of the fees you pay.

With a long (29 years) career in Real Estate sales which includes management and ownership Valerie is pleased to now be "simply selling" and working solely with Clients and Customers to achieve the best possible selling and purchasing experience. With great support and back up of the Harcourts Whangarei team Valerie is confident that her clients will be well looked after and the exacting standards of service that Valerie believes is so important will be met.
Clients comment:
Below are a few words that go some way to expressing my appreciation for all your hard work.
Good luck with getting more listings.
When putting my house on the market, the best thing I did was listing it sole agency with you
Valerie. I loved the way you advertised the property, and with your knowledge of the area, your
enthusiasm and hard work, you achieved a level of interest that exceeded my expectations. Your
regular reports and phone calls kept me in the picture, thanks so much - you really are a
"Professional"!
Regards
Lena