BlogStoriesA house w/flying marsupials & suburban crummies...
A house w/flying marsupials & suburban crummies…
By Tracy Dau, February 1, 2018
Neither Chris or I have the slightest clue on how to be a computer programmer, heart surgeon, or a tech analyst… but we do know how to help clients transform their homes. Every job requires training or experience, a certain type of work ethic. When Chris and I partnered years ago we decided that we would specialize in being the kind of agents that would “Kick-Ass” as project managers for our clients. We would show our clients what we could do on a budget. We would S-T-R-E-T-C-H their money to get the most bang-for-the-buck on the listing end. And when we took on buyers, if their purchase needed work after we closed, we would help them hire out their projects. We would do it on a tight budget. They would fall in love with us!
We try to empower our clients to bring their houses back to life. Sometimes, that means we work along side them, painting and scraping, hauling and cleaning, restoring and shopping for products. Sometimes, it means we drink booze with them to help get them through their house projects (Chris is better at this then I am). Sometimes, it means helping them tile their floor while they weep about their pending divorce. Sometimes, it means watching their children while they go out house hunting with one of us (I’m better at this then Chris is). Sometimes, it means helping get rid of multiple cars and have them towed…. Any which way, whether you are trying to pimp out your house for sale, or pimp it out after your purchase, Chris and I have your back.
Meet our new listing in SE Milwaukie. Our seller gave us a $10,000 budget to do everything. We went slightly over budget because of the hardwood floors/baseboards we had installed. Still, we were really close. Our seller gave us a lump of money and said with a laugh, “I trust you completely. Ruth said you two know what you are doing (thanks Ruth for the referral). Do what you can to make it beautiful. It is yours to tweak.”
This once was a house with flying marsupials and a driveway full of suburban crummies. It is now sitting and waiting for its next chapter. You.
Tracy Dau and Chris Speth
Old House Whisper /Sucker Agents / We love what we do
tdau@livingroomre.com
chris@cwsrealestate.com
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Tracy Dau
Earth Advantage Broker
When you meet Tracy Dau, it doesn’t take long to realize where her true passions lie.
She loves houses and loves matching her clients with the place that’s perfect for them. Ask her clients and they’ll tell you she’s a whirlwind of energy, a juggler of projects, a creative force, a good listener and a tireless advocate. She comes to the job with a vision for what’s possible and the background to make that happen.
Maybe it’s because she grew up in the breathtaking town of Juneau Alaska, where it rains 250 days a year. It’s the kind of place where you either give into gloomy weather or dig deep and find the will to preserve. Maybe it’s because her folks instilled in her the drive to succeed.
For the past sixteen years she has gutted and restored many houses, using any opportunity to work with her hands. Blending her formal training as a fine artist and designer with her experience as a builder, these old-house remodels have become her creative canvas. Her time as a product developer and architectural consultant at Rejuvenation House Parts introduced her to a community of like-minded folks who encouraged her to become a Realtor.
She is drawn to vintage homes. The artist in her is drawn to their detail, the builder in her to their craftsmanship. Their charm and imperfections make them all the more fascinating and soulful.
That’s what drew her to her first home. Stripped of all her painted-lady features, she sat sadly on a corner lot in SE Portland waiting to be loved and cared for. She had a yard full of shopping carts, a tree that had grown through her facade, motor-oil soaked mattresses and a basement full of the neighbor’s missing car parts, and yet, in spite of this her husband Nate and Tracy bought and fixed her up. This renovation lead to the next house-love-affair, followed by another and another. It only made sense to apply this knowledge and the valuable lessons learned along the way to help others looking to buy or improve their own homes.
Which brings me to why she became a Realtor.
Tracy chose this job because she is passionate about houses and loves the chance to develop relationships with her clients. When you choose to work with Tracy, she will advocate for your best interests, guide you through the home buying process and protect you from the stressful moments as they inevitably arise. She will advise you every step of the way to enable you to make good decisions, stay centered and reach your goals. Even after your transaction has come to an end, Tracy is still available to
answer your questions and help with your home projects.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. Her hobbies include teaching her children, Lander and Olivia, about nature, hunting for sea creatures, spotting birds, drinking bourbon in the winter and gin in the summer, eating chocolate and traveling to warm destinations.