I recently put my mother’s 37 year old house up for sale after a grueling two years of repairs and renovations. I was unsure of how to market the house to highlight its general strong points as well as the renovations recently completed but Sandy knew just how to do it and provided valuable advice.
I am very particular about things in general and was even more so with everything having to do with the sale of the house. Sandy accommodated all my requests, including that no lockbox be put on the door, she be present at every showing, and that she personally check the house afterwards to make sure it was secure. I also had a few other requests that were out of the norm that she readily agreed to do.
Due in part to Sandy’s efforts ahead of time, the house was sold on the first day it went on the market for above the asking price. However, this turned out to be just the beginning of the process. There was not only the usual back and forth in negotiations about closing costs but also negotiations regarding additional, unexpected repairs.
Sandy was very adept at navigating all this in a balanced way with the broker for the buyers in a manner that quickly resolved issues and allowed for an acceptable compromise in which the sale concluded on the scheduled closing date without delay.
She was also patient and responsive in answering the many questions I had about all of the paperwork beginning with her contract and ending with the paperwork for the closing. I read every word of every document and it had been many years since I had been involved in a real estate transaction, so there was quite a lot for her to explain.
However, she went far beyond what most other real estate brokers or agents would even consider doing in other ways as well. I had to travel from Europe back to the US to finish clearing out the house before the closing date, and the schedule was very tight. In addition, I had no means of transportation to take the remaining things to a storage unit a few hours away.
Sandy volunteered her time and her truck, helping to load everything and unload it on the other end. I was jet lagged and stressed and her practical help was so needed and appreciated. Of course, it was to everyone’s advantage that the house be cleared out so that there would be no remaining obstacle for the successful completion of the scheduled closing. However, I also felt that the care and concern on her part was genuine.
My experience with Sandy as a seller’s broker far exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I can wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend her to anyone wanting to sell their home or buy a home. I am so happy with her work in selling my mother’s house that I plan on consulting with her in the near future when I want to buy a house in the United States.
Sandy, of O'Konek Realty, made our recent home purchase happen with exceptional skill and professionalism. Sandy managed the sale to fit our short time window and I highly recommend O'Konek Realty for trusted and honest service.
TG for Sandy! She recently helped us to purchase a beautiful townhome for a move to the area. Columbia was a 10-hour drive away, so we looked at lots of listings online. The Internet is a great tool, but it will never replace boots on the ground. What’s the look and feel of an area? How safe is it? How much traffic noise is there? What’s the HOA like? What would the overall quality of life be like in a particular neighborhood?
Over the course of a few calls, texts and emails, we developed a very strong trust factor for Sandy. We found her to be honest, knowledgeable, practical, down to earth, pleasant natured, straight-shooting, fair, and results oriented. We became completely comfortable making the purchase without having to do the 20-hour round-trip drive to look at properties first hand. She did video calls to show us around and make us feel like we were there in-person.
After our offer was accepted for the townhome, she didn’t just disappear and wait for her commission. She helped us to find local professionals for an inspection and for closing. She provided contact information for each of the utilities we needed to establish accounts with, and for the HOA. After the closing, she checked in to see how the move went and whether we needed anything.
Sandy’s amazing – the “real deal”, passionate about what she does, which is to match people with the right home and then make the purchase process as smooth and stress-free as possible. We highly recommend her!
Sandy is an exceptional realtor and a truly kind person. She did an outstanding job helping me sell my rental property, especially with managing the extensive repairs needed to clear the termite letter and appraisal report. Sandy took care of everything—she handled the contractors, took before-and-after photos, and kept me updated every step of the way. Her dedication and care are unmatched, and I highly recommend her for any real estate needs. She is thorough in her research and offers invaluable guidance throughout the process. Thank you, Sandy, for being such a fantastic realtor and a wonderful friend!
The Bestest! From personal experience l can attest that honesty, integrity and loyalty with discretion and hard work and behalf of her clients is what makes O'Konek Realty shine in an age when people do not seem to matter to other people anymore. A company and more important, a person you can trust.
Personable , quick to respond, communicates well to deliver excellent care. For my first time buying a home , I wouldn’t trust any one else with my future.
Enjoying Resurrection Day from my porch, I love it out here, it's so quiet and beautiful.
I've lost track of how long I've been out here. Grateful for much today, also want to say thanks to Sandra O'Konek Realty for cinching up this almost-didn't-happen home purchase. She's our friend and an incredible realtor. Has the patience of Job with all my questions and bull-dog tenacity, when the deal on the house we were selling was about to fall through. Can't thank you enough!
Sandy was a terrific realtor! It was my first time selling a house. My house was 20 years old and needed work. I have no experience with house “maintenance” and what’s absolutely needed to sell a house. She helped me determine what needed to be done so the sale went through without delays or issues. We had many folks request to see it and she always made herself available. She was truly committed to helping me and was supportive throughout the entire process!
