"Not only did she find us a home, she set us on track for a better life."--J(&J)…read more After many months in our new home, we can't give enough compliments and thanks to Shannon Gillette and to ourselves for finding her. The choice of an agent can be a tough one because so much bullshit can be avoided when you have a good one.
Shannon = Beyond good.
We came to Phoenix a little over a year ago with the expectation of being renters for a number of years--until we met Shannon.
We = Jonny & Jimmy.
After we looked at a number of rentals, and went through two other agents who did not see our needs as the priority we felt they ought to be, we found Shannon and emailed her about a home to rent. Within two minutes Shannon responded to my query.
Lightning speed! (insert double lightning bolt emoji here)
This set the precedent for all future communication between us. Which is what you want in real estate. No matter the time of day, Shannon made us feel like we were her number one clients and treated us as equal partners. You know, like, how some people talk more to one person than the other? Well, she didn't do that. She valued us both, heard us both.
The rental market then, inflated and overrun with desperate renters, who often found themselves in line with 6-20 other applications scared us. With this truth, Shannon empathized and because of her relationship with a trusted lender, she knew about an unbelievable program designed for people like us--soon-to-be-first-time home buyers.
"There's a program available right now in which you can own your home for less than it will cost to get into a rental. I promise you. It is real."
In total dismay, yet elated, we trusted her and began the process of buying our first home. A process filled with many ups and downs, twists, turns and mini-heartbreaks--all of which lead us to a house--perfect for us in more ways than we imagined.
With each passing day, week, month, we love our house more as we continue to beautify and make it our own. Now, instead of paying someone else's mortgage, we build equity and form deep relationships with our community.
In no small way, Shannon played a key role in our moving from impoverished renters--to strong homebuyers. Sounds dramatic? Well, it is. That's why. As a result of owning a home, our credit scores have improved making us more financially mobile. From lower interest rates on existing debt to better rates on insurance for our cars and home, we see improvements all around.
The gratefulness we feel for crossing paths with Shannon never goes unsaid. We recommend her to all we meet and some, not hearing us for whatever reason, have tried other agents and at their agent's lack of knowledge and we watch their frustration mount--to the bursting point. And then we shake our heads, and say the same damn thing, "Why didn't they just go with Shannon?"
Shannon let us set our budget, and never made us feel uncomfortable with it, never pushed us to spend more like agents often do. She put in our hands the tools to choose the neighborhoods we wanted to explore, often driving at least 1.5 hours each way to show us a home. Her lightning-speed responses ensured we never missed opportunities. Her knowledge, vast and detailed, along with her ability to educate us along the way inspired the confidence we needed to endure a few months of tricky negotiations, which led us to the best possible place.
Even though we come from different backgrounds and beliefs, like, she had no idea what Mercury Retrograde was nor the havoc it it can cause, she encouraged us nonetheless when we felt disparaged and celebrated with us when it was all complete, keys handed over with basketfuls of treats and toys for our pups.
Shannon = Magic. Without a doubt.
