With nearly 40 years of real estate experience between them, Andrea Kwapien and Lisa Carroll, of Delap Real Estate, have the skills to make the home buying or selling process easy and pain-free. Both agents had earlier jobs that helped them develop customer service and people skills. Delap Real Estate is an agent-owned office located at 158 N. King St. in Northampton.
What brings you joy in real estate?
“I truly believe this work to be a helping profession,” says Andrea. “Our primary work is assisting people throughout the process, helping them reach their goals.”
“Seeing [clients] happy and satisfied with the conclusion of a sale,” explains Lisa. “It makes me feel like I am helping them move their lives forward.”
Where do you see the market going?
“Right now, interest rates are higher than they have been in quite some time,” explains Lisa. “We were extremely lucky to have a two to three percent rate for a few years. I doubt we will see that again.”
“One thing we do know is that the market has always gone up and down and change is inevitable,” explains Andrea. “My hope is that home prices stabilize, and in some cases correct so that homeownership is within reach of more people.”
What would be your advice to a potential client?
“Know your buying power in advance by getting pre-approved. Be aware of the general process and players. Understand that buying and selling take time and be open to change when necessary to get you closer to your goal,” says Andrea.
“Figure out your top priorities and stick to them,” explains Lisa. “Settling can often bring regret and that is not what I want for my clients.”
What should potential customers know about Delap?
“The team at Delap is just the best,” says Andrea. “Together, we are all dedicated to representing our clients and helping them meet their goals.”
“We are a cooperative company with seven owners and a tight-knit one,” agrees Lisa. “We look out for one another and help each other when needed.”
