Alison Scimeca is aware of all of the D.C. neighborhoods, and she or he has tips about how you can discover the fitting place for you.
Alison Scimeca is a self-proclaimed renaissance girl — and she or he has the resume and skillset to again it up. Interning at 9:30 Membership whereas finding out at George Washington College, Scimeca immersed herself within the native music scene whereas ending her diploma in train science and athletic coaching. She went on to work as a private coach for 10 years earlier than switching to work at a tech startup, the place she managed D.C. and New York Metropolis markets. Now in her third reinvention, she works as a realtor to seek out individuals their everlasting house within the D.C. space. In her free time, she works with rescue shelters to foster canines till they discover a everlasting house of their very own, too.
“I really feel like I used to be by no means meant to do one particular factor,” Scimeca says, holding a yorkie combine rescue on her lap. “The thread by all of my careers has been customer support and wanting to assist individuals obtain and fall in love with one thing.”
The transfer to realty was stunning to Scimeca, who typically discovered the business chilly and money pushed. Nonetheless, together with her group The RARE (Radically Genuine Actual Property) affiliated with Compass, Scimeca determined to do issues her means by creating a singular, inviting and admittedly quirky expertise for shoppers. By means of her firm, she presents occasions for individuals to community, discover the town and be taught extra about actual property; hosts a podcast and YouTube channel to offer recommendation on all issues actual property; and above all, makes positive empathy is offered all through the journey of her shoppers discovering a house.
District Fray had an opportunity to select Scimeca’s mind concerning the D.C. space’s present market, her favourite neighborhoods and why she isn’t planning to modify careers once more anytime quickly.
District Fray: What are the up-and-coming neighborhoods you are feeling are well worth the funding in the long term?
Alison Scimeca: Michigan Park is an effective one. Anacostia remains to be going up in worth. These are two I consider proper off the bat. Successfully if you happen to go east in D.C. — if we’re speaking about simply the District — that’s the place issues are extra reasonably priced and the place you see extra improvement taking place. NoMa obtained a complete new identify; it was warehouses and massive dance golf equipment and stuff like that. And south, like Navy Yard, wasn’t a factor 10 to fifteen years in the past. If the advice was a path, it’s south and east. That’s the place every little thing is extra reasonably priced proper now.
What neighborhoods do you advocate outdoors of the town for individuals contemplating leaving D.C. correct?
A lot of home shopping for is subjective. What’s necessary to you? Is it having a yard? Is all you desire a two-level home? What’s a suitable commute? 20 minutes? 40 minutes? It relies on what your priorities are. I can inform you neighborhoods I might think about transferring to, which I believe are very cool and also you’ll undoubtedly get extra bang in your buck: Hollin Hills, which is in Alexandria, Virginia and Holmes Run which is type of close to Merrifield, Virginia.
Has Covid-19 made it more durable to tour properties, when it comes to sure guidelines when attempting to promote a home? As a realtor, how do you navigate and attempt to make each vendor and purchaser comfortable?
You could respect the particular person whose house it’s. To start with, it was arduous to determine how you can navigate as a result of everybody was nonetheless studying about Covid-19. I believe there was loads of concern. Then, the market modified tremendously as a result of individuals needed to maneuver out of the town. If you happen to’re a very good agent, try to be writing the vendor’s guidelines within the present notes and perhaps explaining it. If there are any type of restrictions in anyway, hopefully these are within the notes after which you’ll be able to at the very least put together your shoppers and say, “Pay attention, masks aren’t your factor anymore, however masks are their factor.” It was like that pre-Covid too; individuals need you to put on shoe covers or take your sneakers off. Frankly, I believe if you happen to’re a thoughtful particular person, it’s not likely that arduous to navigate now.
How do you prefer to arrange an open home? Do you might have any distinctive methods for showings?
It relies on the home. It’s about studying the home and studying the individuals who is perhaps all in favour of it. I’ve completed champagne open homes. I’ve completed cookies. It does depend upon the house and typically I don’t do something as a result of I would like the house to talk for itself.
What retains you working in actual property?
It’s arduous to remain in actual property. You’ve obtained to continuously be discovering shoppers and I’m not one to do bizarre ads. It feels inauthentic. I keep in it as a result of I actually take pleasure in working with my shoppers. I take pleasure in serving to individuals accomplish no matter their purpose is, not simply from like a “You probably did it, to procure the home,” however the full emotional journey. My purpose is to make you are feeling comfy and comfortable concerning the resolution you’ve made.
First vinyl file. “A Northern Soul” by The Verve. Favourite music venue within the D.C. space. 9:30 Membership. I’ve so many reminiscences tied there that it’s arduous to surpass. Favourite native artist(s). Kelly Towles and Lisa Marie Thalhammer. Go-to neighborhood spot. The Royal. Favourite costume you personal. Cereal field characters Frankenberry and Rely Chocula. Neighborhood you need to stay in. Crestwood.
For extra suggestions and recommendation on actual property, take heed to Alison Scimeca’s podcast “Hire Transfer Purchase by The RARE” or watch episodes on her YouTube channel “The RARE.” To be taught extra about Scimeca and The RARE, go to her web site theraredc.com or observe her on Instagram at @theraredc.
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