Every agent says they’re “dedicated” and “client-focused.” Those words are free. What an agent did before real estate tells you far more about how they’ll act when your deal gets tense.
Mine looks like this: years as a craft cocktail bartender, a life and health coaching business, a luxury property management company, podcast host, and a personal training and private yoga gym. Different jobs, same skill. Every one of them required reading people fast and staying steady when things got loud.
Bartending taught me that people rarely say what they mean. A guest orders a drink, but what they need is a minute to unwind. Buyers do the same. “I need a big yard” can mean “I want my dogs to be okay.” “I need to stay under budget” can mean “I’m scared.” The listing criteria is the order. The motivation is the real request. Agents who only hear the order miss the deal.
Coaching taught me to ask before I advise. In a time where 130 days on market is normal, buyers have leverage, and sellers need honest guidance. Honest guidance starts with listening. I want to know what you’re afraid of, what a win looks like, and what you won’t compromise on. Then I build the strategy.
High pressure teaches calm. Multiple offers, appraisal gaps, a seller who changes their mind on a Tuesday. I’ve worked all of it across Flagstaff, Munds Park, Williams, Sedona and Cottonwood. A steady agent protects your deal and your sanity.
Here’s my challenge to you as a buyer or seller: don’t just ask an agent how many homes they’ve sold. Ask what they did before, and how that shapes how they treat you. If the answer is a rehearsed pitch, keep interviewing. If it’s a story with specifics, you’re getting somewhere.
I’m Holly Zamora, born and raised in Flagstaff, and I’d love to hear what you’re trying to accomplish. Reach out through my website and let’s talk.