Dear Robert G. Williams,
Although my partner and I have completed the survey/evaluation you recently sent to us about our experience with Prudential Orchid Isle Properties, I feel compelled to write this letter in order to express more of my feelings about working with your agent Rose Delfin.
Buying a home in an area that you know little to nothing about can be quite challenging. For this reason my partner Kevin and I decided to search out a realtor in Hilo that we could both feel comfortable working with. For me this was no easy task. I have always had a strong distrust and dislike for realtors. I have believed that they were overpaid and did not deserve or work hard enough for the commission they “earned”. This attitude developed by having to deal with realtors while purchasing and selling our previous two (2) homes.
We interviewed a couple of realtors back in May while on a trip to Hilo following up on some employment leads. Rose was the last realtor we interviewed and both Kevin and I were quite impressed. She seemed very competent and confident, and yet down to earth and easy to talk to. Her knowledge of the Hilo area and the changing housing market of these turbulent times told us she was someone who stayed on top of the business. She answered all of our questions well and didn’t hesitate as we threw more and more challenges at her. It did not take us long at all to decide that we felt comfortable working with Rose as our realtor as we prepared to transition our life to Hawaii and to Hilo specifically.
What transpired in the months following was truly amazing. I was so impressed with how hard Rose worked with and for us! We communicated regularly via email and phone as we searched for a home to buy while still on the mainland. When we came back to Hilo in July, Rose had arranged for us to look at a number of houses. There were two we were very interested in. Rose’s research on one of the homes turned up issues with a title that the listing agent wasn’t even aware of, even though the house had been on the market for over 2 years?! We then made an offer on another house that wasn’t accepted. Rose remained positive and promised that we would eventually find just the right house.
As all the details of leaving our jobs, selling our house and packing up everything to move to Hawaii overwhelmed us, Rose stayed in constant contact keeping us updated in all listings in our price range. As it became clear that we were not going to be able to purchase a house before arriving in Hilo, Rose actually helped us to find a rental to live in! This truly seemed above and beyond the call of duty. We arrived in Hilo in late October and again Rose took care of all the details of arranging for us to look at several houses.
Eventually, with Rose’s help, we did in fact find a great house to buy and we closed on it just a few weeks ago. Rose made the whole escrow process very understandable and easy for us to go through. Again, I am sure she did a lot of extra realtor stuff in order to guide us smoothly through to the final purchase. We can’t wait to transform this house into our new home.
What I have come to realize is that my dislike and distrust of realtors stemmed from the fact that I never really worked with a REALTOR – a true professional of the caliber of Rose Delfin – someone who commits themselves so fully to the purpose of helping others find a place to call home. I do not know how we could have made this move to Hawai’I without her help.
You are very lucky to have Rose as an associate. I hope you recognize this fact and give her all the support and praise she so truly deserves.
We have and will continue to recommend Rose and Orchid Isle Properties to everyone we know who is looking to buy or sell a house in the Hilo area.
