Dan Plaza

Broker
Hasson Company Realtors
360.487.6031
danielplaza.hasson.com

How long have you worked in Real Estate?
1 (1/2) years.

What is your specialty?
Single family residences in Southwest Washington.

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
Buying – There is an adage in real estate that basically says the home that buyers eventually purchase rarely looks like what they initially thought they wanted. I have to say that based on my experience I agree. My one tip would be to measure twice and buy once. That is, don’t feel rushed into anything. Buying a home is a big deal and it should fill most, if not all, your wants and needs.
Selling – My tip for sellers is interview multiple brokers before you make a decision on whom to list your property with. A great broker will be an invaluable partner in the selling (and buying) process. It may take a bit more time but I assure you it will be time well spent.

What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?
I think every deal is unique in its own way. I did have a listing last year that had been previously listed with another agent for 180 days without any success. The home was built in the 60’s and had undergone a remodel that basically added two wings to the original house. The prior owners both had home-based businesses. One side even had a metal spiral staircase from the garage to the upstairs office! The house was a tough sell due to its age and size. The solution was that I just had to change the narrative of the home from dated and too big, to one of potential and room to grow! Throw in some professional photography and voila, we got her sold.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve encountered while working in real estate?
One of the funnier things that I can think of was when I went out to show a home on 5 acres up in La Center. The home was being foreclosed on so the power had been shut off. My clients were supposed to meet me there around 5pm. I was the first to arrive so I drove down the dirt road and parked off to the side to leave room for them. After about thirty minutes my clients still weren’t there so I hiked back up the driveway til I got cell phone coverage. Turns out they had accidentally gone to the wrong location. We agreed to re-schedule as they had gone to a home in Battle Ground. When I got back to my car I quickly discovered I had pulled too far off the road and was stuck in the mud. After thirty minutes of trying to free myself, I hiked back up to the main road and got a hold of the clients. Lucky for me they had decided to drive out anyway so they made a quick stop to buy a tow strap and arrived just in time to rescue me from the wilds of La Center. No wonder they ended up being one of my favorite clients of 2015.

What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
I love working with people and solving problems so being a REALTOR® is the perfect fit for me. Happy buyers and sellers are the perfect reward for me.

What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices?
Well I see those as being separate. I think we will see a decrease in the number of homes sold in 2016 v. 2015. Inventory has been and will continue to be a challenge. I think prices will continue to hold steady or rise slightly due to the continued lack of inventory.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Hobbies, volunteering, family, fun?
I have a 5yr old daughter so most of my free time goes to her. One of the reasons I decided to go into real estate was so I could have time with her. I am so lucky to be able to get her ready in the mornings and take her to school. I also enjoy golfing when I get the free time. I have played in a free poker league for the last 10 years and love playing cards and board games.

What do you like about living in this area?
I love having easy access to the beach and the mountains. I love the climate as well. The people out here have always been great and over the last decade or so the food has become world class. Oh, and the coffee. Did I mention wine??

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
I chose to work at Hasson because of its focus on quality over quantity, and the belief that bigger isn’t always better. The professionalism and commitment to technology allows us to continue to be leaders in the ever changing real estate market. Our agents continue to lead the pack in average yearly sales volume per agent, allowing access to some of the best agents in the business. Hasson Company Realtors reputation is second to none and I’m proud to be a part of it.