Nine Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's Realtors honored with 2016 Five Star Real Estate Agent Awards
Local Realtors Brian and Jenn Barrows, Kim Hamer, Mitch Selbiger, Mariya Oldfather, Henry Jaffe, Sandi Bisgood, Paul Maltaghati and Carla Scheder of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's International Realty have each been named as one of Delaware's 2016 Five Star Professional Real Estate Agents. The Five Star Award recognizes those agents who have scored highest in overall customer satisfaction, with these scores derived directly from customer surveys.
All Delaware-area residents who purchased a home over $100,000 within an 8- to 36-month period were surveyed by phone or mail to determine the top scoring agents in 10 different criteria across the state. Most importantly, the 2016 Five Star agents do not pay any type of fee to be included in this research or on the final list of Five Star agents, which means this is a true reflection of their clients' feedback.
Jenn and Brian Barrows love the Delaware beaches and instill their sense of pride in this community with every client they represent. Brian is a Beebe baby and was born and raised here. Jenn is a New York native but has been a part of the beach life for nearly 30 years. Both are Blue Hens, graduating from the University of Delaware, and are living their dream of raising their two sons in the community they love. Jenn and Brian have consistently ranked in the top 1 percent of all Realtors in Sussex County, have 27 years of combined beach real estate experience and have sold over $150 million in sales volume in just the last 10 years alone.
Historically, they sell one house per week and still maintain the highest level of client satisfaction. "We are truly honored and humbled to receive the Five Star Realtor Award for the seventh year in a row. This award means the most to us because it's based on our clients' excellent experience buying and selling with us. It speaks volumes to our commitment to developing clients for life," said Jenn. The Barrows regularly give back to the community. Brian is a board member at Rehoboth Beach Country Club and a member of the Delaware State Golf Association Scholarship Committee. Jenn volunteers at Rehoboth Elementary School regularly, including being an art docent. Both volunteer and give to the Immanuel Shelter.
While working in marketing in the computer industry for over 20 years, Mitch Selbiger saw firsthand the dramatic rise of the software industry as he developed effective marketing strategies for such companies as Netscape, Sybase and Aether Systems. He successfully transitioned to the real estate industry in 2001 and has the technological ability to stay on top of this fast-paced market. He is a multi-year Five Star award winner - five years in a row, a status only conferred to the top 1/2 of 1 percent of all agents in Delaware. "I enjoy staying in close contact with my clients and providing them with immediate feedback and action plans," said Selbiger. "Melding technology and real estate has allowed me to actively participate in two dynamic industries." Selbiger, an associate broker, received his Real Estate broker's license in 2007.
Kim Hamer, a member of the OA Sotheby's team since 2004, began selling real estate part time in 1998, turning it into a full-time job in 2005. She is consistently one of the top 10 real estate agents in all of Sussex County in terms of sales volume, yet still personally manages each transaction to ensure exceptional client satisfaction. With her background in marketing through her previous career at MBNA, she brings a fresh and creative perspective to every real estate transaction. Hamer is a native Delawarean with deep local roots – her husband Jeff has owned local restaurants in town since 1991, and currently they own Fins Fish House & Raw Bar, Fins Ale House, and Claws Seafood House of Rehoboth. "I'm thrilled to have made the Five Star Real Estate Agent list for Delaware for the seventh year," said Hamer. "The real estate market is changing quickly these days, and to be able to successfully help people navigate through a sometimes complicated process means so much to me." Hamer has sold over $200 million in total sales volume in her career and has been the top producing individual OASIR agent since 2009. She is also the listing agent for Sandy Cove in Ocean View and Bethany Woods in Bethany Beach.
Sandi Bisgood was a native of Bethesda, Md., and a frequent visitor to the beaches before moving to coastal Delaware full time in 1997. A Five Star Agent for her third year in a row, she has a deep commitment to giving back to the community, as well as to providing excellent service to her clients. She served as president of the Sussex County Women's Council of Realtors for 2016 after several years on the governing board, and has recently completed two three-year terms on the Delaware State Board of Social Work Examiners, as well as being active on a number of committees for charitable and political causes. Bisgood finds great satisfaction in helping her clients achieve their real estate goals, and has a consultative, low-key, no-pressure style. She specializes in homes and land in The Peninsula, an upscale private country club community, where she has assisted over 100 buyers and sellers since 2005. Bisgood is also an award-winning photographer, a skill she brings to help her clients sell their homes at the best possible terms.
Also hailing from Bethesda is Henry Jaffe, who earned the Five Star Real Estate Agent Award in 2014 and 2015. He has an extensive background in all aspects of real estate transactions and a strong understanding of the local real estate market and community including Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and surrounding Delaware beach towns. Having descended from a four-generation, family-run, commercial and residential high-rise construction company, Jaffe has a keen understanding of the dynamics of real estate and providing clients with the support needed to make the process enjoyable and rewarding for everyone. His ability to generate creative solutions will assure that the needs of each and every client are met. Jaffe and his wife are passionate about living in Delaware and enjoy the lifestyle and active community the coastal areas of Sussex County provide. When not working, Jaffe enjoys surfing and is competitive in club tennis and league soccer. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Sussex County Association of Realtors, and is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Carla Scheder was born and raised in Rehoboth Beach and has extensive knowledge of the area. Her earliest exposure to real estate was probably at the age of 1, when her mother, Pat Campbell-White, entered the real estate profession. Early in her own career, she worked in resort rentals for six years before her entry into property sales in 2001. Scheder has been a licensed Realtor and Rehoboth Beach real estate agent since 1996. In 2012 she earned her coveted associate broker’s license. She has positioned herself on a fast track to professional success by utilizing a variety of training and productivity resources to continually sharpen her skills. Scheder and her children, Luke and Grace Miller, reside in the Lewes area. Pat and Carla's ancestry roots trace back to the Rehoboth area of Sussex County from 1740, which is truly an example of local ties!
Mariya Oldfather is an integral member of the the Oldfather Group, the No. 1 producing team at Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's. With over 24 team members, the Oldfather Group specializes in providing their clients with information and guidance in home buying or selling in southern Delaware and Maryland's extraordinary coastal communities. Oldfather has a strong analytical, financial and organizational background which provides clients with an edge in negotiations. Boasting exceptional tech-savvy sales methods, a heavy internet presence and use of virtual tours, Oldfather integrates technology seamlessly into her home buying and selling strategies. The Oldfather Group is on track to help 300 clients buy or sell properties in this area in 2016.
Paul Maltaghati, a native New Yorker, has over 25 years of retail experience as the owner of a prestigious business located in midtown Manhattan. His clientele included many high-profile celebrities and major Fortune 500 companies, for whom he worked with discretion and professionalism. After eight years of buying, renting and selling personal vacation properties in Rehoboth Beach, he decided to leave New York in 2004, joining the Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's team in 2005. Maltaghati is an expert at giving his sellers exceptional marketing and exposure to secure a contract that yields the best terms and price, while also connecting his buyers with the best property, terms and price possible. Maltaghati also knows new construction, with 10 years of experience working in model homes in several communities for local builders.
In Delaware, Five Star Real Estate Agents account for less than 7 percent of all licensed agents in the state. "The Five Star award is a true representation of outstanding customer service from an agent," said Justin Healy, broker at OA Sotheby's International Realty. "We at OA Sotheby's are so proud to have Jenn and Brian, Sandi, Henry, Kim, Mitch, Carla, Mariya, and Paul as part of our team. Their continued hard work and dedication to their clients is truly a great reflection on our company."
To learn more about Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's International Realty, call 302-227-6767 or go to www.oasir.net.
