Assist 2 Sell is owned and operated by Doug and Deena Willis. Their unique real estate business is designed to offer customers a discounted price in their service without sacrificing quality. They are a full-service realtor, and put customer service ahead of their percentage of the sale.

This husband and wife team started their business in real estate in Arcadia in 2002, and moved to the Pasadena location in 2004. Doug worked in sales for consumer products for “about 20, 25 years,” traveling around to all the major retailers to convince them to carry his company’s products. He always wanted to go into business for himself. Deena has a background in design, and worked in sales and marketing creating corporate exhibits and displays. Their different skill sets compliment each other, and has been key to their growing success.

Both Doug and Deena hold real estate brokers licenses, and hold a GRI designation. Doug takes extension classes frequently to continue growing his expertise, and to stay on top of industry standards. About eleven months, he decided to put his wealth of knowledge on the web in a blog that is free to read on their website, www.SGVhomes.com.

A lot of the real estate information available in news sources is six to eight weeks behind, and are generalized across a large-scale area. Doug’s blog is acutely focused on Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, and is what they call “real time real estate.” They put this free resource out there because they know that people will make better decisions when they are better prepared.

Doug and Deena truly enjoy what they do. It’s a difficult time now for a lot of homeowners, and they have worked with several families to minimize the damage of potential foreclosure by successfully selling their homes and helping them find an affordable rental property. “It’s very rewarding when you can help people who got in over their head,” said Deena.

“My favorite part is putting deals together,” said Doug. “Every day is different, so there is a lot of creativity in your job.”

“I have a knack for finding that right home, finding them the house they want, by reading between the lines,” said Deena. She enjoys creating friendships with buyers and sellers as she helps them make the transition easier.

Both Doug and Deena understand that buying and selling homes is emotional for their clients, and they work diligently with them to help with the transition. This often requires a lot of handholding.

“I counsel them about depersonalizing the property,” said Deena. “My job is to put all of their options on the table. I try to find out what their motivation is.” This is important, because if someone is selling because the mortgage lender is planning on foreclosing, the seller can feel backed into a corner. Often Deena and Doug can show them they have more options than they think they do.

If you are considering purchasing your first property, it’s important to lay some groundwork. They suggest speaking to a mortgage lender to find out what you can spend on a home. Being “Pre-Qualified” means that you have provided some basic information to a mortgage lender, and assuming everything is correct, you will probably be approved for a loan. Being “Pre-Approved” means that you have provided a significant amount of verified information to a mortgage lender, that a credit check has been run, and you could have the loan tomorrow if you make an offer and it’s accepted.

They stress the importance of doing research before you start the process. There is a plethora of information available online, but it’s important to take it with a grain of salt, because more often than not, the websites do not account for all of the factors in determining an estimate for a property.

Most importantly, buyers and sellers need to be realistic. When looking for your first home, it’s important to understand that “you aren’t going to find your ideal, dream home,” said Doug. It’s important to list your priorities so that you find most of what you want.

Assist 2 Sell, 980 S. Arroyo Pkwy. Ste. 200, Pasadena, (626) 432-4625, www.SGVhomes.com.