People often ask me how I have managed to work in real estate for decades. I owe a lot to the example of my father, Hillis Williams. His real love was technical theater. He designed and built 350 stage settings—all the flats, props, and backdrops. That is like building 350 custom houses. Saw dust and grease paint are in my blood. I got my flair for staging and fixing-up at an early age.
My Dad gave me the tools I needed to raise my family here in Santa Barbara. At 99, he is still an active artist, designing and hooking wool rugs in his studio. He hasn’t stopped working and is now devoting his time to creating rugs for his family, friends, and a few stalwart collectors. As my Dad approaches his 100th birthday, we all treasure his ability to create beauty—and that he is still in our lives.
His focus on creativity and a desire to always get better inspires my professional life. As a teenager, I created products and sold them everywhere I could, even door to door. I knocked on 20,000 doors on the South Coast getting my real estate career launched. That’s where this newsletter comes from.
Door-knocking was an effective method, before social media, to let the neighbors know that I cared about them, their homes, and our community. I taught Adult Ed classes about home staging and high-ticket negotiating. These days I host a podcast where I interview the best and brightest in the real estate field. I pass along ways to maximize a home’s value,and to reduce the stress inherent in buying, selling, and moving.
Montecito Market Report (December 2022 - January 2023)
As I think about my Dad this Valentine’s Day, I am grateful for the ways he influenced me. As I’ve grown older I’ve come to appreciate how his work ethic continues to impact me. He taught me to work hard and bring creativity into whatever I did.
Creativity never goes out of style, and creative approaches to selling houses are back in demand. Consider my lifetime of successful selling in Montecito/Santa Barbara when you are looking for help. I am here to assist you with any upcoming real estate situation you may be facing.
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