We worked closely with Melissa to make sure that we understood her needs completely before she arrived in-country, and were thus able to help her focus her time once she arrived on the properties that were most appropriate for her; during her search, we also gave her the information she needed to quickly evaluate those properties, and once she identified the one that she wanted–a sunny, open condo in the heart of the thriving Penn Quarter–we helped her negotiate a price for it that was nearly $60k below the seller’s initial asking price.

Melissa says:

With Ethical Homes’ help, I managed to select a condo that met all my needs in just one week’s time. Sweth’s dedication to helping me find a place that met my criteria (which, at times, weren’t all that clear, even to me) was never in question. When I wanted more information or had obscure questions, Sweth provided the answers. The real pleasure in the experience was feeling like Sweth was out to get me exactly what would make me happiest, rather than telling me what would be best for me and would be twisting my arm to go with his option. I’m confident in my decision making; Sweth gave me the information I needed so I could make a sound choice. Sweth is detail-oriented and perceptive. He uses these traits to his advantage, and provides the perfect amount of info–he’ll skim over topics if you clearly aren’t interested, but he’ll also research particular issues and get you all the info you need.

She goes on to comment on how much she appreciated the systematic approach that we bring to the process, including how we sent her reminders to do things like change her utilities and forward her mail:

This attention to detail made the process so much easier. The effort put into each step wasn’t just tied to finalizing the transaction.

And she gives one last comment about her new purchase:

P.S. I love my apartment! High ceilings are the best!

Update 2/19/09: Melissa B. was so happy to use our services for her original purchase that when the time came for her to look into refinancing, she contacted us, and we were able to help her reduce her mortgage payments by nearly $350/mo!

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The house that Heide picked wasn’t even on the market anymore, as the sellers had decided not to sell it until later in the year; true to our commitment to finding a win-win solution for everyone involved in a sale, though, we were able to show the sellers why it made sense for them to sell to Heide–and negotiated a $10,000 discount for her, to boot.

Heide says:

I had an extremely positive experience working with Sweth Chandramouli and Prudential Carruthers Realtors when purchasing my first home in March 2005. I strongly recommend Sweth to anyone looking for a home in the metropolitan District of Columbia area. My circumstances were complicated by the fact that I was physically located overseas when I initiated and completed this search. Thanks to Sweth’s extensive computer skills and the Prudential Carruthers 24×7 listing service, we were able to conduct much of the preliminary search electronically, narrowing down the options and identifying possible properties. Sweth acted as my eyes and ears, looking at various properties and posting photographs for me online. His candid advice and assessments enabled me to make the best choice from a distance, one that I was very happy with then I finally saw the home for the first time during the home inspection. Given the logistical complications of my search, I cannot imagine it would have been possible without Sweth and his many talents. As a first-time home buyer, I was unfamiliar with many of the procedures, rules, and guidelines for purchasing a home. Sweth explained all elements of the process to me, making sure I was aware of all pertinent details associated with each form and step of the process. He routinely explained the best and worst case scenarios, and warned me what to expect at each step in the process. His advice and counsel made the process much more smooth and far less painful for me. Ultimately, I was able to purchase my home from a distance thanks to Sweth’s dedicated and sincere efforts. I am very pleased with all aspects of my dealings with Sweth and Prudential Carruthers and strongly endorse them and their services.

Update 4/15/08: Heide was so thrilled with her experience with Ethical Homes that when the time came for her to purchase a new property in DC, she again turned to us for help; this time, we helped her get a great mortgage for a purchase. Read what she says about her next experience purchasing with Ethical Homes.

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