Hillary Caston, Neighbor

From the time Hillary Caston was a young girl, she demonstrated an uncanny skill in the art of negotiation. Growing up in New York, she drew a wealth of inspiration from her father. "I used to observe him selling used cars on his lot," she recalls. I noted how well he listened to his customers to get a real sense of what was in their best interest. Hillary realized the key to her father's success was understanding people. "He quickly became my role model."

Years later, she got to apply lessons learned to a very unique situation. The man she had emulated was now the person with whom she had to negotiate. "I needed transportation to college, so I had to convince my dad to buy me a car. The best deal I could negotiate was for a jet black Pontiac Tempest with no air conditioning and snow tires to take me to Arizona State University. It was those wheels or no wheels. Those tires definitely raised a few eyebrows as I came rolling through the desert flatlands of Tempe, Arizona."

After graduating from Arizona State, Hillary embarked on a career as an elementary school teacher. "The best lesson I taught all those wide-eyed sixth graders was how to sell and market with confidence." It wasn't long, however, before the fast-paced world of Real Estate caught her eye. "There are few things more dear to people than a home," she observes. "Real Estate offered me the perfect opportunity to bring people together in what is one of the most important decisions of their lives."

Hillary credits her negotiation skills as the key to helping people achieve the best Real Estate results. "It isn't just about the person I represent," she enthuses. "It's about engaging all parties - buyer, seller, and the other agent." Why the other agent? As Hillary points out, "because they're the link and the influence for consummating the deal."

A naturally empathetic person, Hillary helps people feel comfortable right off the bat with her sense of humor and understanding. "Comfort is paramount for establishing a connection with all parties involved," she points out. "Once we're in sync, we can educate each other and identify what will be in everyone's best interest."

"Whether you're talking about cars or homes, all parties must come away from a deal feeling whole, " emphasizes Hillary. "They need to feel they were treated fairly." That's where I come in. The power of good humor and empathy can work wonders."