Mark Lee

I am a full-time real estate agent with almost sixteen years of experience and have lived for over forty years in the Baltimore area. In an industry where consumers often see real estate agents in the same light as used car salesmen and personal injury attorneys, I strive at every juncture of my relationship with clients to let them know that I'm a professional, that the information I'm providing them is objective and that my actions are in their interests at all times; that trust is so important to ensuring a happy transaction and is the essence of any good business. I tell my clients that if there is something I like about a house, they will know about it and, similarly, if there is something I don't like, they will know about it. I try to put my clients in the right direction and then step back after I make my suggestions, letting them know that the decision and the happiness with that choice is ultimately theirs.

I love working with first-time home buyers. My fifteen years as an advertising photographer honed my innate attention to detail, and both buyers (and sellers) seem to love that trait. With buyers, I slow them down and teach them how to look at a house from top to bottom for possible issues. I always have a flashlight with me to illuminate dark corners or to point out interesting aspects. At the end of the transaction, whether they are first-time or eleventh-time purchasers, I want them to walk away from the sale with far more knowledge than they started.

For sellers, I provide a detailed and formal recommendation list of all of the aspects that I see that can present obstacles to the sale. Because I work with so many buyers, sellers find it helpful to have their house assessed as seen through the eyes of a diligent buyers' agent. Thoroughness is one of the hallmarks of my business practice. I apply my former skills as a photographer to good use and put a huge effort into ensuring that my listing photography is publication-ready and suitable for a magazine. As a former photographer, I excelled at composition, color and depth, and have a refined sense of style that can help a home appeal to a broader market; as a result, I offer quasi-staging and have an inventory of flat artwork, table decorations and non-live plants and flowers to help dress up a bare or poorly decorated space.

I also help with de-cluttering homes that are in dire need of organization, and can enhance the simplicity and flow. Once the preliminary work has been completed, I spend a day shooting the house and come equipped with professional studio strobes, lighting every room and prepping them to make sure that they're camera-ready. I want the house to look bright and natural to draw in buyers who are looking on the internet, and adjust my lighting to achieve this look. I also do close-up photography of all of the cool, easily-missed details that are part of the personality of a home. Throughout the whole process, I try to keep it fun for my clients. Buying or selling a home can be stressful, but a good sense of humor can make the rough spots easier. Sometimes, we encounter humor at homes whether we're looking for it or not!