About Jay S. Marlow
Background:
I have lived in the mountains and foothills of Western North Carolina since I was four years old. I grew up in the small town of Valdese in Burke County. I graduated from East Burke High School. At Appalachian State University, I majored in Real Estate and Urban Analysis earning a Bachelor of Science degree. After college I moved to Asheville in 1992 and began my real estate career. I chose Asheville because I wanted to stay in the mountains, and wanted to be in a larger city. I love living in Asheville, due to the balance of life it provides. I have lived in West Asheville for more than 10 years, in an Arts and Crafts bungalow built in the 1920's. My main hobby is sailing my Guppy 13 sailboat on Lake Julian and Lake James. (Click on the Personal Photos Tab)
Several things set me aside from most local Realtors. First, I grew up in the real estate business. My mother and father are both Realtors. My mother has been in the real estate business more than 25 years and owns Sharon Marlow Realty in Morganton, NC. I answered phones in the real estate office from the time I was a small child, and my "job" as a child was to put the for sale signs in the yards. Unlike most Realtors who end up in real estate as a second career later in life, I planned my career in real estate by majoring in real estate in college, and beginning my career when I was 22 years old. I am also a state certified appraiser, and appraise a wide variety of properties all over Western North Carolina. I am one of the very few Realtors in the Asheville area, that is also an appraiser. That allows me to give you expert advice on the true Market Value of your property. I enjoy the real estate sales business, because it gives me the opportunity to help people who need to sell their home, and help buyers find the right home for them. I do sincerely feel as if I am doing my best to help people with their real estate needs. Buying or selling a home can be very stressful, and I am glad I can help make the process easier for people. My income from appraisals takes the pressure off the sales business, so you will always get unbiased advice from me. I do not consider myself a salesman. My job is to provide advice, expertise, and knowledge to my clients, not to sell them on any particular property. I only want my clients to buy or sell a home if it is truly in their best interest, that way they will be happy with my company in the long run. I would always prefer to have a satisfied client to do business with over many years, than any single commission from a sale. It is the repeat business I have earned over the years that has allowed me the privilege of being in business since 1992. I always treat my clients like a friend, and hope to maintain a lasting relationship with them. Personally, I always like to feel like I am doing business with a person not a corporation, and that's how I want my clients to feel about me.
My Client-First Philosophy
There are many qualities and skills that go into being an excellent real estate professional - integrity, in-depth community and market knowledge, marketing savvy, effective negotiation skills and a high-quality professional network, all of which are hallmarks of how I work.
That said, in my experience as a Asheville real estate professional, I've also found that providing the very best service is essentially about putting my clients first. This means keeping myself accessible, being a good listener as well as a good communicator, and responding quickly to your needs.
This "client first" philosophy has always been my approach and it requires me to continually improve my skills and ways of doing business. In addition, I've found that the latest technologies are enabling me to do everything I've always done, only much more quickly and efficiently. They've also helped me to extend the range of services I provide to my clients.
So when you decide that you'd like to buy or sell a home in the Asheville or WNC area, please contact me.