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Servicng the deaf community and specializing your niche

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Real Estate Agent with Access Homes NC

Hi All,

If you have worked with the deaf community or are fluent in ASL I'd love to network with you. My specialty is helping people with disabilities (all disabilities) find the right home or sell their existing one. Admittedly this is a unique niche in real estate. But my website is working and I have people contact me from outher parts of the country. It also is not as narrow as you might think because it also can include Boomers because they are often looking for a place where they can "age in place".

If you have had some experience working with folks with disabilites,  I'd like to talk with you about future referrals and just to share info, tips, ect.

Happily servicing the disability community in my area,

Karen

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Julie Horton
Open Door Realty - Cornelius, NC

Karen,

This is very interesting.  How did you become an accessible housing specialist?

 

Sep 01, 2009 12:51 AM
Karen Barbour
Access Homes NC - Cary, NC
Cary, NC ePro

I became one by hanging out with people that use wheelchairs and then hooking up with a contractor who is CAPS certified that totally understands Universal Design and accessibility issues. You also need to be familiar with the ADA ( Americans with Disabilities Act).

 

It's a rewarding niche for me because there are so few Realtors out there that do "get it" and have the expertise and also it's very rewarding to give back to this community. I have a young son who has autism and I grew up with a deaf sister so I am very comfortable around "different abilities"! I used my life experience and my skills and MY PASSION. I used to work in the deaf community in the Boston area. I have always tried to keep my signing up. If you don't use it you loose it! Do what you love and the money will follow.

Sep 01, 2009 01:04 AM
Michael O'Donnell
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Arizona Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
GRI, ePRO, Accessible Homes

Karen,

You and I have the same passion, and for that matter, the same niche.  Recently, my partner (a wheelchair user) and I, were able to have our local MLS add 21 new listing and search criteria for homes with accessible features.

Long overdue! Included in the criteria are elements such as visual/tactile cues and markers for those homeowners with hearing impairment (strobe alarms, vibrating devices to warn or waken, etc.)

I hope that over time we can exchange thoughts and ideas, and ideally, bring our concerns and skill-sets to the larger market, so that folks with physical and sensory challenges are more completely integrated into the real estate market. And, like you I have a son with autism.  I find that many people open-minded and compassionate about others with challlenges, have family members in the autistic spectrum.

Happy and proud to find a fellow traveller.  Good luck to you.  Please stay in touch.

Nov 14, 2009 03:14 AM
Karen Barbour
Access Homes NC - Cary, NC
Cary, NC ePro

Hi Michael

 It's so good to hear from you. Sorry it's taken me so long to write back but I didn't get a notice.  I would love to create a network of folks like ourselves who are really great resources to the disability community. We do this because we have a passion , understanding and a sensitivity that others do not.

Congrats on influencing your MLS!

United in the process,

KAREN

 

Nov 19, 2009 12:33 AM
Edward D. Nikles
Ed Nikles Custom Builder , Inc. / Nikles Realty , Inc. - Milford, PA

Karen  , thanks again ! Michael , I would love for you to write a BLOG about adding the 21 listing & search criteria to the MLS ! I hope you would post it to Aging-in-Place Specialists , so that others can encourage their MLS to expand their criteria to be more inclusive ! Keepin' it Green ! 

Feb 10, 2010 06:18 AM
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