Karen Lum

About

Professional Philosophy Home buyers and sellers in today's competitive market need as much an advantage as possible to get the desired results. As a second generation Realtor, Karen has seen how real estate practices have evolved with the increasing use of modern technology by consumers. Her approach blends the most effective use of traditional practices with social media, online marketing and research, SEO, email, and text communications to get the very best results for her buyers and sellers. Even with technology to help streamline the buying and selling process, Karen firmly believes it's still a people-to-people business with each experience as unique as the home and people themselves. By carefully listening to and understanding her client's real estate goals, Karen customizes a plan of action and communication style to her client's preferences and busy lifestyle. She believes clients make better decisions when they understand the process and their options, and explains everything clearly and thoroughly. Her clients appreciate her attention to detail, up-to-the-minute communication, problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, tireless energy, and effective negotiation style that have been honed for over 16 years. These skills, along with her high level of integrity, have fostered clients' trust that she will always watch out for their best interest and to do the right thing. Whether purchasing a home for the first time, moving to a larger home, or selling a home to move to a different locale, she is here to assist with what is undoubtedly one of the most important investments in your life. Personal Interests As much as I enjoy my job, it's not all work and no play. It's important to rest and enjoy life fully. Rest for me is walking in my garden every morning. I enjoy seeing the seasons and planning for next year's harvest. Raised with a farming background, I understand what working hard means and appreciate the fruits of my labor. Nothing beats biting into a homegrown tomato. Trying new recipes using whatever is harvested from the garden is especially fun and gratifying. Another morning ritual is walking our SPCA rescue dog. He's quite a spirited bundle of energy that helps me start my day. When I have a day off, I enjoy taking a quick jaunt to the wine country for dining and wine tasting or taking a ballroom dance class. These activities provide a terrific mini vacation for my mind and spirit. Longer vacations take me out of the country. I love the opportunity to explore new countries and immerse myself in a different culture.Education Karen received her bachelor's degree in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley, while working part-time in a San Francisco law firm to help subsidize her education. Upon graduation, she worked at a major retail company dividing her time between merchandising and buying positions. Being responsible for merchandising and managing a department helped fine-tune her visual marketing and people skills; on the buying end, she tapped into her natural tendencies towards being analytical, a critical skill when determining style trends and individual store requirements. During a hiatus to raise her two sons with her husband, Karen was not one to be idle. She took that opportunity to join parent organizations and co-chaired a fundraising activity that raised approximately $21,000 for her son's elementary school. Throughout this time, she continued to participate in various functions where she was able to exercise her organizational, group management and communication skills. The culmination of her life's experiences, various activities, jobs, and skills sets honed along the way have proven invaluable in her successful real estate career. She has taken opportunities to further her skills by taking courses in advanced sales and negotiation through Sales Career Resources, Inc.