Michele Schuler, Managing Broker and a Founder Member of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty in Bellevue, emphasizes that her clientele is generally analytical and highly intelligent. According to Michele, “These clients seek a real estate agent who can communicate effectively, efficiently, and skillfully.” Drawing from her background as a finance professional, Michele describes herself as meticulous and data-driven, considering these qualities to be key differentiators in her approach. 

     A life-long Washingtonian, Michele graduated from the University of Washington in 1993 with a degree in accounting, and worked in corporate finance until her older daughter was born. “While on maternity leave I received a call from a colleague who needed help with their start-up,” she continues. “Intrigued, I jumped at the chance to be involved at the ground level, taking on a new challenge. I became involved with business development, accounting, and operations and facilities.” Playing a pivotal role in expanding the company from nine to 147 employees, Michele eventually decided to pursue her true passion: real estate. Subsequently, she bought and flipped homes with a close friend, but in 2006 her designated broker gave her some fortuitous advice in light of the upcoming financial downturn. “He asked me why I was taking all this financial risk, buying and flipping homes?” Michele says. Grateful for the advice, she dove headfirst into helping clients buy and sell homes. 

     Michele joined the Coldwell Banker Bain office on Mercer Island in 2005, dedicating 15 years to the firm. In 2010, she expanded her residential landscape by acquiring a second home on Bainbridge Island, a move that led to lovely, albeit tedious, daily ferry commutes to her Mercer Island office. Michele gracefully navigated the dynamic of raising her two daughters as a single mom on Bainbridge Island while dividing her time between the two locations for over a decade. 

     In 2019, Michele joined as a founding member of Realogics Sotheby's International Realty in Bellevue. Since joining, she has consistently earned recognition as one of the Top Producers for Realogics Sotheby's International Realty. Most recently, she achieved the distinction of being among the Top 100 Brokers and Teams Worldwide within Sotheby’s International Realty. 

     Being raised as the daughter of a realtor appears to have influenced Michele’s daughters as well. Graduating from the University of Denver, Michele’s elder daughter, Sophia, returned to Seattle, showing a keen interest in real estate. She is currently in the process of obtaining her real estate license. “It would be heartwarming for me if we could one day work together in a legacy business,” Michele says, “but my advice to Sophia for the time being is to work for another successful real estate agent learning the skills as a member of their team, and developing independence and her own reputation.” Anya, Michele's younger daughter, is set to graduate from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in May. Despite Michele's desire to have her come home to Seattle, Anya has her sights on relocating to the Bay Area and pursuing her own career. 

     In terms of the team dynamic, Michele works closely with Marta Rodriguez, her Client Services Director, who is invaluable.  “We may grow the team in the future, perhaps adding a buyer’s agent, with our primary focus being on constructing a framework that maximally benefits our clients,” she says. Much credit is given to the marketing team as well, who play a pivotal role by offering support in social media and all marketing endeavors. Additionally, they curate a personalized local magazine that focuses on community, clients, and nonprofit initiatives. “This magazine serves as a platform to authentically showcase our well-established brand, our listings, and our community,” Michele enthuses. 

     “In this shifting market, it’s more important than ever to collaborate with other brokers,” Michele says. “It’s been challenging to get the broker engagement at broker’s opens that we had pre-COVID, so we have to be more creative in our approach.” To that end, she loves to engage brokers and buyers with educational or promotional events related to each listing. For example, with a Five Star Built Green Net Zero development, an event offered education on all things Built Green. With seven vendors and the builders present, it was a great, casual way to share information with brokers and buyers alike. For another listing, Michele partnered with a yacht broker to help promote the lifestyle of living on Lake Washington. "Just imagine walking out the door and hopping on the 55’ yacht moored at your own private dock,” Michele explains. “Having the ability to visualize what it would feel like to live in the home was a major differentiator.” 

     As Michele explains, “I attend broker’s open houses myself on Wednesdays and Thursdays, aiming to see all of the new inventory. It's partly to stay up to speed on the market, but equally because I love to connect, in person, with all the wonderful brokers I work with.” 

     For the first half of her real estate career, Michele primarily served as a buyer's agent and relocation specialist. Reflecting on this period, Michele notes, "I probably handled more relocation transactions than any other broker I've known, and despite the stress and emotional challenges, I found it immensely fulfilling." More recently, the core of her business, which is almost entirely referral based, has been 70%-80% listings. “My value is in really analyzing properties from a comparability perspective - objectively looking at the property value,” Michele continues. “When working with buyers, I am a very soft sell. I rarely push people forward - I am much more likely to hold clients back, telling them to be patient, that we will find a better house.” 

     Her views have been shaped, to a certain extent, by the COVID chaos, when clients were being told that to win, they would have to pay cash, give up every conceivable contingency, and pay 15%-20% over the asking price. “I’m very principled, and my clients are people I care passionately about. Being a trusted advisor, through thought leadership, is crucially important to me,” Michele confirms. 

     Michele concludes, "Success, to me, is achieved when I establish a lifelong connection with a client. I derive immense satisfaction from being a thought leader and guiding those who seek my expertise. It's not merely transactional; true success, for me, lies in earning people's trust."