One of the more remarkable aspects of Mimi and John Strother's successful real estate career is its sheer expanse - from low cost to high-end homes in neighborhoods stretching from the Eastside to Seattle and beyond. To some it might seem an unmanageable and enervating bundle of unrelated business, but to this high-energy husband-wife team from RE/MAX Northwest REALTORS in Kirkland, it is exactly what they enjoy doing the most.

In fact, they thrive on the broad economic and geographic diversity of their clients and are committed to bringing the same high level of customer service to everyone, no matter what their resulting commission might be. That steadfast pledge, along with an ideal blend of talents and interests that Mimi and John bring to their job, has allowed them to build a wide network of referral-based business over the past 13 years. It has also enabled them to live a very balanced life.

Both admit that they did not plot their way to the top with long-range goals and strategies, but neither was it a chance occurrence. Their unique partnership has evolved over the years into what many of the clients and colleagues describe as a "perfect match."

Mimi prefers to be the buyers' agent and prides herself on keen familiarity with countless neighborhoods on both sides of Lake Washington. I think it is more fun to be all over the map looking for the right house for someone. There are gems in every price range," she says. "It also allows me to recommend a neighborhood a client may have never considered if I think it would be a good fit."

John, on the other hand, handles the listing side of the equation and technicalities involved in closing a sale. He is fastidious about every listing and won't let a property go on the market until he thinks it is ready. That often means employing at his expense a decorator who specializes in staging to prepare the home for optimum showing. He also does a virtual tour for every home regardless of where it falls in the value spectrum. "Our listings sell more quickly that way," John explains, "and we always want to get top dollar for every property." Despite their different roles, Mimi and John always stay abreast of everything the other is doing so they can step in for one another whenever necessary.

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