Top Agent Magazine Article

Customer service is the foundation of Rachel Barkley's real estate business. After spending years working in the restaurant industry, the importance of providing an exceptional experience was instilled in her early on. She decided to earn her real estate license in 1997, and quickly began working in new home sales. After getting married and mov­ ing to California, she took a job with a developer, focusing on a revitalization project in San Pedro. This path eventu­ ally led her back to Arizona, where she took a break to raise her children. Two and a half years ago, she jumped back in and hasn't looked back since. During her first year back in the industry, she closed around $15.5 million in transactions, and $17 million in her second year. Today she works with Wexler Real Estate in Scottsdale, serving all of Maricopa County.

With low crime rates, an array of outdoor activities and beautiful scenery, it's no surprise that the greater Scottsdale area has grown year after year. Originally from Chicago, Rachel set roots down in Arizona, enjoying all of its amenities and opportunities. She loves helping people do the same, whether they're lifelong Arizonans or newcomers. Around half of her business derives from repeat clients and referrals, as she prioritizes her clients' needs and goes above and beyond to ensure a smooth transaction. "I spend a lot of time working with out-of-state investors, so I do very thorough virtual tours, making sure they know exactly what everything in a home looks like," Rachel explains. "I go above and beyond to walk them through it." From beginning to end, Rachel is patient and only wants what is best for them. She provides them with all the information they need to make educated decisions.

With the market becoming increasingly competitive, those who choose Rachel are impressed by her ability to get them what they want. One buyer recently said, "I can not say enough about how amazing working with Rachel was. She is super knowledgeable about the market and was able to cre­ ate a search that included exactly what I was looking for. I was buying from out of town and Rachel was so helpful by going to each house that I was interested in and taking video while giving great commentary on the pluses and minus of each place. We found a great house and pounced! Even in this hot market, we were able to find, bid on and close on a house quickly and without issues."

Mother to a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old, Rachel stays active in the community through her childrens' schools. She is also part of a senior healthcare group where she helps clients sell their homes and move into senior establishments.

In the near future, Rachel hopes to earn her broker's license and begin training new agents on how to become more service oriented. She finds this path end­ lessly rewarding, and is eager to see where it leads. "The best thing about my job is that every single trans­ action and every client is different."