Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's agents honored with Delaware Today real estate awards

Local Realtors Vickie York, Brian and Jenn Barrows, Kim Hamer, Mariya Oldfather, Amy West and Maggie Webb of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty have each been named as one of Delaware’s 2011 FIVE STAR Real Estate Agents. The FIVE STAR Award recognizes those agents who have scored the highest in overall customer satisfaction, with these scores derived directly from customer surveys.

All Delaware-area residents who purchased a home for more than $100,000 within a 24-month period (Jan. 2009 to Jan. 2011), along with 12,000 subscribers of Delaware Today magazine, were surveyed by phone or mail to determine the top scoring agents across the state. In addition, 250 surveys were sent to mortgage and title companies who are able to judge a real estate agent’s technical skills and knowledge. Most importantly, the 2011 FIVE STAR agents do not pay any type of fee to be included in this research or on the final list of FIVE STAR agents which means this is true reflection of their clients’ feedback.

A well-known name in local real estate, York joined the Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty team in Bethany  July, 2009, after more than 25 years as a very successful independent Realtor. She previously owned her own company, Vickie York…at the Beach REALTY, located in Bethany Beach. York has received recognition as the company’s Overall Top Producing Agent for 2009, 2010, and the first half of 2011. Aside from York’s hard work and dedication within the real estate industry, she is also extremely committed to her community. For the past 12 years, York has been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She has also served on boards such as the Beebe Hospital Advisory Board, South Coastal Beebe Medical Center Capital Fundraising Committee, South Coastal Leisure Center Building Fund, Friends of South Coastal Library, and the Bethany Beach-Fenwick Island Chamber of Commerce.

Jenn and Brian Barrows of Barrows and Associates are honored to be on the FIVE STAR Award list again. They have been Realtors for more than 11 years and have been with Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty since September, 2008. “The reason this award means so much to us is the fact that it comes directly from our clients. We personally handle each and every transaction and our goal has always been to provide extraordinary customer service,” said Jenn Barrows. The Barrows and Associates group were the top producing team for Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty of Rehoboth Beach for 2009 and 2010. In addition, Jenn volunteers at Rehoboth Elementary School through their art docent teaching program as well as serving Autism Delaware, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, and at CAMP Rehoboth’s Volunteer on Vacation Art Camp.

Hamer, a member of the Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s team since 2004, began selling real estate part time in 1998, turning it into a full time job in 2005.  With her background in marketing through her previous career at MBNA, she brings a fresh and creative perspective to every real estate deal.  Hamer is a native Delawarean with deep local roots. Her husband Jeff has owned local restaurants in town since 1991 and currently owns FINS Fish House & Raw Bar and CLAWS Seafood House of Rehoboth.  “I’m thrilled to have made the FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent list for Delaware for the second year,” said Hamer.  “The real estate market is changing quickly these days and to be able to successfully help people navigate through a sometimes complicated process means so much to me.”  Hamer has sold over $80 million in total sales volume in her career and was the top producing Rehoboth agent for 2009 and 2010.

Webb and West are a dynamic mother/daughter duo who specialize in giving superior service to a small client base. Realtors since the mid-90s, both  grew up in the Lewes area on Herring Creek. Their expertise is marketing unique homes to a wide array of people and placing the right person with the right home. “We truly enjoy becoming friends with our clients and finding the perfect home match for them,” Webb said.

Oldfather, part of the Oldfather Group, was also named a Five Star Realtor for 2011. In business for six years and with over $50 million in real estate sales, Mariya is a relocation specialist with an emphasis on luxury properties. In fact, her team recently sold Sanctuary Farm, which was the highest dollar residential re-sale in the history of Broadkill Beach. A native of Bulgaria, Mariya also has a keen understanding of the macroeconomic real estate market and enjoys being a committee member at the Sussex County Association of Realtors.

In Delaware, FIVE STAR Real Estate Agents account for less than 6 percent of all the licensed agents in the state. “The FIVE STAR award is a true representation of outstanding customer service from an agent,” said Justin Healy, broker at OA Sotheby’s International Realty. “We at OA Sotheby’s are so proud to have Jenn an Brian, Kim, Vickie, Amy, Maggie and Mariya as part of our team. Their continued hard work and dedication to their clients is truly a great reflection on our company.”