About Austin

Why I keep an office in Sumner

I’m Austin Hellickson, a Managing Broker with LPT Realty. I help people buy and sell homes in Sumner, Puyallup, Orting, Bonney Lake, and the rest of Pierce County, and I work from an office at 1230 Fryar Ave in Sumner.

People shopping for a house in the valley ask questions that only make sense here. How close is this house to the river, and what does that mean for insurance? Can I really take the train to work? Which school would my kids attend? What will buyers make of the old bungalow I’ve lived in for years? The pages here try to answer those questions honestly, and when the honest answer is “it depends,” to explain what it depends on.

The longer answers live in Main Street Notes, the blog on this site, from what to inspect on an older Sumner house to who qualifies for Pierce County’s senior tax exemption.

What I do

I represent buyers and sellers. For buyers, that means helping you work out where to look and what to look for, setting up a search, touring homes with you, and pointing out what a listing won’t mention. When you find the right house, I help you write a strong offer, then manage the inspection period, the negotiation that often follows it, and the steps to closing.

For sellers, I start with a walk-through of the house and a frank conversation about preparation. I prepare a written pricing analysis from comparable sales, plan the marketing, and handle showings, offers, and negotiation. I stay with it through escrow until the keys change hands.

What a Managing Broker is

Washington licenses real estate brokers at more than one level. A managing broker license requires additional experience and education beyond the standard broker license, and it allows the holder to supervise other brokers. I hold mine with LPT Realty, the brokerage through which I provide real estate services.

How I like to work

I would rather tell you something unwelcome early than surprise you late. If I think a house has a problem, I’ll say so. If I think a price is too high, I’ll say that too, and show you the sales that make me think it.

I write things down. Buyers get a clear picture of the steps and deadlines in their contract. Sellers get a written plan and a written estimate of what they’ll net. When something changes, I call.

A sale also runs through a lender, an inspector, an appraiser, an escrow officer, and a title company. I keep track of what each one owes and by when, and I chase the ones who go quiet.

Beyond the Sumner city limits

The valley doesn’t stop at a city line, and neither do most searches. Buyers who start in Sumner often end up comparing a house in Puyallup with one in Orting, or a newer place up the hill in Bonney Lake with an older one near Loyalty Park. I work in all of those towns and across Pierce County, so I can compare them for you plainly, with no stake in which town you choose.

What helps before we meet

Nothing is required, but a few things make the first conversation more useful. If you’re selling, bring your most recent mortgage statement, any records of work done on the house, and your association documents if you have them. If you’re buying, bring the name of your lender if you have one, and a short list of what you can’t live without. Just as useful is knowing what you’d happily give up.

The Homexa® network

I’m part of Homexa®, a network of 300+ agents across 25 states. If you’re leaving the valley, or someone you care about is moving somewhere else, I can introduce you to an agent where you’re headed. Homexa® is a network of independently licensed professionals and does not itself provide brokerage services.

Visiting the office

My office is at 1230 Fryar Ave in Sumner. I meet people there by appointment. Call me at 206.940.0942 or email Austin.Hellickson@homexa.com and we’ll find a time. If it’s easier, I’m glad to meet you at the house instead.

Austin HellicksonManaging Broker, LPT Realty