UpClose With Lee & Associates’ Candice Chevaillier

Covid was certainly not in any of Lee & Associates’ business plans, but as investment brokers, the firm has the opportunity to seek out clients that need help, and in times like this, having a trusted advisor has never been more critical. That is according to Candice Chevaillier, a principal at the firm, and one of this year’s leading women in multifamily brokerage.

According to Chevaillier–who brings 16 years of commercial real estate investment sales experience in the Seattle market–today’s climate allows her to help people whose plans have changed because of the crisis.

“We also have had to reimagine how property is sold in this environment,” she tells GlobeSt.com. “We have created a process of pre-inspecting, and creating video tour content to allow for remote viewing. We work hard to create a complete picture of a listing with due diligence material collected and shared up front.”

Doing so, she says, allows the firm to attract multiple buyers who can feel confident in writing stronger offers with fewer contingencies in this environment. “We work with lenders up front so there are now surprises in our shifting lending environment. Covid is giving us the opportunity to reinvent our lives and how we sell property and more than that, how we live our lives.”

Chevaillier recently joined Lee & Associates as a principal to spearhead the growth of their multifamily practice. Prior to joining Lee, she was a top broker for various other national and local brokerage firms including Marcus & Millichap, the Foundation Group, and SVN Whitecap.

When asked about advice for the next generation of brokers, whether they be women or any other underrepresented groups in commercial real estate is, she said that at its core, commercial real estate is an incredible industry that has been built on entrepreneurship.

“This is truly an industry that, if you have a goal for yourself, whether it be to own, to earn, or to build a legacy, you can do it,” she says. “You must be dedicated, ethical and have a long term view.”

Another key point is to put in the time and know that it will take time. “There are no shortcuts,” she says. “If you do these things, you will be successful, and you will have an amazing career that will give you both the lifestyle and the freedom that you desire.”

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