Joan Peaslee

<p> Most real estate agents will tell you that they got into the business because they love houses. But I really do. </p>I simply love houses. Whether it's a playful Contemporary in Hillcrest, a picturesque Tudor in Bellevue or a stately Georgian in Westmoreland Place, homes are like works of art. Drive through a standout neighborhood and you'll feel like you're visiting a great art exhibit. That's one reason why I became a real estate agent: I get to work around beautiful houses.Of course, just as it's tough to spot a neglected masterpiece in a dark basement, great homes can go unnoticed. My most important task as a real estate agent often lies in helping a seller define her home's best features and let them shine through.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br/> <p>Sometimes, it's a matter of trimming a tree to reveal a striking gable. Sometimes, it's finding the perfect color to let a room glow with warmth and sunlight. With every house I sell, I want it to be a better home when I leave.</p>But houses aren't beautiful islands in an empty sea. Sure, we all want to live in a beautiful house. But we also want to belong to something that is bigger than ourselves and yet feels comfortingly familiar. Our aspirations as homeowners can't be summarized by a stained-glass window or an elegantly sleek flat roof. When it comes down to it, it's not where you live that matters. It's the people you live next to.That's another reason why I became a real estate agent: I help homebuyers find home.