About Tom Bates 
Senior Sales Associate
My Client-First Philosophy
There are many qualities and skills that go into being an excellent real estate professional - integrity, in-depth community and market knowledge, marketing savvy, effective negotiation skills and a high-quality professional network, all of which are hallmarks of how I work.
That said, in my experience as a Puget Sound real estate professional, I've also found that providing the very best service is essentially about putting my clients first. This means keeping myself accessible, being a good listener as well as a good communicator, and responding quickly to your needs.
This "client first" philosophy has always been my approach and it requires me to continually improve my skills and ways of doing business. As I have been in the real estate business for over 19 years, I know what it takes to make my clients happy . Not only do I provide outstanding service during the buying process, I also do the same once the deal is sold and closed.
I have been involved in all aspects of the Real Estate Industry including Sales, Management, Renovations, Commercial Leasing, Condominium Conversions, New Construction Lease Ups, etc., etc. I have averaged between 9-12 million dollars in annual sales for the past several years ranging from residential, condominiums, land, and commercial Real Estate.
My commercial portfolio includes up to 17 different buildings ranging from retail, office, mixed use, and industrial. I also close over 12 deals annually in commercial sales and 16-26 deals a year in residential sales. In addition I've completed and passed over 51 additional Real Estate Classes for continuing education to be current with all aspects of the Real Estate industry. I have also completed several rehab projects yearly, not including the tenant improvement work I oversee.
Prior to becoming a real estate professional I worked in the construction field. I have been involved in the community with coaching Boys and Girls soccer from Renton to Bellevue for over 13 years. In addition I have played soccer most of my life, including traveling with the United States Champions Soccer Club.
General Background, Education and Affiliations
Total of eighteen years experience in sales/property management/lease-up & new construction
» Washington Real Estate License since 1988
» Certificate of Real Estate Bellevue Community College
» A.B.R Candidate (exam completed 2005) Accredited Buyer’s Representative
» A.S.R Candidate (exam completed 2007) Accredited Seller’s Representative
» G.R.I. Candidate Graduate of the Real Estate Institute
» C.R.S. Candidate Certified Residential Specialist (all exams completed in 2006)
» Member of C.B.A Commercial Brokers Association since 1993
» Member of NWMLS Northwest Multiple Listing Services since 1988
» ◊◊◊ Triple Diamond Award in 2004, 2005 & 2006
» Top Salesperson in 2005 & 2006
» 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange Exam Taken and Passed
» 51 Additional Classed Taken and Passed
So when you decide that you'd like to buy or sell, lease, invest or renovate in the Puget Sound area, please contact me and I can do what it takes to get you what you need.
Sincerely,
Tom A. Bates
Senior Sales Associate
About Tara Hammell 
Assistant to Tom A. Bates
Tara Hammell has been in the real estate industry for a little over 4 years, with her great attention to detail and client first philosophy she has been a great addition to the team.
Tom & Tara have been working together for 2 years now and have built their company from scratch, recently opening up an office in Bellevue, Washington. Tara has had a big responsibility handling all the marketing projects, client relations, transactions and the day to day operations of the office.