Maria Gilda Racelis-"Realtor in CT" "Connecticut Lakefront Specialist"

About Maria

I am a full-time real estate agent and a no-nonsense individual when it comes to rendering services to my clients. I take my job and the responsibility it entails seriously. My clients come first. I ensure that they know and feel I am working for their best interest. However, I do not carry out tasks to compromise my principle. I conduct my business with pride, honesty and integrity. I will do whatever it takes to meet their goals while adhering to my principle. "And the connection I make with the clients throughout the process, that to me is how I define success."

Buying and selling homes can be very stressful. It is my job to make the process easy and fun as can possibly be for my clients. I take personal gratification from the smile on the faces of highly satisfied clients. I have amassed 100% positive and rewarding testimonials from my clients after six years of experience in real estate business. To enhance competency in the field for my clients' benefit, I continually seek to further my knowledge and expertise. With this in mind, I hold the following designations and expect to add more as the need for it arises.

The Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation is one of the most recognized designations in the real estate industry. The GRI symbol is recognized nationwide, showing buyers, sellers and other real estate professionals that you are a true professional and have a solid grasp of real estate fundamentals

The Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation

The CIPS Designation is the only designation of its kind in the real estate community. It’s synonymous with advanced expertise, a global perspective and distinct understanding of a global buyer, and comes with powerful brand recognition with designees in nearly 40 countries

For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” real estate transaction. Knowing how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities are not merely good skills to have in today’s market — they are critical.

If you are looking to work with a competent professional realtor who will put the best foot forward for your best interest, you have just read her profile. I am always available to listen to your concerns and questions. Please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Testimonials

We closed on our house located on lower Bolton Lake.Our house had been a rental for many years, unfortunately, we waited too long to put this house on the market. We moved to Rhode Island three years ago, being an absentee landlord is very difficult. As problems arose Maria was always there to help us work these problems out, especially working with a very difficult tenant.

Maria worked with a potential buyer for several months, there were many stumbling blocks to prevent this sale, but, with all Maria's sales expertise she was able to work out all of these problems, both to the buyers and to our satisfaction. I must add that it wasn't an easy task selling a house with the sewers coming into the neighborhood, all the roads were dug up, but Maria didn't let that stop her, she was able to convince the buyer what a good investment for the future that our property would be.

There were many stress filled days, but with Maria's attack of taking first things first we were able to come to an agreement that worked for both parties involved.

We would recommend and have recommended Maria to many of our friends and neighbors that had lived on Bolton Lake, as a matter of fact this is the second house that Maria has personally sold for us on Bolton Lake. That house was sold because of the virtual tour that could be seen on the computer, that house sold in twenty days.

Our "Special Thanks" goes out to Maria, anyone that would be lucky enough to work with Maria would not be sorry because "Maria Makes It Happen". With so much gratitude, Jerry and Sandy Palumbo

The most fortunate decision I made when preparing to place my lakefront home in Bolton on the market was choosing Maria Gilda Racelis to handle the sale of my property. I chose Maria based on a marketing postcard Maria had sent around the neighborhood a few years earlier, an enthusiastic recommendation from a neighbor, and, most importantly, an outstanding interview with Maria. Maria arrived prepared with figures of comparable properties sold in the area and a clearly articulated strategy for marketing my house.

Maria specializes in lakefront properties and has a special love for the beauty and serenity of a waterfront location, which she is able to communicate with potential buyers.

Just as important, she is warm and personable and, from the beginning, went far beyond the requirements of her position in order to make me feel comfortable in showing the house. I have one indoor cat, Daisy, who is very shy and cannot be let outdoors. Even when it was not necessary for Maria to be present at a showing, she was there to “guard” the doors so that Daisy could not escape, and she quickly became friends with all three of my cats.

In the depressed real estate market of today, Maria made astute recommendations on pricing and marketing the property and continually reminded me not to worry because we would find the right buyers. She is also skilled in technology, which is essential in today’s computer-dependent world. Maria’s visual tour of my home is a beautiful, artistic tribute to the strengths and beauty of the property. To my delight and appreciation, she made it into a CD for me to keep.

Maria possesses a unique and rare combination of intelligence, warmth, integrity, a shrewd business sense, enthusiasm, resilience, compassion, and good humor. I truly believe that I would not have made a successful sale in such a short time if not for Maria’s guidance and skill. Over a couple of months we spend selling the house, I also had an incredible amount of fun talking to Maria on a wide range of topics. I consider Maria a cherished friend now, and I would unreservedly recommend Maria to anyone considering buying or selling a home. Sandra Sawitzke-10Llynwood, Bolton -Lakefront Property

Maria treated me like family throughout the entire process of buying my first home! She went above and beyond the call of duty and made sure I got the perfect home for me and my family. She was very assertive and truly cared about ME. That's why I'll be referring everyone I know to her in the future! Thank you Maria- you really DO make it happen!- Alyssa Epstein- Manchester, CT

Working with Maria on finding our new home was amazing. Maria helped us find our condo a few years ago so when we were ready to look for a house we knew that we had to have Maria again. Maria took care of all the work including the little details and gave us that personal attention we needed. She went above and beyond her job to make sure my husband and I were satisfied and happy. Maria is very professional, efficient and knowledgeable. She made buying a home easy and non-stressful. I would definitely recommend Maria to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home. I feel like I have made a friend for life with Maria and my husband would agree that “Maria makes it happen”! Nicole and Tom Groves- Columbia, CT

Before working with Maria I went through several real estate agents who I choose to stop working with because they were either becoming frustrated that it was taking me too long to find something or once I found something, became angry when I lost the house because my offer was not accepted. They simply were not interested in my best interests but just wanted to sell a house. I experienced both of these situations while working with Maria (long time looking, got out bid) but Maria always stayed positive. She wanted to make sure I was happy and would have taken as long as it would take to find me a house. Maria was determined to find me a house. We would go out every single weekend (in the winter until summer) driving all over the State of Connecticut trying to find me a house. I am new to the area so some of the towns I was not familiar with. Maria was never frustrated, she was dedicated and regularly had to deal with my personal frustration. I had a terrible living situation I was dealing with and needed to find a house ASAP. She was always there to listen. She’d call sometimes just to check up on me. Eventually, I found a beautiful house that had everything I was looking for. We lost the house; it went to another bidder in less than 24 hours. Maria provided me with support; she said “that house was not for you”. We continued to go out every weekend driving all around looking at houses. Maria would well me all the time, “don’t worry, I’ll find you a house”. I think what was so wonderful about Maria was that even though she had other customers; she always made me feel like I was the only person she was working for. She was always there for me. She looked out for me and was honest with me. Maria was not going to let me get into a situation I would not be happy with later. If there was a house I wanted to see that was too far away she would tell me that. If the house did not have something I was looking for in a house/ required she would tell me that. If there might be a problem with the house, she would tell me that. Some agents aren’t honest with you, simply because they want to sell a house. The agent I had before Maria was like that. She was constantly putting pressure on me. Maria never put pressure on me, if I didn’t like a house she would say “ok, let’s go to the next one”. We aggressively searched for over 5 months. Then we found a house that I really liked and wanted to put an offer on. The house was a little higher than what I wanted to pay but it had everything I was looking for. I think Maria knew the house was meant for me, before I did. Maria was over protective of me, almost like a mother. She wanted me to have that house because she knew I would love it. I would not have this house today if it was not for Maria. I did not know until I actually moved into the house that it really was the house for me. I love my new home and I love Maria. I will be referring anyone who I know is looking to buy a house to Maria

Maria will make it happen! Finding a good agent is hard but Maria is one of the best! She’s dedicated to her clients and aggressive in finding them exactly what they are looking for.

Sincerely, Melanie E. Burton: Wheeler Clinic-Director- East Hampton, CT

Dear Maria,

We wanted to thank you again for all of your help in finding the perfect home for Jen and I. We couldn’t have asked for more in the process. You were thorough in your research, quick to respond to any questions we had no matter how big or small, and really made every step as easy as possible for us.

It was very noticeable up front how much you enjoy your work, and you really made us feel like you would do everything in your power to find us everything we were looking for. We felt protected from any potential negatives as we looked at homes and appreciate how you were so informative about various things to look for while considering our options.

Jen and I are both extremely excited and are so grateful for your help in finding our new home. We’d gladly recommend your services to anyone looking for a house in the area!

All the best- Jason Marshall and Jennifer Stahl- Bolton, CT

We were first-time homebuyers who did not have a clue about real estate or the home buying process. We did a search for some realtors on the internet and contacted a number of them. Maria was one of the few realtors who responded to us. After finding out that Maria had lived in our hometown for a few years, we decided to go with her. We are definitely glad that we did! Maria was an absolute pleasure to work with. Not only did she provide us with detailed information on the overall home buying process, but she also was proactive in scouting properties for us within our price range. If not for Maria, we would not have found the home we eventually purchased. Maria did a great job coaching us through the negotiation process and stood firmly behind our offers. She was not afraid to play hardball, which helped us to land an excellent property at an unbelievable price. Maria was always available when we needed her; she promptly responded to emails/phone calls within a couple hours. Maria’s sense of humor coupled with her no nonsense attitude made her an excellent fit for us. We would undoubtedly recommend her services to anyone, and will certainly use her again for future home sales or purchases. Thanks for all of your help Maria!-Steve & Kristle Cote (Cote Financial Solutions)-Vernon, CT

When I first started looking at Real Estate I was not interested in working with an agent. I would research the properties myself and call the agent connected to any properties that I found interesting. During that time I contacted and worked with many different agents. When I met Maria I found a person who was able to demonstrate to me in a surprisingly short time the advantages of working with just one very competent agent. Maria took her job very seriously. She was professional, knowledgeable, and paid attention to all the little details. Maria maintained excellent communication, she was very thoughtful and considerate and she worked extremely hard to help us accomplish our goals. Working with Maria really enhanced the entire process of buying and selling a home. My wife and I felt very lucky to have Maria as our agent and we are grateful to her."Maria makes it happen" and I would highly recommend her. –

Dr. Todd DeWolf- Andover,CT

Just when I thought we would never find the “right” property, Maria found us the perfect home. In an area dominated by leased land, she found a gem on 1/3 acre that we could purchase outright. Waterfront property, nature, peace and quiet, it is all there. We were not easy to please but Maria always had a smile on her face, MLS listings flying to our inbox and she would manage to show us a property with very little notice. I cannot say enough about Maria’s energy, spirit, determination and knowledge. It was an absolute pleasure doing business with her and should the need arise we won’t look further than Maria cause Maria really does make it happen!

Susan and Gerry Markland- Tolland, CT

Dear Maria,

We can’t thank you enough for your support and dedication to us in the search for our new vacation home. From our first meeting, we both knew that you were the perfect match for our personalities; not pushy, clearly focused on us and our needs, and truly knowledgeable in your field. We were very comfortable and confident in our choice to work with you. Your professionalism, dedication, honesty, and sense of humor made our experience with you fun and rewarding.

We wish you great success as you start your own brokerage, knowing that anyone that is fortunate enough to work with you will be most satisfied. Thank you so much for all you have done to help us.

Ken & Peggy Brintle-Thompson, CT

To whom it may concern:

We have known Maria Gilda Racelis for 2 years. In that time she has helped us search for and find a lake house that is perfect for us.

During our search, she arranged for us view a number of lake houses. She found many homes that met our search criteria and was very attentive to our comments, which resulted in narrowing down our search to find the right home. This really helped to cut down on the amount of work and research we might have to do. She took the initiative to share information by e-mail and or phone in a timely fashion to inform us of new homes that hit the market or as prices changed.

In addition, when helping us prepare to sell our property, in her very relaxed and easy going manner, she explained the importance of showcasing our home and pointed out areas that should be refined to add value and help us sell faster.

Maria provides an open and honest in a way that makes home shopping fun, yet realistic. She is extremely competent and knowledgeable, particularly about lake houses. She is very intuitive and was quick to help summarize our needs and wants in a new home. Always positive and fun to be with, she is a diligent worker and completely understands the process.

We highly recommend working with Maria to anyone who is buying or selling a property.

Sincerely,

William W. Crosskey II-AIA-Crosskey Architects, LLC Leona Crosskey- RN, MBA-Bolton, CT

We will be using Maria again!!My husband and I had such a wonderful experience working with Maria. Maria is the type of agent that ensures her clients have the dream real estate venture. I always felt that like we were her number 1 client with the devoted attention we received from her. We never felt rushed, like we did with other agents when working with her. She took the time to show us as many houses as we wanted and even suggested that we see other houses to have a good comparison. She took the time to explain what we were signing and why we were signing it. She represented us to the highest extent thru both the sale of our current residence to the closing on our newly purchased home and after. It shows that Maria truly enjoys her work; she is very knowledgeable with current laws and practices in this trying real estate market. I could not have asked for a better agent to represent us thru this process. We will definitely use her in our next real estate venture.

Thank you Maria for everything you done for us,

Amy Henderling- Ellington, CT

Dear Maria,

We can’t thank you enough for your unyielding support and dedication to us for the sale of our condo and the purchase of our new home. From our first meeting, we both knew that you were clearly focused on us and our needs which made us very comfortable and confident in our choice to work with you. Your professionalism, dedication and honesty are what have made our experience with you truly rewarding. You will definitely be the first and only agent I will recommend anytime a friend or family member has real estate needs.

Thank you so much for your support and dedication,

Joe Tinson- Stafford, CT

When my house went up for sale in mid-November, I was very skeptical. The combination of the time of year, the state of the market, and the smaller size of my house made me wonder if anyone would be interested. You can imagine my excitement when the house sold after only 13 days and 2 showings! I attribute much of this success to Maria, whose aggressive advertising campaign obviously grabbed people's attention. Her advice was also invaluable with regards to the asking price and getting the house "show ready". On the buyer side, Maria was always available to show us homes whenever went wanted to go, even late hours and on weekends. When we needed support with regards to inspections, Maria had the contacts necessary to get someone out to do evaluations quickly. I never had any doubt that her efforts were motivated by doing what was in my best interests.

Thanks to Maria I have had a very positive experience with her. I have and will continue to recommend her to everyone I know who is interested in selling and/or purchasing a home.

Thanks, Maria!!!

Sincerely,

Abby Dobbins, extremely satisfied client!- Somers, CT

To Whom It May Concern:

We have just recently purchased a home in Ashford Connecticut. We have bought and sold many homes in our day and this particular purchase was by far the most pleasurable. I would have to give all the credit to my realtor Maria Gilda Racelis. Maria possesses strong negotiating skills, which had given my wife and me an excellent deal on the house. She had continuously kept us informed throughout the entire process. Maria had made herself very accessible, she always returned phone calls promptly, and honestly answered all of our questions and concerns. She had made my wife feel very comfortable with the purchase, which to me is priceless. I would highly recommend Maria to anyone buying or selling his or her home.

Sincerely,

Joe J. and Carol J.- Ashford, CT

To whom it may concern,

If there is one person who can sell your home, it is Maria Gilda Racelis. We had 90 days to sell our home. She did it in a week and a half. She knew what we wanted to get for the house and we got it. She is very knowledgeable in this field and knows what people are looking for. She keeps you informed every step of the way. She gave us quality information as to how to prepare our home for the market and she is on top of everything. She is available for questions at any time of the day and gets back to you quickly. She is always pleasant and personable. She helps make this process less stressful!! We would highly recommend Maria to anyone!!! Thank you Maria!!!

Sincerely,

Louis and Sharon Hineline- Coventry, CT

Dear Maria:

Thank you so much for all the effort you extended on my behalf. You worked hard to help make this dream come true for me. I appreciate the professional way in which you handled every aspect of the purchase, from the initial showing to the closing. I would be happy to recommend you to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home.

Sincerely,

Geraldine Bouton- Griswold and Milford, CT

Hi Maria!

Thanks for all your help with our house. We love it! We couldn't be happier. Here is our testimonial. You are an amazing realtor.

Being a first time home buyers, we were not sure what to expect.

Maria exceeded our expectations and made sure we understood the whole home buying process. She was always available to answer any questions we had and was very patient with us. She made the purchasing of our first home together go very smoothly. Maria's upbeat attitude made her a pleasure to work with. She was there for us and shared in our joy as we signed the final papers. Maria really cares about her clients and loves her job. We couldn't be happier.

– Brian and Michelle-Coventry, CT

We began our house hunting journey the beginning of August, 2009 and within 2 months, we found our dream water front property. All thanks to Maria Gilda Racelis. We could not have asked for a more dedicated, loyal, and hardworking agent. We looked at many properties in that short period of time, as Maria was determined to find us the house of our dreams, and indeed she did. She spent many nights and weekends, totally working around our busy schedule to meet with us and show us properties. We remember one particular Sunday viewing about 6 different houses, and then stumbling across other houses for sale in which Maria would then pursue. She would constantly be in contact with us via phone or email (and continues to do so making sure all is going o.k. with the new home).During our offer process, Maria researched and found comparable properties in order for us to come up with an appropriate offer. Maria is funny, down to earth and very caring; she really takes pride in her works and she takes her clients under her wing. We could not have asked for a more enjoyable house hunting experience. Hats off to Maria!!We think of her often as we enjoy many sunsets on the lake!

The Schena Family-Glastonbury, CT

Hardworking, professional, pleasant, positive. These are just a few of many words I can use to describe our experience working with Maria. We had been looking for a place to get away to for a couple of years. We came across one of Maria's listings and thought it might be the perfect place. Not wanting to waste any time, I e-mailed her on a Sunday evening thinking maybe I would hear from her the following Monday. To our surprise we received a call that night. Due to our busy schedules we only had that Monday afternoon to look at the property that week. Once again Maria pulled through, not only showing that listing but also a few others in the area so we would have something to compare it to. We loved the house and put in an offer that Wednesday. After a short negotiation a price was agreed upon between us and the seller. Through that process Maria kept us informed every day. In less than three weeks the deal was done. We're very happy to have met Maria. She really does "Make it happen."

Marty and Gail Van Buiten- Wallingford and Amston, CT

Maria, I expected that selling my home would be a stressful and emotional experience, but thanks to your hands on approach and attention to every detail it was rather pleasant. I definitely appreciated the time you spent explaining the sales process, answering all my questions and preparing the home to show. I’m convinced that your marketing plan that included the virtual tour, several advertisements and the open house all contributed directly to locating a qualified and interested buyer in less than three weeks. I know how hard you worked to close on the absolute best deal for me in the soft market that you were working in, and I thank you for the extra effort. Overall an outstanding job well done….Maria really does make it happen!

Donna.- Tolland, CT

Maria Gilda Racelis is a very caring and thoughtful real estate agent. She responded quickly to requests and worked with our schedule to meet with us on numerous occasions at locations of our choice. As first-time homebuyers we found Maria to be very knowledgeable. She walked us through the process of purchasing our first home and was available for questions all hours of the day. Her positive attitude made it a pleasure to work with her. Maria expressed delight as we received the keys to our beautiful new home. Her dedication did not end after our closing; she called a few days after to make sure that we were satisfied with our new investment.

Sincerely,

Jessica and Nicole- Manchester, CT

Being a first time home buyer I did not know what to expect. I was truly impressed with Maria’s knowledge, help and patience with me. She was always available and has gone out of her way many times to make sure that I understood the whole home buying process. Maria was always full of information and was able to find the answers to all my questions right away. Not only did Maria find the perfect home for me but she has made my transition into my new home very smooth. Even after the closing Maria was there for me when I needed her, you can tell that she really cares about her clients and takes delight in her job. I really enjoyed how Maria has made my home buying experience fun and not stressful, I would definitely recommend her to anyone.

-Nicole Mulligan- Ellington, CT

To Whom It May Concern:

My husband and I worked with Maria very closely for the purchase of our first home. We could not have done it without her. We were both extremely impressed with Maria's determination to find the perfect home for us.

I was extremely satisfied with how easy it was to work with Maria. She made herself available at all times to either answer our numerous questions, schedule showings, and view homes we were interested in. My husband and I work unpredictable hours and Maria was able to schedule showings during times that were convenient for us. One weekend Maria made the time to show us eight different homes in four different towns all in one day!

We felt lucky to have Maria's expertise on the fundamentals of buying a home. These fundamentals proved to be invaluable when purchasing our home. She directed us in all aspects of buying our home to ensure that we stayed well informed every step of the way.

Maria's positive attitude and determination made buying our first home an easy experience. Maria always had an upbeat attitude… made her a pleasure to work with. We always felt that Maria had our best interest in mind and we therefore put our utmost trust in her every step of the way.

I would recommend Maria as a Realtor and would certainly use her again if we were to purchase another home.

Sincerely,

Tim & Ellen Kendall- Middletown, CT

We had our lake house on the market for two years with no potential buyers. We hired Maria and her firm to represent us and to sell the house. Within two weeks, we had a buyer and all had gone well. Maria had been professional, courteous and responsive to our questions and needs. She developed a website for us that was extremely informative plus the pictures were worth thousand words. I feel that we would still be looking for a buyer if it were not for Maria. We will not hesitate to call Maria for any of our future real estate needs.

Walt and Kathy Pasay-Lebanon, CT

We can never forget Maria because if it were not for her, we would have been renting a house until now. Maria took time in showing us houses that suited our needs. She was very patient with us. She educated us about the whole process. We did not know that owning a home is possible for our situation. Our family is happy that we know her.

Rudolph and Joannie Powise-Manchester, CT

It gives us great pleasure to be acquainted with Maria Gilda Racelis and to have worked for us as our Selling Agent. She was aggressive, attentive and pleasant in the process of selling our house. She carried through on the sales pitches with the online ads and fantastic visual tour to bring our house to the forefront. She inserted more energy as an Agent than any other Agents that we had dealt with past and present. She is in the forefront of her profession. She is top of the line! We will miss her smile. Thank you Maria for all that you have done to make our move easier. Best of Luck always.

Philip and Theresa Pasay-Bolton, CT

Dear Maria-Thank you so much for all of your hard work in selling my property in Coventry. I have bought and sold many properties and dealt with many Real Estate Agents. You have, by far, exceeded my expectations. The service you provide along with your constant communication with me was commendable. I feel very confident with your abilities as a Realtor and would not hesitate to use your service again in the future.

Your Happy Client. Jose Rocha- Wethersfield, CT

Our house sold in just 16 days on the market, because of her excellent job. It is nice to transact business with someone who cares. We will definitely recommend Maria to our friends and acquaintances who will be looking to buy or sell their houses.

Brian and Tracy Usher-Vernon, CT

Awards

Quality Service Pinnacle Award

Specialties

First Time Home Buyers, Lakefront and Riverfront Properties, Multi-Family Homes, Residential Homes

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Master of Science in Business Administration

Volunteer Works

Vitas Hospice Care

Realtor Champion - A REALTOR® Champion supports and defends the rights and interests of property owners and advocates on behalf of the members of the Connecticut Association of REALTORS®, Inc.