Selling real estate allows Sandra Cugier to combine her eye for design, market knowledge and love for Seattle’s neighborhoods into a career that directly impacts her clients’ lives.

A Realtor with Compass, Cugier has a degree in interior design and worked in that industry for many years before entering real estate over six years ago. That first year, her brokerage named her the runner-up for Rookie of the Year among the firm’s 29 agents.

Even so, this year marked a meaningful achievement in Cugier’s career: she helped a Bellevue family sell their home of more than 71 years, where three generations of the family had lived. “It was deeply emotional for the sellers,” she recalls. “Preparing the property for market required significant upfront work — remodeling the kitchen, painting the interior, landscaping, addressing attic mold and tackling a long list of repairs.” The market also took a sharp downturn following the tariff announcement and stock market drop, which added to such challenges.

But despite those headwinds, Cugier was able to strategically market the home. “It sold in less than 12 days for $200,000 over the asking price,” she shares. “It was both a professional and personal victory to deliver that kind of outcome for clients during such a pivotal moment in their lives.”

Having called the Greater Seattle area home since 1999, Cugier has more than 23 years of firsthand knowledge about its neighborhoods and housing trends. She’s responsive, well-versed in market conditions and carefully guides clients through the transaction process so it’s not overwhelming — especially for first-time buyers.

“I build trust by being honest and respecting what clients say,” Cugier says. “I’m proactive. I follow up promptly and will go the extra mile when offers or negotiations are tight.”