Dyan Lane & DeAnna Sickler: There Are a Lot of Realtors Out There… But These Are Your Girls!
For over 25 years, DeAnna Sickler and Dyan Lane have been synonymous with excellence in Ashland’s real estate market. Their unwavering commitment to client service, deep community ties, and a shared philosophy of maintaining a balanced quality of life have propelled them to be recognized in the top 1% of all John L. Scott brokers throughout Oregon and Washington for the last 14 consecutive years. Beyond their professional achievements, DeAnna and Dyan cherish their roles as mothers and wives, always prioritizing family as their “real job.” In this interview, we delve into the principles and experiences that have shaped their remarkable journey.
DeAnna and Dyan, thank you for doing this interview with me today and congratulations on your consistent placement in the top 1% for your company. Given John L. Scott is the industry leader in real estate, this is no small feat.
Thank you Shields for taking the time to recognize what a journey this has been. We are so grateful for your support and for the support of the community as well.
DeAnna, what key factors do you believe have contributed to the two of you being consistent top producers?
Truthfully, I think people can really feel our hearts when they meet us, and they know that even though we are in sales, we really do have their best interest in mind (even if our advice is not financially beneficial to us). We pride ourselves on conducting ourselves with the utmost integrity not just with our own clients but with the fellow brokers in the industry.
Dyan, you’ve mentioned that being of service to your clients is paramount. How do you approach building and maintaining these meaningful relationships?
Over 16 years ago, when I joined DeAnna in the real estate world, I didn’t know anything about selling houses or even sales for that matter. What I did know is that my heart naturally wants to care for people. Empathy and compassion come naturally to me. Over the past 16 years I realized that my biggest calling is to meet people including our clients right where they are. It’s really important to try and slow down and make sure I have all the full story before I have any opinions or start to guide people.
DeAnna and I had a business meeting many years ago and asked each other and ourselves what we wanted to be known for… and it was to be of service to our clients even if that meant it resulted in zero compensation. We want to be the team people call to find unbiased information and guidance regarding real estate. We strive to be on our clients invisible board of directors.
DeAnna, with current concerns about interest rates, how do you advise clients who are hesitant about entering the market?
I find it helpful to break it down and compare the cost of the interest rate as it relates to the property value appreciation. While some are waiting for the rates to drop a percentage point or two, they are missing out on the increase in value, which can be 5-20% annually, depending on the area they are considering. Then, if you factor in other tax benefits to owning real estate, it becomes clear that people who are looking to buy a home in the next short while really can’t afford to wait. The longer they hold out, the more it will cost them – plain and simple.
Dyan, as successful real estate professionals and dedicated mothers and wives, how do you manage to maintain a quality work-life balance?
As I work towards more honesty and transparency in my life, my answer may surprise you. As I get older, I realized that work-life balance is a joke. It doesn’t exist. At least in my experience, this idea of work-life balance the world wants us to buy into and as a result we constantly feel guilty about it, because we are never able to obtain it. There are times when I miss out on events for my family and my kids in order to make sure our clients are receiving the level of service they deserve. And then there are times when I have to have the strength to be transparent with our clients that I have a personal commitment I am not able to reschedule. This past month, I had the highest honor of being present with my extended family as we sat next to the bed of a close family member as they passed away. The younger Dyan would have never let clients know about my personal grief and pain during this season. I would have been filled with such guilt for not being available 10 hours a day. I am still learning to remain present in what I have right before me. It’s the small moments that we miss out on and the ones that we reflect back on and wish we were there for more of.
DeAnna, how has your friendship and professional partnership influenced your success in the real estate industry?
The connection Dyan and I have is like no other and I think our clients can sense that. When you are in business with someone you love dearly, it not only makes things a lot more fun, you really do cover each other in a way that is unique. I always desired to leave a legacy so when I approached Dyan more than 16 years ago, asking her to take a leap of faith and join me in real estate, I knew she would bless my life as much as I would bless hers and one day she would be able the one to take the reigns and continue the legacy. With a mindset of abundance instead of scarcity, we have not only changed our own lives but have also been able to add to our team and provide opportunities for other brokers to also benefit from our success. We also value each other more than we value a dollar so as our goals and dreams have changed over the years, we work collaboratively to make sure we stay true to ourselves and cover each other in ways only possible with incredible love.
Dyan, can you share an example of how you’ve assisted clients in making significant life decisions related to real estate?
What a great question. This past summer I had the amazing opportunity to meet with a couple who were considering selling two of their properties to purchase one property together. After spending several hours with them, taking them out to see a few properties and then looking at each of their homes, I came to realize that one of their properties was already 80% of what they wanted and needed. I also realized that should they sell that specific property they probably would never be in a position to purchase it again. Fast forward seven months later and the couple has decided to keep one of the properties and make it their own. They will sell the other property and use those proceeds to make the other partners’ home one that will bring both of them joy. It is the highest honor to be allowed into these private decisions and to be trusted to guide people in their best interest.
To you both, in what ways has your involvement in the LocalsGuide enhanced your real estate practice?
Through LocalsGuide, our audience has had a front row seat into our lives. We were apprehensive at first to really open up about who we are outside of real estate, assuming nobody would care but the complete opposite has happened. We have literally grown up in the pages of your publication and can’t tell you how many times we receive calls or emails from people who want to work with us. When we ask them if they have any questions about our team, how we work, what we are about they often say, “Nope, we have been following you in the LocalsGuide for years and know all we need to know that you are our people.” It’s incredible!
Through our columns, we have shared our triumphs and tribulations and really been so fortunate to let your readers into our lives through our writing.
Looking ahead, what are your future goals and aspirations for your real estate business in the coming years?
Our goal is to continue to provide a level of service second to none. We do appreciate our success over the years and are grateful for what it has provided for our families but being the biggest and most profitable real estate team hasn’t ever been a driving force for us. We want to continue to support each other in being the best versions of ourselves, knowing that will continue to ebb and flow while also helping our clients through all the transitions of life including building wealth and finding the most perfect home for their families – no matter what season they are in.
Through dedication, partnership, and a touch of humor, DeAnna and Dyan have built a legacy of trust and excellence in Ashland’s real estate market.
Contact Us:
DeAnna Sickler
Dyan Lane
Britney Anding
541-414-(4663)HOME
Recent Testimonials:
“DeAnna and Dyan’s team did an outstanding job representing me through the completion of a VA construction loan for a custom home to be built on a lovely city lot in Ashland. Throughout the property search and escrow I felt they had my back and were proactive in so many areas. They demonstrated intimate knowledge of the very competitive Ashland housing market which proved to be invaluable. Britney was always very on-point, up-beat and detail-oriented in all our interactions – trying to anticipate any and every possible scenario and be one step ahead of the curve. I would thoroughly recommend DeAnna and Dyan to anyone seeking to buy or sell a home or land in the Ashland area. I would add that the VA construction loan process was new to all of us, my broker included, but despite this they were able to coordinate with the builder, seller and broker to ensure the process went smoothly, even with some pretty tight deadlines to meet. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, proactive, conscientious team to represent you – you simply cannot do better. I would give 6 stars out of 5 if I could.”
– Paul
“Dyan worked with me over two years to find our perfect property. We have lived in four countries and moved between four states within the USA. Dyan is the first Realtor who we have felt to have only our interests in mind. Nothing was too much trouble: her attention to detail, her expertise, and her willingness to do whatever it took to find the perfect property were all exceptional. Her back up team Linda and Britney, and her partner DeAnna took over seamlessly when Dyan was unavailable.
Dyan represented us fairly, professionally and honestly and with very good humor even as we were the most “high maintenance” clients you could imagine. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”
– Lorna
“The team was a joy to work with. Very knowledgeable, communicative and detail-oriented. They took extra time and attention working with our family to sell a very sentimental property, they never put pressure or lost patience while the property went on the market. The sale was a success and we do not hesitate to refer anyone in the area to these savvy, kind and professional women.”
– Sarah
“Working with Dyan Lane & DeAnna Sickler’s team was absolutely amazing. Always top-notch assistance in every way. Personable, Professional, Passionate about helping us to find a home that was right for us. They surpassed our expectations. We HIGHLY recommend them and their team. Whenever things got difficult, they found ways to iron out the problems in ways that were ethical and professional. They interfaced with other Realtors in timely and professional ways. We could always count on them in every way. Their artful negotiations made every step of the way painless. Bless them all!”
– Donna
