A resident of Los Gatos and a graduate of Saratoga High School, author Pope-Handy is a full-time Realtor with Intero Real Estate Services and carries an impressive list of specialties and designations in the industry. She is a Previews Property Specialist in estate homes, an Accredited Buyer's Representative, a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, an Accredited Staging Professional, a Real Estate Cyberspace Specialist and a Certified Internet Real Estate Professional with an e-PRO certification.

In addition to her extensive knowledge, she's also a warm, friendly, down-to-earth person who loves the business--and it shows in the affirmations she receives from satisfied clients who are quoted in her book. As a former teacher and English major with degrees in the subjects of theology and religion, Pope-Handy decided to follow her mother's footsteps and entered the real estate business in 1993.

"My mom was a Realtor for 40 years. When I decided to enter the field, I wondered whether my background in religion and theology would be a hindrance," Pope-Handy said. "But my clients are just glad I have ethics. I'm not a pushy agent. I work by the Golden Rule and try to help people make good decisions."

It was through some real estate Internet classes that Pope-Handy heard about her co-author Ken Deshaies, a Realtor from Colorado who wrote a book about the Denver real estate market. They decided to collaborate and she began writing her book at the end of 2003 to offer specific information about the Silicon Valley market.

"In Silicon Valley things can change month to month, week to week. We also have very sophisticated buyers and sellers here. They are highly educated, they are Internet savvy and they want a lot of information and details up front," Pope-Handy said.

One of the most important chapters in the book, according to Pope Handy, is chapter two, which stresses the importance of using a Realtor. Since the industry is filled with many new agents, she believes it is necessary to ask hard questions before hiring an agent. She also recommends checking references.

"People are not always careful. They might hire someone they know or hire a friend of a friend without asking the right questions," Pope-Handy said. "Another mistake is to look for agents who offer a cheap commission. It's about cost and value. You need to weigh the difference between an enthusiastic person with a license and a person with experience. Otherwise it could cost you money and stress."

Someone with experience is more likely to tell the truth about home value and commission Pope-Handy says. "An experienced agent enables you to make the most of whatever market you are in. Real estate professionals are not all the same. There are 2.5 million licensees in the United States but there are only one million with the Realtor designation who abide by a code of ethics," she said.

Pope-Handy has some advice for people who are thinking of hiring a good friend as their Realtor.

"Do a search on the Internet. See if there are any listings for that person and check out the website. Do these people know how to get their name out there? If they can't market themselves, how can they market your home? If they don't have a website, watch out," Pope-Handy said.

"Don't be embarrassed to ask questions of agents. Ask whether they work full time. Ask how will they sell the house. At some point this becomes a business deal so ask whether you want to save money on the commission or give away dollars," she added.

As an example, Pope-Handy tells of one couple that chose someone with a lower commission. If they had used a Realtor the couple would have probably sold their house for more. "They just shot themselves in the foot. If they had interviewed three agents instead of using a friend, they would have found out the correct price. The buyer won in this instance and got a good buy," she said.

The bottom line is that it's wise to hire carefully and do the homework up front. "There are a lot of agents to chose from so choose one who puts clients best interests first. If you do decide to work with a new agent, ask if they will be working with a more experienced agent. Co-listings such as this are a 'win-win' for everyone because the new agent gets built in mentoring while both share in the commission," Pope-Handy said.

In addition to information on escrow, mortgages and other financial issues, Pope-Handy provides tips in her book for people who want to sell a house without a Realtor in a chapter entitled "Going it Alone."

"The worse thing to do when trying to sell a home is to be invisible. The home needs to be in good condition, well priced, staged properly and clutter free. It needs to be well marketed with lots of traffic. Then you need to know how to negotiate," Pope-Handy said.

She hopes her book will serve as a resource for both agents and consumers. The 149-page book is filled with details and gives an account of all aspects of the real estate transaction. It even provides a handy checklist for moving once the deal is done.

Pope-Handy's book "Get the Best Deal When Selling Your Home" can be found at amazon.com and will soon be available in bookstores.