A personal touch goes a long way in business.

In real estate it sets a tone for a Realtor. Erica West. West, who is with Sonoran Properties GMAC Real Estate, lives by that personal touch. She uses her ability to connect to help clients buy or sell property. As a former elementary school teacher and later administrator, she has used those skills to adapt to an ever-changing market.

West’s first priority is to educate her buyers and sellers.

By using the Internet and having created Web sites to provide resources, West has been able to reach her clients and provide them with helpful information about buying and selling real estate today.

West has utilized her first career as an educator to stay current in the field. She has a Web site, www.ericawesthomes.com, to provide clients and potential clients with information.

Her blog, at www.welcome2fountainhilss.com, gives even more to her followers. One recent post lists uses for white vinegar. She offers tips on buying and selling a home. Her posts update trends in the local market.

She calls her Web sites a “one-stop place to learn about the Town and provide suggestions and resources for everything from saving money on your living expenses to how to get the highest price for your home.”

She offers several downloadable booklets, including “Energy Saving Tips,” and “450 Ways to Sell Your Home Faster.”

West has created a new Web site to provide information about the distressed housing market. The Web site, www.homehardshipsolutions.com, offers solutions for foreclosure and describes short sales and how they work.

A free report explaining a homeowner’s options can be ordered from the Web site, West said.

The new site was started in tandem with her new certification, Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE).

“I feel it is vital for the homeowner to have all the facts necessary to make an informed decision,” West says on the Web site.

West and her husband Stan, with whom she has worked in the business since the beginning, both earned the prestigious CDPE designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales.

West describes her new designation this way:

“CDPEs don’t merely assist in selling properties,” she said. “They serve and help save their clients in need.”

She has earned numerous awards and other certifications throughout her career. She has been a guest speaker at real estate training events and has appeared as a regular on a television real estate call-in program. Her expertise offers clients a resource in the real estate business.

She waxes philosophical and poetic in her writings. These pieces of West’s personality go a long way in helping someone through the maze of real estate transactions.

West has worked hard through the years to stay current with technology, trends and marketing, all the while staying true to the idea that she is in a business that is built around helping people and providing service.

“These are overused words, I know,” West said. “But for us it is true.”

It’s like she says, “When it’s time to buy or sell a home in Fountain Hills, I’m at your service.”

West can be reached through her Web site or blog site, or by calling (480) 837-7000. Her office is located at 17210 E. Amhurst Drive.