Karen Barbour

As a relocated New Englander who has made the Triangle home since 1996, I can attest to how wonderful the Triangle is. As an active member of my community and with 2 children in the public school system, I have valuable information to share. Having worn the many hats of out-of town buyer, seller, renter and landlord, I will guide you through it all.

My goal is to assist you in having the most streamlined wonderful buying or selling experience possible. After all, you are my best PR. It all comes down to how I made you feel through the experience.
I believe in giving back to my community in many ways. I truly believe that everyone should have a chance at the dream of owning their own home.


What sets me apart from the others?

Beyond my commitment to superior customer service, I bring a different level of skill and aptitude to my profession in real estate. Having worked in the human services and nonprofit sector for years, having grown up with a deaf sister and having a young son with special needs, I bring compassion and patience to my work everyday.

I have a vision and a mission to be a resource for the disability community in terms of universal design, accessibility issues, affordability and school issues. I want to push NC beyond were it is today around housing options for people with disabilites.

I am fluent in American Sign Language.

Unlike most realtors I have a very UNIQUE SPECIALTY! I am the only disability specialist in the Triangle. I am a Realtor who actively works with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community in the Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, RTP areas of North Carolina. I grew up with a sister who was born deaf. After graduating from college I worked in the Boston Deaf Community for many years. I am fluent in ASL.

Realtors have an obligation to communicate effectively with their Deaf or Hard of Hearing clients. When a realtor cannot communicate effectively and accurately with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing client, there is a grave risk of misunderstanding between the client and the other parties, and the risk of a client entering an agreement or contract which he or she does not understand. These misunderstandings are not a result of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing client's education or sophistication, but rather a result of ineffective communication. It is the responsibility of the Realtor to solve the communication gap with the Deaf or Hard of Hearing client. ASL interpreters may be needed to provide effective communication and full service to Deaf real estate buyers and sellers. A Realtor such as myself who is fluent in ASL and can work directly with Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients in the Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, RTP areas of North Carolina can really make a difference in achieving a successful real estate transaction.

Realtors may not include the cost of interpreter services in the client's bill, in the form of attorney's fees, closing costs, commissions, or any other such fee. The cost of providing ASL interpreters for Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients is part of the cost of the realtor doing business, and may not be passed onto the Deaf and Hard of Hearing client. I provide equal access to communication for all consumers by providing ASL interpreters as appropriate for all meetings with Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients. I provide convenience being fluent in ASL through meeting at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing client's homes and offer daytime, evening, and weekend appointments in the Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, RTP areas of North Carolina.
actively works finding accessible homes for people in a wheelchair with physical disabilities and their families in the Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, RTP areas of North Carolina.

Although private residences are not required to be accessible by the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is a necessity for wheelchair users. Realtors have an obligation to work with all clients regardless of their physical abilities. A Realtor such as myself who actively works finding accessible homes for people in a wheelchair with physical disabilities and their families can really make a difference in achieving a successful real estate transaction.

I also assist those looking to buy or sell accessible homes in the Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, RTP areas of North Carolina:

*Bring together new buyers with sellers who have already made their existing homes accessible.
*Focus the home search so that the buyers time is not wasted. Contact me today so that we can begin your home search for an accessible home.
*Market existing accessible homes to clients requiring those features so that the seller gets the most value from the real estate transaction.
*Refer buyers to contractors with experience in accessible home modifications and new construction.
*Provide information about services in our community for people with disabilities.

I provide convenience by meeting at the client's residence and offer daytime, evening, and weekend appointments in the Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, RTP areas of North Carolina.

Some keys accessible features in the homes that I market:

*Location that allows you to be involved in the community
*Accessible routes and entrances with proper grading
*Rest rooms which feature walk-in/roll-in showers, space for maneuvering a wheelchair
*Wide hallways and doorways to allow wheelchair maneuverability
*Fixtures and surfaces at convenient height for someone in a wheelchair

In finding an accessible home, sometimes the right choice is to remodel an existing home to make at least portions of it accessible to the person in a wheelchair. This can involve the addition of wheelchair ramps, room add-ons, and/or remodeling of existing structures. At other times the right choice is to build a new construction accessible home. Either situation can be a daunting task and I represent you professionally during the home buying process and assist you with referrals, recommendations and answer questions leading to a successful move into an accessible home.

When I'm not working hard for my clients, I enjoy gardening, exploring all of NC from the seacoast to the mountains, making custom jewelry, and spending time with my family and hiking with our beloved Lab.