Rachel Stocker parlayed the negotiation, organization and customer-relations skills she honed while manager of global events for a luxury cosmetics company to real estate at the right time.

About seven years ago, Stocker, a Realtor with Rutledge Properties, and her husband were living in Westchester, New York, and contemplating a move to Sudbury, Massachusetts, her birthplace. “The real estate market was very hot in our town,” she recalls. “We interviewed multiple agents to potentially list our home, but none felt like they actually cared about our house or what we wanted.” Taking matters into her own hands, she became licensed to sell her own home. It wasn’t a stretch. Always fascinated by home improvement, she grew up watching her parents enjoy building and decorating their own residences. She also observed her grandfather and father at work in the family business, constructing new buildings and homes. Their work ethic, pride in a job well done and penchant for always doing right by clients didn’t go unnoticed. She brings those attributes to work each day.

“Three days later, we had three offers — all over asking price — and I was able to negotiate my first deal,” she says. “That made me realize this was my calling.”

Transparent and approachable, Stocker is dedicated to delivering the results buyers and sellers want while making the experience enjoyable from beginning to end. “I try to connect with my clients on a personal level while still providing a white-glove experience,” says Stocker, who specializes in her hometown of Sudbury, as well as Wayland, Concord and the rest of the MetroWest area. “From there it’s a combination of business and fostering a relaxed environment where everyone can laugh and cry happy tears.” By the end of the process, most of the buyers and sellers she assists — from first-time to luxury, growing families and empty-nesters — become personal friends.