When asked what he does for a living, Scott Dickinson has a simple answer: “I help solve problems.”
That was true when he was a practicing attorney, that was true when he served as principal managing broker of one of the largest real estate companies in Seattle, and it’s certainly true in his current role as Side’s designated broker of Washington.
We chatted with Scott about what brought him to the real estate industry, how he draws on his law background, and the types of problems he’s working on at Side.
What first got you interested in real estate?
I’ve been interested in real estate since I was a kid. My dad was in the timber industry, buying and selling tracks of timber. When I was young, he would take me with him to go scout. I think that’s the origin of my interest in real estate and property.
You spent eight years as a practicing lawyer before transitioning over to real estate. What prompted the switch?
It wasn’t that drastic a switch — when I was in law school, I focused a lot in real estate classes. From there, I went on to practice land-use permitting and real estate law.
I eventually decided that I deserved more balance in my life, so I decided to pivot from the practice of law into residential real estate. It was the best decision I ever made — both career-wise and for my personal life. I finally have a career that I wake up excited about every day. Serving people and helping them achieve their dreams is a remarkable privilege.
I finally have a career that I wake up excited about every day. Serving people and helping them achieve their dreams is a remarkable privilege.
And what made you decide to transition from an agent to a designated broker?
While I really do love selling real estate and helping buyers and sellers, what I find most rewarding is helping other real estate agents achieve their own individual production and professional goals.
Providing them with expert knowledge and experience better suits my skillset — while also allowing me the professional satisfaction of doing something that I’m passionate about.
Do you continue to draw on that law background in your role as a designated broker?
Oh, absolutely. In law school, we’re not taught the law. We’re taught to critically think about outcomes and processes.
Having that experience and education allows me to serve agents in a way that differentiates me from other designated brokers — because I don’t want them to end up on the wrong side of anything.
What made you decide to join Side?
I wanted to be part of an organization that was looking to the future and finding new ways to serve agents. As I learned more about Side and its vision for the industry, I was so impressed by the suite of tools and services Side has created to help agents grow their business, increase their productivity, and just generally enjoy their lives more.
I am thrilled to be at the ground level here in the state that I’ve lived in my entire life. Helping build that from the foundation is amazing, and I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.
What would you say are some of the main challenges Washington agents are facing right now?
Inventory is the biggest challenge. That’s why it’s so important we provide great training and better equip agents to attract and retain more clients.
We have to keep innovating and providing the tools agents need to serve their communities in new ways. Side’s technology can be that foundation that helps agents continue to secure business in this market.
What are some of your goals at Side?
My overarching goal is to add value to our agents. In addition to that, I’m excited to help build out this organization statewide. I know the state, and I love this state. It’s always been my home. To be able to scale throughout Washington and help build this organization is a really amazing opportunity.
