Meet Emily Askin

Emily

Emily Askin

Real Estate Agent

Get to Know Me

I keep learning one thing over and over again on film and TV sets, in salons from New York City to Squirrel Hill’s Murray Avenue, and with every one of my amazing real estate clients. Never take no for an answer? No. (But do you like how I did that?)
 
The most important thing I’ve learned over 2+ decades in entrepreneurship, beauty, acting, comedy, home renovation, and real estate is this: people are people, and we all just want to be understood, loved, and to feel safe. My clients aren’t buyers or sellers, investors or relocators or downsizers - they are individual human beings with individual needs, motivations, and life experiences that inform who they are and how they approach the real estate experience.
 
For Abby and I, client service is built on client insight. That means everything we do for clients reflects our relentless pursuit of real estate experiences that leverage best-in-class data, products, knowledge, and client experience practices. But that’s only half of the puzzle.
 
Great client experiences are only possible with deep client understanding. Luckily, we’re both totally obsessed with understanding who our clients are and putting that insight to work in service of their real estate goals. Working with the Askin Wilson Group at Compass RE is more than a real estate transaction - it’s a real estate experience we hope you’ll fondly remember forever. In fact, we thought about contractually guaranteeing at least one spit-take during the course of our work together. Turns out you can’t actually do that in a real estate contract.
 
My approach to client service is informed by my pre-real estate experience as a successful entrepreneur, actor, comedian, and Aveda-trained beauty professional. An alumna of the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), the famed improvisational comedy school, theater, and talent incubator, I have been improvising on stage with the best in the business for over two decades across the US, at the New York Comedy Festival, and here in Pittsburgh with Steel City Improv and the Arcade Comedy Theater.
 
What could improv, you might ask, possibly have to do with real estate? Like real estate, improv is incredibly collaborative. It is not really an art form you can do on your own. I have always been drawn to the idea of building something together and seeing it come to fruition right in front of your eyes. That’s the feeling my clients and I get every time we find their forever homes or celebrate a closing, or build their dream team of contractors.
 
In 2013, I founded Tula Organic Salon and Spa, voted Pittsburgh’s best salon in its first year. In 2015, I married my soulmate, who also loves houses and solving wacky engineering problems. Our daughter was born months before Covid turned all our lives upside-down, and I’ve spent the last ~4 years laughing at her jokes, scavenging for sleep when I can get it, and digging deep every single day for the patience and empathy she deserves (even when I would much rather listen to my improv friend Marcy’s Real Housewives podcast).
 
I became a real estate agent in 2022 and have enjoyed every minute of it. My approach to the bricks-and-mortar side of real estate is rooted in my love of craftsmanship, design, and solid engineering. Visually, I am the minimalist to Abby’s maximalist tastes, and personally love a clean, cozy Scandi look with simple lines and richly colored accents. But I really get excited when we start to look beyond what is to what might be in Pittsburgh houses. Pittsburgh has some incredible housing stock. It’s affordable on national scales, architecturally diverse, and bursting with character. But let’s face it - our houses are also often old, especially in the city, and frequently require significant updating to reflect how we live now, from form and function to sustainability. I love working with my clients to explore how their would-be homes will meet their unique needs with varying levels of investment and work.
 
If you’re still reading, thank you! And I look forward to meeting you soon.
 

Credentials:

  • Licensed Pennsylvania REALTORS®
  • B.A. in Drama and English - Kenyon College
  • Licensed Cosmetologist - Aveda Institute NY
Nathan L.
Shona M.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We recently relocated from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh and the Askin-Wilson Group was incredible every step of the way! A big life decision like this requires trust in a partner that can help us from such a far distance. From the first encounter with Abby & Emily, we instantly developed trust and friendship. They offered great market expertise, leadership, guidance and tremendous support as we made our mov...

— Kyrnan Matthias

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

When moving to the area as new arrivals from the West Coast, we knew almost nothing about the city or it's neighborhoods. Emily guided us through the decisions and areas that were important to us, suggested new local avenues of inquiry, and was always forthcoming and patient with each new round of questioning we could devise. Eventually, her wonderful local perspective and doggedness got us our new house...

— Nathan L.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I was impressed with her level of knowledge and the amount of data that she had about the market. It was a no-brainer for me to work with her since I was set on buying a home and I’m so thankful I did. The amount of effort and time she put into walking me through the process is unbelievable. From the first day that we met, she spent time walking me through the “big picture.” From there on out, she was a...

— Shona M.

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Browse My Listings

Explore my exclusive listings.
5817 Hays St

For Sale

$599,000

5817 Hays St

  • 3 Beds
  • 3 Baths
  • 1,824 Sq.Ft.
714 Rossmore Ave

Pending

$241,800

714 Rossmore Ave

  • 3 Beds
  • 1 Bath
  • 1,539 Sq.Ft.
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Work With Us

We’re in the Experience Business, Not the Transaction Business “It is not enough that we build products that function, that are understandable and usable, we also need to build products that bring joy and excitement, pleasure and fun, and, yes, beauty to people’s lives.” – Don Norman, Author, The Design of Everyday Things

Let's Connect
Get in Touch
Contact Details

COMPASS RE

6425 Living Pl Ste 105

Pittsburgh PA 15206

 

Emily Askin   

[email protected]

 

Abby Wilson

(412) 913-0067
[email protected]