I have a diverse professional and personal background.

My name is Achmaa Vaan, and I’ve been a licensed realtor® since 2005. Alongside my real estate career, I earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in Structural Engineering. I worked as a structural engineer for nearly a decade, designing multi-story hospital and emergency buildings. I’m also a home renovator.

Click here to read about my journey into closet design.

On a personal note, I’m a wife and mother of two young children. For leisure I like to go on family bike rides and go to local farms. My kids are currently into Miyazaki movies. It amazes me how many times they can watch the same movie with the same intensity! I also love to listen to podcasts, watch movie or TV shows with my husband, and work on home renovation projects around my house.

Professional Resume

  • May 2005 - Present | License number 0225092992

    Real Estate Agent at Fairfax Realty Select, 3190 Fairview Park Dr Falls Church, VA 22042

    For my sellers, I tailor my services to their budget and timeframe, prioritizing a smooth and profitable sale. I offer consultations on home improvements that maximize return with minimal spending. I guide them through staging their home and arrange professional photography. I present a comprehensive Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report and walk them through estimated closing costs. I market their homes on multiple online platforms, hold open houses upon request, and present offers, providing support through every step until closing.​

  • May 2005 - Present | License number 0225092992

    Real Estate Agent at Fairfax Realty Select, 3190 Fairview Park Dr Falls Church, VA 22042

    For my buyers, I help distinguish between their needs and wants, ensuring prudent financial decisions. I guide them on budgeting and recommend the best lenders. When we find their ideal home, I use market analysis to advise on the purchase price and help craft a compelling purchase offer. I provide comprehensive support from the initial search to moving into their new home, ensuring they feel confident and informed at every step.

  • June 2014 – February 2022 | License number 0402058106

    Structural Engineer at Walter P Moore, Consulting Engineers Firm

    I’m a licensed professional engineer in Virginia. When I worked at Walter P Moore, I designed mainly high-risk category, multi-story buildings including patient towers, hospitals with emergency room (ER) and specialty diagnosis departments. Some of the projects include UVA Health University Hospital Expansion in
    Charlottesville, Virginia, MUSC Jenkins Children’s Hospital / Tourville Women’s Pavilion in
    Charleston, South Carolina, and VCU Health Adult Outpatient Pavilion in Richmond, Virginia.

  • May 2004 – Present

    Home Designer and Builder, Self Employed

    I built two two-story single-family homes and renovated multiple of them in Northern Virginia. Building, renovating, fixing, and making improvements to houses brings me joy. I believe I inherited my carpentry skills from my grandfather who was a master carpenter and built custom wood houses decades ago in the countryside with limited tools and resources.

  • Market Analysis  | ​​Problem-solving | Home Improvements  | Budget Planning | Communication​  | Negotiating  | ​​Marketing​  | Staging

  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute
    and State University in Blacksburg Virginia - Virginia Tech

    B.A. in Civil Engineering 

    M.S. in Structural Engineering

  • Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, NVAR