Meet the Team: Whit Bissell


3 Tips for Finding the Right Real Estate Agent

  1. Find an agent that will listen to you. It is really important that you are working with someone who fully understands your needs and will take the time to find you that perfect place, no matter how long that takes.
  2. Find someone you trust and get along with. The purchase of a property is often the biggest purchase one makes. You want someone you are totally comfortable with working on your side, someone who will help keep the process exciting and enjoyable!
  3. Find a real estate agent who is diligent, patient, and eager to move fast when needed.

Meet Whit Bissell

Whit Bissell grew up in Lake Placid embracing the outdoor lifestyle and its close-knit community. Alpine racing consumed nearly 20 years of his life between racing and coaching, and skiing still remains a passion. He attended Northwood School before graduating from the University of Vermont. After seven years in Vermont, Whit returned to Lake Placid newly married and eager to help you with your real estate needs.

When not selling real estate, Whit can be found enjoying the lakes and mountains with his wife and three daughters. Whether skiing, mountain biking, fishing, boating, or hiking with their dogs—they enjoy it all.

As a full-time real agent and real estate photographer at Merrill L. Thomas for nearly eight years now, Whit is prepared to work around your schedule and share his knowledge of the area.

How long have you lived in Lake Placid, NY?

I moved to Lake Placid when I was 2 and have lived here for most of my life. I went to the University of Vermont and ended up living in Vermont for a few years after graduating from college. Once married, my wife and I made the move back to Lake Placid. We are now excited to soon call the town of Wilmington our new home.

Tell us what you love about living in the Adirondacks?

I love living in the Adirondacks. From the friendly communities to the endless opportunities for those with active lifestyles, to the beautiful lakes and scenery, the Adirondacks are hard to beat. Our communities have great kids programs and we have loved raising our family here.

How do you spend your free time?

I spend my free time with my wife, three daughters, and our two dogs. We are outdoors as much as possible. We love to ski, hike, bike, and spend time on the lakes.

What was one of the best things about being brought up in the Adirondacks?

I am thankful for the active/outdoor lifestyle that became ingrained in me because I grew up in the Adirondacks. Also, my small town had so much to offer… whether it be World Cup sports events, concerts, Olympic athletes as neighbors and friends, etc.

What are some tips for first time home buyers in Adirondacks?

Buying a house is an exciting process, but it can be a stressful and emotional process too. I try to do everything I can to help ease the stress and keep it fun. I would suggest keeping an open mind but also figuring out what your most important needs are ahead of time. If a purchase does not work out for you, know that there will be others. It’s easy to find yourself thinking that was the only house for you. Sometimes the next one that comes along is an even better fit.

What about people looking to purchase a second home?

Second-home buyers often have different needs and I always suggest that buyers think about their needs. Everyone is different, but some things to consider when buying a second home that you will not be occupying all the time would be the day-to-day upkeep and maintenance of the property (landscaping/snow removal), the type of heating system, etc. Some second buyers want to strictly spend their time playing in the mountains when they visit and maybe a condo or townhouse is the best option for them. Others are perfectly happy to do a little yard work or shovel out after a snowstorm, and maybe the added privacy of a single-family home is what they want.

What are some of your favorite places to eat and go for entertainment in Adirondacks?

A few of our favorite spots would include Lisa G’s‘Dack ShackDesperados, and Big Slide.

Where do you like to travel/explore (pre-COVID)?

When I have the opportunity, a new hike or mountain bike trail is always fun…I don’t have to go too far to find these. A quick trip over to Vermont is always fun or further away, a long weekend on the coast of Maine.

What are some key elements to home buying you like your clients to know about?

For clients that plan to finance their purchase, I suggest that they talk to a bank right away. Find out what you can comfortably afford, make sure the bank has what they need in order to at least provide you with a pre-qualification letter. This will make your offer that much stronger. In the event that there are multiple offers, this can make all the difference!

What is something you want potential new clients to know about you?

For buyers: I promise to work my hardest to find them the best fit for their needs. I will share my knowledge of the area, get answers to their questions, and listen to their feedback and comments. For sellers, I went to school for photography and have been photographing real estate for nearly 8 years now—I know how to make a property shine!

I strive to make my clients’ buying and selling process as stress-free as possible and to be available to my clients, whether it be by phone, text, or email…late at night or early in the morning. My clients become my friends and it’s fun to constantly be building new friendships. Lastly, I like my clients to know that even after a transaction has closed, they can always use me as a resource.

Any tips for buyers on how to browse homes for sale virtually?

When I have had clients who needed to tour homes virtually, I have found it has been really helpful to provide them with extensive video footage that they can then go back to and review—in addition to a FaceTime or Zoom tour, whenever possible. Read more about how to shop for a new home virtually on our blog.

Check out Whit Bissell’s agent profile to view his buyer and seller testimonials, current and recently sold listings, or get in touch at:


Related Topics:

Lake Placid, Lifestyle, Meet the Team, Real Estate Tips, Wilmington