Soar to Success July 2019

$1,000 investment in “freshening up your house” can potentially make $3000 - $5000 back when the house sells. Ann feels it is mandatory to spend the time and work closely with her clients, whether it is their first home, or sixth. For Buyers, “We like to sit down with a client to complete a buyer’s consultation. The market changes every day. We sit down and review the entire process, so everyone is on the same page.” A big part of this, since it is a seller’s market, is the financial arrangements a potential buyer has in place. Do they have a pre-approved limit from a lender in place? For the agent, this is mandatory to understand what price point the buyer can handle so they can focus on finding homes that fit within that range. As in any business, Ann noted that sellers sometimes complain about the fee paid to a qualified real estate agent, but what they don’t understand is the amount of time and money that the agent invests in making that sale happen. “Most sellers don’t understand what their agent uses that commission for. The real estate agent must pay for marketing, staff, a photographer and videographer. Many agents hire a drone to create video to help market the property. In addition, there are other expenses that are incurred in any sale that fall back to the agent.” Because Ann’s brokerage business is relatively new, she and her husband have been spending long hours, seven days a week to help it grow. They have realized, however that they need to take time away and recently purchased a camper to allow them to get away for short respites from the day-to-day grind. However, they still take their laptops with a wi-fi hotspot, so they are never too far from the action. With a long list of community and professional activities, it’s a good thing Ann has high energy and enthusiasm for helping others. She is involved with the Geauga Growth Partnership, which helps small businesses and both Ann and Rick are members of the Burton Chamber of Commerce and the Burton Middlefield, as well as, the Chardon Rotary. She is involved with Geauga Destination and is a member of the Red Key Network . While her husband, Rick, is a Board Member for United Way, as well as, Habitat for Humanity. Ann loves interacting with other women business owners in NAWBO. On a state level Ann is a President’s Circle Member for RPAC, Realtor Political Action Committee, which helps support legislation regarding homeowners issues in the state. She is a member of the Professional Development Committee for Ohio Realtors, a