THE DUANE ADVANTAGE
NEW HOME SALES
In 2004, I started as an agent in new homes sales, guiding clients through the home building process from start to completion. I was able to watch each stage of development and know the builder’s timelines, which helped me see things from a different perspective. There is a lot that goes into building a custom home, and it’s very important to me to get the details right in a contract so there is no confusion and so my clients won’t face any surprises.
FORECLOSURES
I worked with foreclosures beginning in 2008, due to the national financial crisis. The most common ways of obtaining foreclosure properties are through the courthouse or a bank. During the Recession, I worked for a real estate company that had large investment clients, such as Bank of America and Chase. I handled turning on utilities before inspections, recommending the value of what a home should sell for and listing and selling these properties.
RESALE
I listed a 28-acre farm for a client after her husband had unexpectedly passed away. The wife and the husband were both on the title, but because of the type of title ownership, she couldn’t just provide a death certificate in order to sell. If she’d found this out after going under contract, it could have taken months to resolve, and she may have lost her buyer. Many agents with less experience would not have looked into title ownership. Because I did, my client was fortunately able to close on time.
BROKER LICENSE
My career in real estate also included obtaining my broker’s license. The home is the most important investment people will make, and I feel getting the highest education in the industry is a benefit to my clients — it’s similar to getting an advanced degree in a field, beyond just a bachelor’s degree. You learn more about the specifics of buying and selling as a broker, and having more knowledge of the process, including laws and contracts, protects my clients from liability.