Knowing what a client wants can be a challenge for realtors, but at Green Tree Realty, owner Veronica Schneider and her team listen and ask questions to find the perfect home, income property or vacation property for each family.
Green Tree Realty opened its doors in
2006 at its Portland office. This year Schneider opened a Windham office to
handle the business in Windham, Raymond, Standish, Casco, Naples and beyond. The
company is not limited to one area and has sold property in Freeport and
Scarborough as well as this area.
“My husband and I own a lot of
investment properties. It made sense to open my own real estate office,” she
said.
The majority of clients come from word
of mouth referrals, and Green Tree Realty is looking for new business whether a
person wants to sell or buy homes or investment properties.
The first time Schneider meets with a
prospective client, she wants to see if the relationship is compatible because
not everyone is meant to work together, she said. She wants her clients to be honest,
that’s number one in her book. She also looks for loyalty and those who can
communicate effectively.
Green Tree Realty has 10
brokers/realtors in the office. Anne Daigle works exclusively out of the
Windham office, which is only open by appointment because as realtors, they are
on the road a lot.
“We’re always accessible,” Schneider
said. “It’s more about the clients’ convenience than ours. Our first priority
is our client’s needs. We don’t see it as a one-time relationship.”
When it comes to having a specialty in
the real estate field, she doesn’t feel that they do one thing better than any
other. She knows investment properties because it is in her background. She purchased
her first property at age 18 in Canada. She had saved the 20 percent for a down
payment and then rented the property for income.
There is a trend in the past year toward
buying second properties in the lakes region, she said. Some clients are from
Portland and coastal areas; others are from out of state. The market is active,
but the biggest challenge is the low or non-existent inventory. There are
houses in every price point, whether down or upsizing. With the market tight,
it is very common for buyers to be in a multiple offer situation and Green Tree
can help work through that with its clients.
When selling a home, Green Tree meets
with the sellers and also brings in a stager, someone who will look at a house
and see how it should be presented to would-be buyers. From new paint and
depersonalizing homes to removing screens to let in 33 percent more light, it’s
the small stuff that makes a big difference. Stagers can give an unbiased
opinion. A $700 fix might make the difference in someone making an offer close
to asking price or a house sitting on the market for a long time. Green Tree Realty
also brings in a professional photographer from Windham to take pictures of the
properties.
“We actually take the time to do it
right. We only have one opportunity to make a first impression,” she said.
Showing homes helps Schneider to know
her clients better. The more she sees the more likely she will find a dream
home for those clients and possibly if it doesn’t fit one family, the property
may be perfect for another.
“We transform dreams into reality,”
Schneider said. “I’m passionate about what I do. It’s not a job to me.” When
she sells a home to a family, she stays in their lives forever, she said. She
makes sure they are happy and if they need anything, she is there to help.
Schneider moved her family to Windham
for its “sense of community. They invited us with open arms. I just fell in
love with the community,” she said.
With a Canadian background, Schneider is
fluent in both English and French.
Green Tree Realty has a very active
Facebook page and an interactive website.
To reach Green Tree Realty call
772-4242, email veronica@greentreemaine.com
or visit www.greentreemaine.com.
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