Central Alabama Realtors and real estate agents shared their insights and expertise on their industry, plus their top tips for buyers and sellers.
CeCe Savage (Owner/ Qualifying Broker, Garth Realty Group)
- In the Industry: 10 years
- On Selling Central Alabama: “I tell people looking to move here that we are a small big city without the traffic. We’re centrally located with a quick drive to several beaches.”
- Top Tip for Home Sellers: “Try not to get emotional during the process. Your taste isn’t the potential buyers’ taste.”
- Changing Times: “Social media has changed the way I do my job. Everything has evolved to communicating and keeping up with the times via social media.”
Emily Blossom (Licensed Realtor, New Waters Realty)
- In the Industry: 3.5 years
- On Selling Central AL: “As the capital city, we have strong economic growth and are supported by smaller municipalities that surround the city of Montgomery. There are so many options for families, all within a 30-minute drive.”
- Top Tip for Home Buyers: “Be flexible with your needs and wants and confident in your budget. Connect with a local mortgage lender or bank to ensure what your budget is prior to shopping. You might think you have to have a specific feature or number of rooms but the location of the house and or community features and amenities might be more important in the long run.”
- Work Perks: “Helping guide people through the largest purchase they make is rewarding. I enjoy hearing from them later to learn how happy they are and to know that I played a role in their happiness.”
- A+ Advice: “The best advice I’ve ever gotten was that real estate is about relationships. It is not a one-time interaction, if you get it right. Repeat customers and referrals are what make a successful Realtor.”
We asked our real estate pros for their funniest work-related moments, and Realtor Emily Blossom delivered a laugh-out-loud memory.
“Every agent’s worry is that you will be in a home with your client and the seller forgets to tell their family that you are coming. This really happened; I was showing a home, and all was going well until we reached the second floor to find the seller’s teenage son asleep in his bed. He didn’t even hear us. I simply shut the door, and we focused on the rest of the house.”
Norman Schlemmer (Managing Partner/ Broker, ARC Realty)
- In the Industry: 44 years
- Top Tip for Home Sellers: “Choosing the right Realtor is key! Look for someone who is not only knowledgeable and experienced, but also someone you can trust. Your Realtor should be able to develop a marketing plan, staging plan and negotiating plan that will help you get top dollar value for your home.”
- Work Perks: “It’s incredibly fulfilling to be a part of someone’s journey as they search for the perfect space to make memories, host gatherings and build a life.”
- A+ Advice: “Be honest and serve others, and you will find plenty of opportunities to be successful.”
Local Stats
- 1,940- number of real estate agents in Montgomery Area Association of Realtors (MAAR) membership area*
- 5,536- number of residential closings in MAAR membership area* in 2022
- 85% of MAAR members closed a minimum of 0.5 real estate transactions in 2022
Source: Brad Owen, Chief Executive Officer, MAAR *MAAR coverage area includes Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Coffee, Dallas, Henry, and Geneva counties
