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Realtor Q+A – Melanie Barger

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By CURRY HARTMAN Jan 13, 2022 LInk to article

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Family: Surrounded by generations of family in the Golden Isles (nine-95 years old), Jon Phillip and Margaret Spiers; BB, Mac and Mary Banks Shelander; Jim Sr. and Mary Jane Barger; Jim Jr., Burch, James and George Barger; and Joyce and Albert Shelander (Albert at 95 remains active in sales as a thirdrd generation realtor in the Golden Isles).

Years in the Golden Isles: Lifetime, 50+ years

School: Frederica Academy ‘87 Randolph-Macon Woman’s College ‘91 (BA art/biology) University of Illinois at Chicago ‘95 (MAMS biomedical visualization)

Occupation: Realtor

Perfect Saturday in the Golden Isles: Any day is improved with a sunrise beach walk with anyone who will join me (our German Shorthair Pointer “Marsh” is always game). You never know what you may discover – every day there is something new and beautiful and exciting. Some of my best Saturdays have been spent fly fishing the flood tide and skinny water in the creeks with my son Jon Phillip; riding and hanging out at Frederica Stables with my daughter Margaret; or biking from King City to the village, lighthouse, on to Gould’s Inlet with Mary Banks. The perfect way to end the day is with a Barger Oyster Roast overlooking Postell Creek or enjoying the view from the Shelander’s historic screen porch on St. Simons Sound followed by a Low country boil from the lawn at sunset. The King City beachfront area is sacred ground and home to countless special memories from my earliest childhood and throughout my life. Enjoying the soft sound of the bagpipers from the Sea Island Lodge at sunset blending into the subtle sound of live music flowing from the village as darkness falls is the closest to my perfect day.

What is one thing every visitor must do before leaving the Golden Isles? A visit to the Golden Isles is not complete without exploring our marshes, rivers, and creeks – guided fishing trip, kayak tour with Southeast Adventure Outfitters, or a yacht cruise on the “String of Pearls.” If you want to discover the full magic and lure of the Golden Isles, visits to Cumberland, Little Cumberland, Little St. Simons, or Sapelo islands are essential to appreciating the true heart, beauty, soul and majesty of the Golden Isles.

Give us your elevator pitch for someone looking to move to the Golden Isles: The Golden Isles are rich in beauty, nature, culture, history, community, and lifestyle. There is always something new and beautiful to discover. The famous “Marshes of Glynn” provide expansive vistas and its estuaries are nurseries that play an important role in the ecosystem of the world. The Golden Isles is a beautiful intersection of natural beauty and human culture. At one point in my life, I realized a whole new level of opportunity in this little corner of the globe. Where else could I live where one child can be on a competition equestrian team and play violin in a youth orchestra while another child is able to hop on his bike to fish (fresh or saltwater) after school as another child plays a world championship golf course at a five-star resort, yet another prepares for a role in the Nutcracker as part of a ballet company? All the while, the Golden Isles maintains a true small community spirit. It is no wonder that the Golden Isles draws, nurtures, and inspires artists, playwrights, authors, musicians, inventors, scientists, designers, chefs, athletes, and entrepreneurs. For stints in my young adult life, I lived in Virginia, England, New York, Florida, Chicago, Arkansas, and Mississippi, which only enhanced my appreciation for my Golden Isles heritage. After over 50 years, I feel blessed to have grown up here, to rear my children here, and to call the Golden Isles my home.

What advice do you have for young adults interested in pursuing a career in real estate? Find a great mentor for inspiration and sage advice. I was blessed to have had the opportunity to serve as the executive assistant to Roy Hodnett, who with his daughter Pat Cooper, founded BHHS Hodnett Cooper Real Estate. The year I began to work for the World War II veteran, he turned 96 and was exactly twice my age on our shared birthday. Over the next three years, his life stories and personal experience with markets dating back to the Depression Era gave me a perspective beyond my years. Coming from almost a decade of working in ministry, I discovered that real estate is a wonderful opportunity to be of true service to people in a time of transition. If you have a heart for people and love to get behind their hopes and dreams, love a project or a puzzle, can pay attention to details without losing sight of the big picture, are not afraid of conflict but can see creative solutions towards peace-making, then real estate is a good fit for you. It helps if you are self-directed and others-motivated with a desire to explore some of everything from design, economics, law, ethics, business, construction, psychology, development, financing, homemaking, marketing to research. Listening to client’s stories and getting to the heart and motives of their goals is a privilege, an intimate process and a quick way to make fast friends. It helps that the Golden Isles sells itself.

REALTOR Q+A – Margaret Butler

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  • By CURRY HARTMAN
  • Sep 23, 2021, Link to full article
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Name: Margaret Butler

Family: My husband, Mac Butler; our two sons, Albe, 10, and Dean, 8; our Dachsund, Bama Belle and our cat, Tut.

Years in the Golden Isles: 27

School: University of Alabama and Armstrong Atlantic State University

Occupation: Full-time Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate

Tell us about how you started your career as a Realtor: I have always loved helping people. After college, I taught elementary school. While I loved teaching, I knew it wasn’t my true calling. Teaching is similar to real estate in many ways, you have to have good communication skills, be able to multitask, and be able to solve problems quickly. I always wanted to get my real estate license, but it never seemed like the right time. Until finally it was. I love how this business is always changing and evolving. I get to meet and help so many different people. I absolutely love where I live, so being able to share it with others makes me happy.

What are some features of homes in the Golden Isles that always stand out to you? I love homes with nice curb appeal and great landscaping, it makes such a difference. I also like to see the different ways people use outdoor living spaces. I have seen some amazing homes with the coolest outdoor areas, it’s like a vacation in your backyard. Of course, homes that take advantage of views are always amazing. It’s also fun to see different kinds of homes and how people use their layout to make the home suit their needs. I love homes with personality and quirkiness, the more unique the better, not just cookie cutter or trendy.

What qualities do you think a good real estate agent should have? I think a good Realtor makes it their goal to understand their clients’ needs and wants and uses this information to help guide their clients in the right direction. Listening to their clients and asking a lot of questions is key to a great relationship. Another great quality for a realtor to have is to be there for their clients after the sale. I keep in touch with my past clients all the time. I think being able to help them find contractors, recommendations for dentists, doctors, babysitters, you name it, shows that you are not just in this business for the sale, but to help people. Communication is also vital to being a good Realtor, no one likes it when they can’t get in touch with someone, so I always try to be available to my clients. Empathy is another essential quality for a Realtor to have. Situations happen in real estate that can make or break a deal, and a good Realtor tries to put herself in the client’s shoes. Being a good problem solver is one of the best qualities a Realtor can have. Coming up with solutions takes the stress away and leads to better outcomes. You must also be a team player to be a good Fealtor because at the end of the day we are all on the same team. And finally, being able to build a good rapport with my fellow Realtors, clients, and business associates goes a long way in this business.

How would you describe the perfect weekend for you and your family? We like to do lots of fun things on the weekends. A perfect weekend for us would start with a Friday night dinner at Crabdaddy’s, Fiddlers, Barrier Island, Halyards or Tramici. On Saturday, we would ride our golf cart to the village to have an early lunch at Mallery Street Café or Palmers. Then take a walk around the pier/village area, while the boys search for SSI Rocks. They are obsessed with them and have found over 20 rocks. Next, we would either go to the Sea Palms Pool or to the beach at Myrtle Street. On Sunday, we would head to the Brunswick Country Club to play golf. I mostly watch the boys play, but occasionally I attempt to play a few holes. Mac is a great golfer, and the boys are getting really good, thanks to their golf coach, Ray Cutright. If we don’t go to the golf course, we would load the bikes in the truck and head over to Jekyll and park at the Jekyll Pier. We love riding bikes on Jekyll because of the amazing bike trails. They go all the way around the island, and it is such a beautiful ride. On our way home, we love to stop at Marshside for an early dinner. There are a lot of other things we enjoy doing on the weekends, like watching Bama Football (Roll Tide), taking out the boat, paddle boarding, fishing, you name it. Obviously, we have a lot of hobbies, LOL!

How would you describe the Golden Isles to a first-time visitor? It’s the perfect place! The Golden Isles is one of the most unique areas in the world. It has a small-town vibe, while having so much to do and enjoy. We have a beach, marshlands, awesome fishing/boating, exceptional golfing, the list goes on. The Golden Isles is much more than just a vacation destination. It’s a great place to live, raise your kids, retire, buy a 2nd home, or an investment property. Where else can you find all these options? There is a place for everyone here, in the Golden Isles.