For over 25 years, selling Vermont and New Hampshire Real Estate has been a mostly solo passion. Times change and I have enjoyed expanding my Thetford, Vermont office to include more agents who work both inside and outside the Upper Valley and Dartmouth regions, and include, Norwich, Montpelier, Burlington, Randolph, and Northfield, Vermont as well as Orford, Hanover, and Piermont, New Hampshire and beyond. Technology has allowed us to cover both New Hampshire and Vermont with increased ease and efficiency. We believe in staying small and providing highly personalized services that require we give 110% of our efforts. We are primarily a selling office, but handle buyer representation as this need arises. A.S.
Q & A with Ann Swanson – Valley News Archive
Q: WHAT IS YOUR REAL ESTATE BACKGROUND?
A: I started in 1984, the year my son was born, thinking that flexible hours might make it a good match for a single parent. Boy, was I mistaken. I learned my craft from Trudy Abbott in Norwich, who was a force in the industry at that time and brilliant at what she did. I have been forever grateful. I worked in larger offices until I had finally had enough of the “system.” I needed more freedom; to personalize and remain flexible with the services we offer. Currently, I enjoy and appreciate the company of 2 other excellent agents.
Q: WHAT DO YOU THINK SETS YOU APART?
A: We believe in personal service to clients and customers. Each transaction will have a unique set of problems and personalities and respecting differences is mandatory. We also believe in “being there.” It is our policy not to use lock boxes but be present for showings because we are not selling a stand alone property but a community, neighbors, activities and all the different parts of the whole that make any property unique.
Q: HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR THETFORD CENTER LOCATION?
A: Fabulous. It is my home town. Real Estate is becoming very mobile. I have two amazing agents working with me right now and we are covering most of the two states when necessary.
Q: DO YOU DEFINE YOURSELF BY YOUR WORK?
A: I think the job comes easily to me, and I do it well. I use to teach and still have a lot of that “old teacher” in me. I love first time home buyers for that reason and I love having my old students back in my life in a different capacity. But I have many other interests including writing, dancing, time spent with my son and my extended “step” family and of course traveling. I have also just completed my first screenplay.
Q: SHARE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE
A: I retell this a lot. When I turned 50, I gifted myself a ticket to the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain. I met Frank Gehry, the genius architect while sitting outside the museum. I cried introducing myself I was so moved. More recently I ran into Robert Redford (truth) and I tell people he slipped me a note to join him at the Owl Bar in Sundance but I had to turn him down as I was just too busy.
Q: WHAT NEXT?
A: Oh boy. REAL ESTATE has been good and we are so very busy. I have met wonderful people and together we have accomplished a lot. I am optimistic this trend will continue. In between, I have rewrites and lots of possibility.
Q: ANY ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER?
A: You bet. Love deeply, find purpose, work hard, speak up, give back and stop for turtles. Life is short.