“Back in the day, there were no career Barbies—careers were for men!” says Holly Bry of Gladys Manion Real Estate, who worked as a teacher after graduating from Washington University in 1975. But she always enjoyed looking at homes, and daydreamed about going into real estate someday. When her dad and sister-in-law fell seriously ill in 1995, she began studying for her license. “Real estate helped me through the saddest time in my life,” she says. “What started as a distraction turned into a 19-year career I still thrive on.” She and husband Terry live in Ladue.
[late bloomer]
I got off to a slow start in real estate. It was more than a year until I had my first sale with my own clients. But even when I had no business, I still felt I was in the right career.
[first sale]
It was a condo in Clayton owned by a young couple with the most adorable twin toddler girls. At one point in the negotiations, I was at Steak-n-Shake with cell phone in hand, awaiting a call from the buyer’s agent. I was so nervous about negotiating my first transaction, I burst out crying while placing my order! The waitress thought it was her fault and apologized for taking so long.
[biggest sale ever]
A $3 million-plus home on Litzsinger Road.
[sunrise, sunset]
My favorite part of the job is meeting people and following them throughout their life cycle of getting married and having children.
[tight spot]
The most stressful phase of the process is the ‘inspection resolution’ part of the contract. That’s where it’s decided who’s responsible for repairs. Everyone who was previously happy becomes unhappy. It’s my least favorite part of real estate, because I like everyone to be happy all the time!
[bumps in the road]
Something goes wrong along the way in most deals. It’s important to try to find a solution, keep everyone calm and move forward. You’ve got to be patient, listen well and try to accommodate the client’s needs if at all possible.
[when the bubble burst]
During the crash, buyers thought they were over-paying and sellers thought they were giving their homes away. The market is slowly recovering, and buyers and sellers have now accepted the new reality. People are buying homes again, and inventory is depleted. This is a good time to sell.
[career advice]
If you want to go into this business, be prepared to be flexible with your time and work 24/7.
[sweet home st. louis]
The only thing I don’t like about this town is that my children and grandchild don’t live here!
By Tony Di Martino
