Rehabbing and selling her own home in University City in 2003 gave Joanne Quick her first tantalizing taste of the real estate business. “I was amazed by how much fun I had with the entire process of refurbishing an old home and then selling it for top dollar,” she says. “I was hooked.” Shifting from a career in corporate marketing and sales to real estate was seamless, she says. “The principles are the same. It’s just a different product, and one that I am truly passionate about.” She’s so charged by her career, in fact, that “when I sell a home for more than anyone expected, I feel a genuine rush.”
[home sweet home]
I live in the Colonial Park neighborhood of Ladue. I chose the house and the location because of the tremendous kid-friendly vibe of the neighborhood, the Ladue School District, and the fact that it is literally just a block or so from downtown Clayton. I absolutely love it.
[big deal]
In 2014, I listed and sold a magnificent builder’s private, custom-built country retreat with 42 acres and a private lake in Wildwood for $1.8 million. I’m still in touch with both the buyer and sellers of that home today because of its unique and special qualities.
[the real story]
Let’s face it, real estate sales and marketing is not as glamorous as they make it appear on HGTV. If it were that easy, everyone would be an agent. To be successful, it takes a lot of tenacity and drive, and you have to love the entire process.
[if you’re buying]
For the most part, it’s a seller’s market today, so you need to be prepared and have an agent who will help you find the right home before it becomes available to the masses, and who will help you negotiate aggressively, especially if you are in competition for the home you want.
[if you’re selling]
Interview at least two agents before choosing one to represent you and your home. You only get one chance to make a first impression with the market, so having your home launched properly and professionally will help you achieve maximum results.
[don’t sweat it]
Buying and selling homes can be stressful for clients, no matter who you are, and it’s my job to help my clients navigate the ups and downs. My entire 30-year career has been in sales and marketing, and with that experience comes the ability to work through those ups and downs and help my clients achieve a desired outcome.
[back-up plan]
If I were not a real estate agent, I would probably be a rehabber or developer. I love the process of creating a beautiful, well-thought-out home and then taking it to market.
