Earlier this week as Peggy and I were walking into the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services offices in Dunwoody Village, I remembered what a lovely interview I had with Kerry Arias last March and wondered whether she’d be in the office. Well, she was the first smiling face to greet us as we walked in the front door. When I interviewed her last year she was just starting out her new career in Real Estate. I could not wait to hug her neck and congratulate her on her huge success in such a short time. She was one of the Dunwoody BHHS offices Top Dunwoody Agents of 2021!
Toni hired Sally way back when BHHS was still Prudential Georgia Realty, when Sally was 20 years old, newly married and had just gained her real estate license! Thirty something years later Toni remembers that day in 1986. She told me “Sally is one of the most positive and focused people I know. That was what got my attention in her very first interview!”
Sally says her entire world changed that year! She built her business in Dunwoody, took a few years off to have a wonderful son and daughter, then came back full time in 1995 and was all in! She was always a top producer and has loved the experience she gained from working around the northern Atlanta suburbs and in other BHHS offices in the metro area.
Sally obtained her Broker’s license in 2011 at the urging of a fellow Broker. She gained experience working as a co-broker alongside other brokers in the Cumming and Suwanee offices for a few years. Meanwhile DeAnn Golden, Managing Broker of the Dunwoody BHHS office was promoted Senior Vice President/Regional Manager. Obviously, Sally and Toni were well acquainted, so it was no surprise when Toni called her to return to the Dunwoody office to become Managing Broker! Sally returned to Dunwoody on February 18, 2020, then went straight to the BHHS convention in Nashville. Then the world stopped for Covid. Sally got to know her agents (sixty-five of them at the time) over Zoom and/or wearing masks.
We spent a long time talking about how insane the residential real estate market has been during the pandemic. Sally says it is a learning experience every day. Sally no longer sells or lists properties herself…her job is to strictly support her sixty-seven agents and help them navigate and grow their business and meet their goals. She collaborates with them to develop business plans by learning WHY they are in real estate, WHAT they want to achieve, and HOW they plan to get there. She is described as “available, flexible, self-motivated etc.”. Helping agents reach their own goals is her most prioritized role. She wants her agents to enjoy what they do and live their personal lives to the fullest. Sally repeated a few times, “Being a Realtor is so much more than just having a license”. Sally is an excellent counselor for her agents because of her vast accumulated knowledge.
Toni told me to ask Sally about her morning routine.
Sally grinned and told me about the healthy routine she learned from the CEO of BHHS. She prioritizes MEDS every day!
I asked Sally: “Why should potential clients choose one of her Dunwoody BHHS agents if they want to buy or sell a home in our community?”
Jodi Halpert
Sally reminded us: BHHS is one of the most recognized names in the real estate industry worldwide. She confirmed it is extremely helpful to be under such a large corporate umbrella and able to benefit from all the resources within it. Her Dunwoody agents KNOW the market because they LIVE in it. They offer the highest levels of service and integrity. All the BHHS agents are members of the Atlanta Board of Realtors and therefore held to the highest standards in the industry. Sally has fostered an office environment where her agents are willing to help each other, train each other and develop strong working relationships with each other. Case in point – Jodi Halpert (the Dunwoody BHHS TOP individual producer of 2021) walked in to share a few recent transactional stories with us. Jodi has written a “multiple offer response” to provide to agents who have bid offers on properties but did not win. Bidding wars are happening with MOST properties for sale now. Jodi shared excellent feedback received from agents thanking her for her integrity and service to her clients and other agents.
On a side note….Peggy and her husband worked with Jodi Halpert in 2018 to sell their former home and buy a new home around the corner. Jodi’s knowledge of the Dunwoody market, her relationship with the other agent, and expertise in contracts/negotiations, all facilitated a seamless experience. Jodi’s connections in the community allowed her to sell Peggy’s existing home off market without having to stage or show!
When wrapping up, we asked both Jodi and Sally: “What’s changed in the last 5 years in Dunwoody Residential Real Estate?” With wide eyes and expressive commentary, they started sharing excitedly…
Everythinghas changed!
The market has exploded!
Technology and social media changed how business is done.
The sales process is now all electronic.
So many homes have been bought “sight unseen” or even via FaceTime.
Agents meet clients at homes rather than riding in cars with them due to masks and germs.
Bidding wars!
Offers with no inspections or contingencies.
Both Jodi and Sally say the most important thing for agents to realize right now is to follow the directions on a listing. If agents do not follow the listing directions, their client could be moved to the bottom of the bid list despite the quality of the offer!
A few fun facts about our new friend Sally: She lives nearby in the beautiful Aria property in Sandy Springs off Glenridge. She has two grown children. One close to home and the other across the country in California. She loves all the local flavor in Dunwoody … especially NFA Burger, Novo Cucina, Carbonara Trattoria and the new Bar(n)...all in Dunwoody Village. In fact, our conversation happened during lunch time, so we stopped by to say hello to Billy Kramer at NFA and enjoyed burgers and tots. Can you believe it was Peggy’s first time ever to have an NFA Burger?! It will not be her last. We liked Sally so much we plan to go grab her for lunch often!
I videoed our chat and I think you’ll love seeing Christina’s beautiful Dunwoody home (she’s an interior designer) and hear the stories about all the purchases and sales. Karen helped her sell a condo in Dunwoody, buy her house in Dunwoody on Layfield Court in The Branches, sell her Dunwoody home and purchase her new dream home in Johns Creek! Two stories that didn’t make the video still make me laugh as I write this….
Christina had her inspector pose as her husband during a showing and got kicked out! (They wanted to write their offer with “no inspection”)
Christina found her dream home in The Branches and was about to put a note in the mailbox requesting an opportunity to purchase some day….then found out the homeowner of her dream home was Karen and Anderson Cannon! (They aren’t moving!)
I’m sad she’s moving away from Dunwoody right after I just met her! I think you’ll agree after you’ve seen the video.
Karen Cannon Realtors are LOCAL. The brand created is at company level not agent level. Everything is consistent with the brand and product. It’s a team. They are the top selling and most-referred team in Dunwoody with over 400 5-star reviews. Their agents are fully supported so they can focus on their clients – from a full-time marketing specialist, listing coordinator and closing coordinator — all of the details are handled. Every home is marketed with professional photography, home staging, 3D virtual tours and targeted digital promotion.
I also met with KCR Realtors, Paige, Sabrina and Andrew and will introduce you to them in an upcoming article. Meanwhile if you want to buy or sell a home…contact them at info@KarenCannon.com. Their offices are conveniently located between Marlow’s Tavern and First Watch in Dunwoody Village.
My hubby and I sent two sons off to college. My oldest was in 10th grade when I started freaking out because I didn’t understand ANYTHING about the college application process, what we could afford, where was the best fit, scheduling college tours, etc. Honestly, when I started talking to people about what to do, I felt like I was learning a whole new foreign language with words such as: FAFSA, SAT Subject Tests, Early Admission, Gap Year, Technical School, Early Decision, Early Action, Early Decision, Common App, Safety School, Binding Decisions, Hope/Zell GPA vs regular GPA, UGMA, UTMA, EFC, etc. … Read More »
Most people know I love piddling around in my yard. I’m not an expert on anything except maybe growing zinnias from seed, but I love being outside. So, when Mario Cambardella contacted me about advertising, I was intrigued to find out more about his business, ServeScape. I researched and learned all about ServeScape to prepare for our conversation. … Read More »
Coach Bass and I go way back to around 2004. I can’t remember whether I first met him at the Murphey Candler Tom Bass Camp or at Indoor Winter Baseball at DHS when my oldest was six years old. So, the first thing I asked Tom when we sat down to chat for this interview was….”What… Read More »
My hubby and I were out running errands this weekend and rode by the AC Hotel. A light-bulb went off in my head as I remembered the new Bar Peri Rooftop Bar was on the 7th floor. So, we pulled in, parked and went upstairs for the view, a quick bite and a few beverages. … Read More »
I’m not normally so forthcoming about my personal life and family trips but I just couldn’t help sharing Italy with everyone. Here’s why:
I wanted everyone to realize Danielle Garrett of PlanIt Travel Designs actually does plan all of my big vacations and she is amazing. This time my brother and I decided to let our parents oversee all the decisions and Danielle worked with Mom and Dad to plan the PERFECT trip for us.
When leaving the Georgetown Kroger and heading back toward Dunwoody on Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, the view is very different these days. Many trees have been chopped down making room for sidewalks and bike lanes and the burying of utilities. Now you can now clearly see the JF&CS buildings located at 4549 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. … Read More »
I recently sat down at the Dunwoody Nature Center with three of the lovely ladies working behind the scenes to bring us a fabulous 2021 Butterfly Experience. As it turns out, the weekend of August 19-22 is going to be HUGE in Dunwoody. Plan to stay in town that weekend! … Read More »
I first visited CrossFit Dunwoody in April of 2019. Much has changed since then. First, the owner, Glenn, has gotten a haircut, a wife, and will become a father in October! Probably more noticeable are their new digs…. CrossFit Dunwoody vacated their space in the Dunwoody Village shopping center now occupied by Village Threads and moved about 100 yards away into the out-parcel that used to be Jiffy Lube. … Read More »
So, how can I get your attention? Let me try this:
Current 8th graders have control NOW over which college they can attend. Yep, I said 8th graders…. let me say it again…. EIGHTH GRADERS.
What do I mean? Well, GPA (Grade Point Average) is EXTREMELY important to colleges, and grade inflation has been dramatically rising the last decade, with over 47% of students having an A average in 2017, and likely more than 50% today!… Read More »
Having my home, deck, driveway, and walkways pressure/soft washed has turned out to be the gift that keeps on giving. Chris and Daniel from Alpha Clean performed the work the day before I left town for a much needed 10 day “spring break”. My hubby and I LOVED the new clean look but I didn’t have time to write any notes before I left town. … Read More »
I’ve known Alan Mothner, the CEO of Spruill Center for the Arts, since our kids played Little League baseball at Murphey Candler park and I’ve lived in Dunwoody since 2002 but I’ve never taken an art class at Spruill! Well, until last week that is….
Alan invited Peggy, Lauren, their daughters, and me to a jewelry making class taught by Amy Gresens. … Read More »
I have been so very fortunate to have been given several opportunities lately to visit local businesses and participate in fun programs that are still “social-distance friendly”. Last week was no exception. This time, Peggy and I decided to take my hubby with us! We laughed, learned, laughed more, chopped, laughed, sauteed, sneaked bites of Manchego cheese, laughed, cooked, ate and laughed even more!… Read More »
Dunwoody Baptist Church was purposely built on a busy corner and they have been working hard for over a year to “plant a tree for future generations to sit in the shade”. Many Dunwoodians attend church at DBC but even more play ball there, take music lessons there, attend preschool there etc. But EVEN MORE ride by DBC every day and have probably been wondering what’s going on with the construction!… Read More »
