Sue Doninger Greer, ABR, Broker
Raising the Level of Service
- By Shannon Hartsoe
- Photography by Steve Mallin
- Presented by Bank of America
What is the difference between real estate and education? Not much, according to Sue Doninger Greer of Allen Tate Realtors. An educator for more than 23 years in her native New York State, Sue sees an amazing amount of parallels. "In education," she says, "you must be scheduled and detail oriented, or you will not be successful. And just as in real estate, accountability is at every turn."
Twelve years ago, Sue entered the real estate profession after a series of life changes that took her far away from her home. Single with two young daughters and not wanting to go back to the structured environment of teaching, Sue decided to pursue an earlier interest - real estate. "In New York it is very difficult to find new homes. When we purchased our first home, we fixed it up and resold it. I really enjoyed the process, and felt that I could help others do this as well," she states. "I also needed an industry that allowed me the flexibility to be with my children and one that provided good income potential." Real estate fit the bill.
Sue began her career with Coldwell Banker/Howard Perry & Walston initially. "I met Phyllis Wolborsky when I was relocating from New York, and we became dear friends. She was someone I admired and respected and I loved how she worked and functioned in the business. She was a mentor." Because Phyllis was with CB/HPW, it seemed the natural place for Sue to go to work as well.
Immediately, Sue knew that she had made the right choice. Rookie of the Year her first year out, and then a member of the Prestigious President's Circle, she finds real estate a different kind of challenge. "After spending 22 years in the classroom where every moment is scheduled, I really love the flexibility of real estate," she states. A side of the industry that she especially likes is not one that people would immediately associate with real estate - creativity. "There's a creative side to this business that people don't always see. No two days are the same, no two clients are the same and sometimes it's a little bit of a puzzle that needs to be put together. The reward lies in the friendships and the relationships you build with the people that you meet."
Early on in her career, Sue recognized the value in holding open houses and in doing floor time - her plan was to meet as many people as she could, and then expand her repeat and referral base from those beginnings. The plan worked and she encourages others in the business to follow her advice. "I would tell new agents to hold open houses, to do as much floor time as possible, to let as many people as possible know that you are an available and qualified real estate professional, and then to build upon that base. I would say that 90 percent of my business today is a direct result of those early connections." In 2006, Sue won the recognition of "Agent of the Year" for the Falls Office of CB/HPW.
"What I find best about Sue is the way she listens. A lot of agents ask me questions, but I love answering hers! I think her listening skills have a lot to do with her success along with her wonderful work ethic." -Phyllis Wolborsky
After 10 years in the business, Sue decided to make the move to Allen Tate Realtors. Allen Tate was the "new kid in town" and their place in the market intrigued her. The fact that they are one of the leading brokerages in the Carolina's, along with their affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, encouraged Sue to rise up to the challenge and join their team. "This move has been one of the best career decisions I have ever made". Sue took this opportunity to expand her team, by adding a Transaction Coordinator, Jennifer Wolborsky.
Sue credits a strong relationship with her husband, Steve Greer, as the reason for much of her success. "He is my best friend and my strongest supporter." As a blended family, Steve and Sue jokingly refer to themselves as the Brady Bunch. All joking aside, Sue realizes that they have something beautiful and unique. Their four children have grown within the successful blending of two families. "Family is so important to all of us, and our children all get along so well, that you would never know that we haven't always been a family. It was definitely meant to be," says Sue, beaming. Steve's daughter Katie, now 24, graduated from UNC and is working for Meeting Management, and his son, Andrew, 28, and ECU graduate, recently moved to Charlotte to open a restaurant. Sue's daughters, 27-year old Cindy, is just ending her career with HBO in the documentary department in New York City and getting ready to go back to school full time for her Masters in Social Work, and Jaime, 29 a graduate of Fordham Law, is an attorney with a large firm in Manhattan and planning her weeding for the Spring of 2011.
Sue and Steve met in 1998 and were married in 2003. Together they enjoy taking impromptu trips, entertaining with friends, or simply walking the dogs. But most of all as Sue puts it, "simply spending as much time together as possible." A graduate of ECU, Steve is in the employee benefits business doing group benefits and all types of life insurance. When not spending time with her family, Sue has grown to love the game of tennis. "When I first came to the area and didn't know anyone, I decided to take up tennis to try something new and meet people. They became my support group and my friends. It is now the biggest part of my life outside of work. I absolutely love it." She plays on a variety of leagues at the Raleigh Racquet Club, including a USTA Ladies Regular Team, Ladies Senior Team and a Mixed Doubles Team. "It's my therapy," she says. "Playing tennis and spending time at the beach are really my rest and relaxation."
Specializing in the executive level residential market, Sue has a particularly strong gift in new construction. She enjoys working with her customers, helping them to select the lot, to choose the floor plan, and then working closely with the builder during construction. She stays abreast of new trends in residential building by educating herself with the market and by knowing the product.
"Sue's energy and commitment is evident in her attainment of her personal goals and it is evident in her dedication to her clients. In her first year in real estate, she sold 14 properties totaling over $5M in volume and was the Top Rookie for HP&W. She prides herself in knowing the area inventory, in knowing what specifications should go into various price ranges of new construction, and being able to advise clients on outstanding resources available to them in the home buying process. I am very proud to have watched her mature into such a fine real estate professional." - Susan Holbrook, Manager, Falls Office of Coldwell Banker/Howard Perry & Walston
Sue Doninger Greer has raised the level of service in the lives of her clients. By combining her experiences in education and real estate, she has been able to offer her buyers and sellers the best of both worlds. "It's important to treat this as a serious profession," she says, "because it is. I promise every one of my clients that I will go above and beyond to meet and exceed their expectations. That is the key to success, not just in real estate, but in life."
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