Monadnock Region Real Estate Group opened its doors in October, and in its first five months, the Peterborough-based business closed on eight properties.
Co-owners Kathleen Johnson, Kelly Wheeler and Maryann Shepard attribute their early success to a team-oriented environment and their “wonderful personalities.”
In addition to buying and selling real estate, the group also manages property in the region. They cover properties ranging from single-family homes to large commercial buildings.
The trio started the business to provide an alternative option to corporate real estate companies and to create what they call a local “boutique” feel.
“When starting the business, we wanted to add a personal touch,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to do that as a corporate business.”
“Buyers want to work with real people,” Wheeler added. “Someone selling muddy farm land probably isn’t going to want to talk to a Realtor wearing stilettos. They want to see boots.”
“They want people to make them feel comfortable when they’re buying or selling a home or business, so that’s our focus,” she said.
The women separate themselves from other agencies through collaborative client management.
“There’s a lot of competition for clients in other places and little cooperation between agents,” according to Shepard. She said most agencies are concerned about profit and develop strictly transactional relationships with their clients.
“If I’m on vacation and a client can’t reach me, they can talk to Kelly or Maryann,” Johnson added. “We go out of our way to accommodate both buyers and sellers.”
“We’re superheroes,” Wheeler said. “We’re not here to take money from each other. We’re out to build our clientele together.”
While all three came from Central Gold Key Realty, their different backgrounds round out the business.
Johnson was born in Everett, Mass., but has lived in New Hampshire for 35 years. “In 2009, I moved to Peterborough and have worked in what seems like every real estate group in the region.”
In addition to Central Gold Key, Johnson has worked with The Petersons, Inc. , Sotheby’s International Realty and LIG Properties, LLC to name a few. “LIG is where I met Maryann.”
Shepard, a Hudson native, moved to Bennington at 14 before settling in Greenfield. She started out at LIG as an administrative assistant in 2014, and became a certified real estate agent within a year.
Wheeler cited her farming background as a benefit to the group. “Though I’ve only been in real estate for a few years, I grew up on a farm, so with that experience, I’m better able to connect with clients looking for agricultural land,” she said. The Pepperell, Mass., native moved with her family to Wilton at age 3 before moving to Lyndeborough.
Each agent had different reasons for getting into real estate.
“I worked in home health care for a while, and I always loved seeing the different homes,” Johnson said. “I’ve always loved unique homes, especially with different architecture and designs, so I figured I might as well buy and sell them.”
Shepard said she had a sweet spot for old houses with a lot of history and hidden nooks. “Old homes with bomb shelters for basements are really cool,” she said. “We just sold a house in Hampstead that had a jail in the basement.”
Wheeler seconded Shepard’s affinity for historic houses, but also gave her credit for getting Wheeler into the profession.
“Maryann came in one day to the Lyndeborough Village Store where I work part-time,” Wheeler said. “After speaking with me for a bit, she said I’d make a really good real estate agent, so I followed up with her a little while later and asked if she was serious, and she said ‘of course I’m serious!'”
Wheeler said she loves the work as she meets unique people. Her goal is to make people’s dreams come true.
“There’s a house for everyone,” Shepard added.
Johnson shared the sentiment and said she enjoys how the job requires constant learning. “Every transaction is different, and we’re always learning,” she said. “The schooling is a 40-hour certification process, but really ends up being over 200 hours between studying and reading, but that’s not the end of it,” she said, adding that they biannually complete 15 hours of continuous education.
Monadnock Region Real Estate Group is located at 7 Main St., Suite 1, Peterborough.