Gail Hoover Develops Real Estate Niche that Helps Families in Need

Gail Hoover has found a new niche in the real estate industry. She helps adult children of homeowners who are faced with the sudden need to sell their family home. These homes need to be emptied, cleaned and repaired in order to get them ready to list.

Hoover has developed a complete team of service providers/contractors who are ready to tackle the job and have the ability to coordinate the entire project for the family. This is a huge relief to many people, especially when they are trying to orchestrate the sale from out of town.

Hoover, a local Realtor with decades of experience and offices in South Whitehall and Center Valley, is this week's Business Spotlight.

Q – Name and type of business?

A – Gail Hoover, Realtor, RE/MAX Central.

Q - Number of years in business?

A-  24 years

Q - Address, phone number, website, fax number?

A- 4550 Tilghman St., Allentown, PA; 610-389-0000;  www.gailhoover.com; cell  610-217-8136

Q – Number of employees? Subcontractors?

A – We use a team approach.

Q – What is your specialty?

A – Helping buyers and sellers faced with a huge life change break it down into manageable pieces. Our goal is to help make the transformation as easy and stress free as possible.  I volunteer my time to educate the public by offering First time Home Buyer and How to Sell the Family Home seminars.

Q – What or who is your biggest competitor and how do you provide better services/products?

A – There are plenty of Realtors. One thing that sets Gail Hoover apart is having more than 24 years of experience. When I started my real estate career interest rates were in the high teens. Everyone said you couldn’t sell a house. Well, I was a single mom of a 3-year-old and we needed a roof over our heads - talk about motivation. So I got to work and I've made it through every economic cycle since. The slower market we are currently experiencing will pass too - they always do.

Also, throughout the 24 years I’ve helped adult children of homeowners who are faced with the responsibility of selling the family home. The house needs to be emptied out, cleaned up, general repairs done in order to get it on the market. I’ve developed a complete team of service providers/contractors who are ready to tackle the job. I have the ability to coordinate the entire project for the family. This relieves them of a huge responsibility, which in many cases is managed from out of state.

Q – What is the mission statement or philosophy behind running your business?

A - Because I help people with their residential properties, there is always a market - some faster than others. But residential real estate is always driven by life changes. When you reach your 20s your parents want you out of their house so it’s time to buy.

When you get married, you probably need to buy. When you have a baby or two or three, it’s time to buy. On the flip side, when the children have grown and you’re in a big house -  it’s time to sell.  When you can no longer handle the stairs - it’s time to sell. When someone dies - it’s time to sell.  All of these life changes happen in both "good" and "bad" economies.

Q – Can you share a story about your business? A triumph or obstacle you’ve overcome, perhaps?

A - Recently, Barry Gibbiser called to say his mother had a stroke and couldn’t return home. Her house needed to be liquidated immediately to pay for her care. He questioned if that was possible in a slow market.  I met with him and his mother, signed paperwork, had the property cleaned out, repairs made, passed city inspection, marketed and put under agreement in 28 days. They were sitting at the settlement table in less than 60 days. It was a pleasure to take that burden off Barry’s shoulders.

Q – What are your plans for the future?

A - Be of service to the people who can use and appreciate it the most.

Q- Do you have more than one location?

A - RE/MAX Central has two offices: 4550 Tilghman St., Allentown; and 4789 Route 309 Center Valley.

Q – Is this a family owned/operated business?

A - Sure is.

Q - Have you won any awards or had special recognition?

A - I’ve consistently won sales recognition awards from RE/MAX but one award for which I am most proud is the award from the City of Allentown Human Relations Commission.

Q - Did you receive any type of special funding to start up your business?

A - None.

Q - Is there anything else you’d like to share about your business? History etc….

A - I LOVE helping people get from where they are to where they want to be.