A Conversation with the Van Valkenburghs

Sit Down With Success is a feature of the Huntsville Business Journal on entrepreneurs and their keys to success. To read the full story, please visit the Huntsville Business Journal website.

If you’ve lived in the Huntsville area for some time, you may have heard the name Van Valkenburgh, established in Huntsville more than 150 years ago.

Sixth-generation Huntsvillian Richard Van Valkenburgh and his wife Nancy have made their mark in Huntsville in the area of historic preservation and real estate.

From their office in historic downtown Huntsville, the couple shared with the Huntsville Business Journal their love for historic homes and passion for helping families find homes.

Tell me about the history of your business.

Nancy (N): We opened our business, Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson Properties, Inc., as co-owners in 1985. I was the real estate broker specializing in historic properties. Both Richard and I were founding members of the Historic Hunts- ville Foundation in 1974, which at the time of its founding was seeking to preserve the architectural heritage of the area.

It was apparent that not all needed preservation could be done solely by volunteers, but it was necessary to find owners willing to invest in, live in, and preserve homes. Our business helped with this effort.

What changes have you experienced in real estate since you started your business?

N: The goal is the same, which is to help people buy and sell homes, but the methods have changed. Now people have access to everything on the internet, but to me, they still need realtors to help them because it's like going into the biggest library in the world and saying, well, here's the information. Find It. You have to have somebody who can help you.

What are some of the challenges that you’ve faced in your business?

Richard (R): Keeping up with the new parts of the business. Going to the internet, then to the lockbox system, and we're getting ready to change lockboxes again. When you stop and think about it, the business has always been trying to help someone find a home that they enjoy.

What advice would you give to someone starting their own business?

N: First, plan carefully for finances. I sat down and planned the finances exactly. I've seen people in real estate that started off like they had (jillions) of dollars when they sold one thing. You have to plan and have your budget, but then be prepared for surprises. They're going to happen. Be willing to take a chance on your ideas, love what you do, and enjoy it.

What has been the key to your success?

N: To have a dream and be willing to work and persevere. That's important. It's also helpful to have support and encouragement from your colleagues and your family. If you have a mentor to turn to, that's helpful too. We've got three daughters who came into the business. They were probably some of the youngest realtors in the state, and have been doing a fantastic job.

How do you balance business and personal life?

By: Heather Price /

Babin

N: When you own your own business, it is your personal life.

R: I get to work with my best friend, so that's part of it, and she puts up with me, so it works very well. Every now and then we'll sneak off for four-five days, but mostly it's enjoyable and if somebody has a problem we're on the phone or they come in and we sit down and talk. We've been very fortunate. It's hard to complain when your mouth is full. And we love our community. w

Subsidiary of EVENT Publishing

President /Publisher

Todd Stephenson

Editor Gus Wintzell

Writers

Contributing Writers ………………………………………

Graphic Design

Laura Boehringer

Ashlyn Grey

Marie Johnson

Noah Logan

Heather Price

Alexander Duck

Jim Steele

Justina Simon

Amy Pearson

Website Jim Gharib

Photographers

Steve Babin

Justina Simon

Director of Sales …………………………………… Carolyn Stephenson

Distribution …………………………………………………… Glenda Mace

Huntsville Business Journal is published monthly by EVENT Publishing, PO Box 14219, Huntsville, AL 35815. For advertising information call 256.533.8078, e-mail todd@eventhuntsville.com, or visit us on the web at www.huntsvillebusinessjournal.com

For editorial information contact editor@huntsvillebusinessjournal.com

ALL CONTENTS ©2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION OR USE IN WHOLE OR IN PART OF THE CONTENTS WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER IS PROHIBITED. HUNTSVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF EVENT PUBLISHING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. UNSOLICITED PHOTOGRAPHS OR ARTICLES ARE SUBMITTED AT THE RISK OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER OR AUTHOR. EVENT PUBLISHING ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR THE RETURN OF ANY UNSOLICITED MATERIALS AND MAY USE THEM AT ITS DISCRETION.

NASA