THERE'' S A NEW KID THERE
A NEW REAL ESTATE agency,, THAT IS... agency
IN TOWN
Cathryn Hartwell, longtime resident of Alamance County, hails from New Jersey (and this fact will play into the story a little *later). Her real estate career began in 2005 and recently blossomed into her new position as owner and broker-in-charge of her very slow for me...I’ll grab the sledgehammer or the chainsaw own real estate agency, WindChime Realty & and just do it myself. Actually, I haven't see that sledgeProperty Management. hammer in a while...I think he hid it. Truthfully, he's a saint When asked what inspired her to become a real for putting up with this Jersey girl (just don't tell him I estate agent, she replied that her answer to that quessaid that!)." tion (albeit unconventional) is always: “When we were She goes on to tell us that between the two of them, kids, Mom would take us driving around, looking for the couple has three kids and two granddaughters, all of abandoned houses. We’d ‘let ourselves in’ and do our own whom live in the area, so they get to see them on a reguself-showings. Some of these houses were pretty magniflar basis. icent. As an adult, I of course realize this was 'not exactly When asked about being brave enough to start her legal' but it did spawn an actual interest in real estate!” In 2000, she opened a Mediterranean restaurant with own firm in the midst of a pandemic, we get even more her sister in Chapel Hill. Though it soon became evident of the "Jersey girl" vibe when she replies with, "I decided I that this area of Chapel Hill couldn't support the restau- was going to do this on my own, and when I make up my rant, her love of good cuisine led her to work in catering mind to do something — I'm gonna do it." — We believe you. with an established restaurant for a few years before When the topic is family and pets and she began a real estate career in The kids, Cathryn is jovial and lets her lively Triangle in 2005. It was 2016 before she personality shine. Even her logo reflects ignited her real estate career with more her colorful personality, but when the topic of a focus on property management turns to business...she is 'all business.' in Alamance County, and it was during "The reason behind opening my own this time that she partnered with other firm was that I felt a void in the industry locals and helped organize community that I had a desire to fill," she states. "Yes, and business networking events. And a I know that's a business startup rule-ofrenewed sense of community was born. thumb anyway — filling a void — but this This vivacious, spirited woman found was about more than that to me. The firms her roots when she met her husband I’ve worked with in the past were great. Gary Loy, lead mechanic of a local truckThey were ethical and professional and I ing company shop and handyman exappreciate everything I learned from those traordinaire. The couple lives on a large "Mom" Gail aka Cathryn's first real estate instructor relationships, but the experience I want to tract of property in southern Alamance, give my clients is rooted in a desire to not along with their rescue dogs Ziva and only help them find exactly what they're Vinny and a couple of rescue cats that looking for but to walk them through the scamper about the house. real estate process so they can make more "I'm a Jersey girl," Cathryn tells us educated decisions. If I am handling my with a twinkle in her eye (*here it clients' transactions with integrity, then I'm comes). "Though the Jersey in me has not going to feel threatened by teaching been organically toned down over the them what I know. They appreciate the years, it's always there. Gary calls me honesty, the time I take, and I think they “bossy” because I come up with projects trust me even more because they can see for us ('ahem,' him) to do around the I'm being transparent. The result is that house. What d’ya expect when you marry owners and tenants, buyers and sellers a Jersey girl?! But I don’t like to wait value each other. If I didn't know anything around for something to get done so... Husband (and Saint) about real estate, I know I would appreciate I'll push him on it, and if he’s going too Gary Loy
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Burlington Magazine | JAN ♦ FEB 202 1