5 minute read
Family is a key part of their business
Three generations help turn houses into homes for clients
By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media STERLING — Korinna Ramirez’s real estate license is just 4 months old, but the young Sterling agent already has a few closings to her name.
Still, there comes a time when any new agent needs a little help. Thankfully, Ramirez doesn’t have to look far to find it. A quick call to Mom, or if she’s busy, Grandpa and Grandma.
While family is always there to help, Korinna’s mom and grandparents also know quite a bit about making the dream of owning a home a reality. That’s because they’re her co-workers at Bardier and Ramirez Real Estate.
Family businesses aren’t all that unusual, but finding one with three generations working at the same time isn’t quite as common. Korinna’s grandparents, Lee and Bobbie Bardier, 67 and 72, have been helping clients find homes for more than 20 years. Jill Ramirez, 46, Korinna’s mother, has more than 15 years of experience in the business.
“It’s extremely helpful because I’m still new, and I can bounce back to both of them and they can help me and explain stuff that they may not teach you in the real estate classes,” Korinna, 26, said. “It’s nice to have that experience.” FAMILY cont’d to page 4
Real estate runs in the family at Bardier and Ramirez Real Estate in Sterling, where clients will find three generations of family taking care of business. From left: Korinna Ramirez, her grandparents, Bobbie and Lee Bardier, and her mom, Jill Ramirez.
ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
With three generations of experience among them, each family member brings their own talents and experience to the table. Lee’s a Baby Boomer, Jill’s part of Generation X, and Korinna’s a Millennial, but one thing they all have in common is a desire to find the right home for their clients. That’s where their combined talents come in handy. They can talk things over and bounce ideas off each other.
“It’s nice that we’re on a team because with the way the market is moving, you have to move fast,” Jill said. “If someone calls and says, ‘I want to see this house tomorrow,’ it might be sold tomorrow. So if [Lee’s] busy, I can show it, or [Korinna] can show it, and so it’s nice to help each other out.”
That support not only helps the family, but their customers, too.
“It’s a smoother transaction,” Lee said. “Because you have the family involved, the rapport is different. I’ve learned to rely on Jill probably more than I would if she was just somebody else. We’ll do the same with Korinna. The trust is a lot stronger. You just know that when they say they are going to do it, you’re not concerned about it.”
The Bardiers met in the late 1990s while working in the healthcare field in Florida. They later married and went into real estate to help supplement their existing jobs, and then became full-time agents. They moved to Sterling, where Bobbie had raised her children, in 2004 and worked for a Re/Max agency before establishing their own agency in April 2021. FAMILY cont’d to page 5
More info
Bardier & Ramirez Real Estate 415 Locust St, Suite B (Library Plaza), Sterling 815-213-7401 Online: bardier-ramirez.com and on Facebook
ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Lee and Bobbie utilized a team approach to sales during their years at Re/Max, tapping in to each others’ talents and skills. Jill joined Re/Max in 2006 and the trio became the “Bardier Team” — almost like an agency within an agency.
Having Jill on board helped expand their reach into another market. She could speak Spanish, which proved to be a big help in a city such as Sterling where there is a large Hispanic population.
When she started, Jill was the only bilingual agent in Sterling.
“They had a lot of Hispanic clients that didn’t speak English, and I could speak Spanish,” Jill said. “I went along with them at times and helped translate for them. Then they wanted to see if I could look into getting my license. It sounded like a good idea, and I did it.”
Bobbie is the agency’s office manager, and the first person clients meet. She points people in the right direction and makes sure the business is running smooth. She’ll often accompany Lee on home visits, but also lends a hand to Jill and Korinna when they need it.
If there’s a client who’s close to Korinna’s age, chances are Bobbie will point them to her direction.
“People her age are starting to buy houses now, and it’s good for her to help her friends find them,” Bobbie said.
Every now and again while growing up, Korinna would surf through her mom and grandparents’ listings and dream about what it would be like to live in nice places like those, or even show them off to someone. Today, she’s helping others experience the emotions that come with buying a home. “When they walk in the home and go, ‘Oh, this is the one!’ It’s exciting to see that reaction,” Korinna said. “Especially with a first-time home buyer, it’s nice. It’s exciting.” She’s enjoying her time helping people find their new homes, and it’s been a joy for both her mother and grandparents to see Korinna follow in their footsteps. “It’s nice to pass down the knowledge that you’ve picked up along the years,” Lee said. “I’ve passed it down to Jill, she’s going to pass it down to Korinna. It’s nice to know that if Bobbie and I decide to retire from the business, that we’re going to leave it in good hands.” n
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