Susie Carone

A WELL-BALANCED CAREER

By Robbyn Moore

Photos by Jennifer Arnett with Starloft Photography

Photos taken at Toll Brothers — Hamlet Pointe in Canton

For almost 20 years, Susie Carone has been working within the real estate industry. She worked as an office manager for years, cultivating tough negotiating skills at a construction company as well as a heating and cooling company, which was then followed by a role within the mortgage industry. Her knowledge and experience in these respective fields proved to be invaluable precursors to her successful career as a real estate agent.

Since acquiring her license in 2005, Susie has achieved more than $70 million in sales volume and has earned numerous awards within her brokerage at CENTURY 21 Curran & Oberski.

Susie’s two children were her main motivators in establishing her career. “At the time, I was recently divorced and had just bought my first home and needed the flexibility to be available as a full-time mom of two children in multiple sports,” she said. “Additionally, I have a passion for helping others, and it was during the downturn of the market when I first began, so I was in a position to help several friends who were facing foreclosure and short sales, along with warning them about many fraudulent lending practices.”

Originally from Dearborn Heights, Susie said her biggest influencers were her parents. “They worked very hard as entrepreneurs and owned several small businesses. My father was a master electrician and a man of all trades,” she shared. “I assisted him in building two homes while I was working at the construction company as a project manager. My father was my biggest fan and the one who I could always turn to whenever I had a question regarding anything related to my real estate transactions. The sudden passing of my father in April has been very difficult. I miss him — all our talks and his guidance to help me succeed. I wish I had more time to spend with him.”

Susie is drawn to all aspects of the real estate industry and loves to find creative ways to help her clients find housing that meets their needs as well as their budgets. “There’s nothing more rewarding than finding the perfect home for my clients,” she said. “I carefully listen to their needs and then happily hunt for a home that fits them financially and is structurally sound.”

To increase happiness and well-being, Susie stressed the importance of having a well-balanced lifestyle. “For years, I have struggled with scheduling and sticking to the calendar,” she shared. “Time management was my #1 goal for the new year, and therefore, I hired my first assistant and buyer’s agent to help me with those challenges.”

Susie’s staff includes her daughter, Karissa — who is licensed and assists Susie in all of her real estate transactions — and Claire Washington — who is a whiz with marketing and technology, and at organizing all of the documents that pertain to each transaction. “There is always so much I’d like to do and not always enough time. I’m so grateful to have a balanced team around me to ensure we’re giving our clients our full attention.”

For Susie, success means finding happiness and being able to share her good fortune with her family. She and her husband, John, enjoy traveling, biking, wine tasting and soaking up the sunshine. Together, they own Don Yeyo Cigar Factory, Kelly’s Irish Pub in Dearborn and Dotte Pub in Wyandotte. Susie’s daughter, Karissa, and her husband, Sean, have three children: Bannon, 8, Avery, 6, and Cameron, 2. Their fourth child is due on Christmas Day, which is the first granddaughter for Susie. Susie’s son, Michael, recently graduated from nursing school and accepted a position at Henry Ford Hospital. He is dating a lovely young lady named Heidi, who is attending The University of Toledo to obtain a master’s degree in nursing.

Susie’s advice to up-and-coming agents is to understand the value of business planning and scheduling, and to take as many continuing education classes as possible to stay current on trends. “Continuing education and finding a great brokerage that supports you are key factors in helping any agent succeed,” she said.

Susie wants to be remembered for her laugh, for her smile and, most of all, for her kindness. “I have always been shy and quiet,” she said. “However, I love to include all my friends in everything I do — never leaving anyone out and continuously trying to understand other people’s perspectives and situations; this includes my personal and professional life.”

When it comes to her clients, Susie’s main concern is to always make sure they are happy and confident with their decisions. “Of course I want my clients to have a perfect home and the best available house on the market,” she explained. “But I am very mindful to be sure every home is structurally and mechanically safe, and I always advise my clients to obtain professional advice — it has to be something that will bring happiness for years to come.”

Three months prior to the pandemic shutdown, Susie acquired her real estate license in Florida and aligned herself with Premiere Plus Realty. “This allows me to expand my work and to offer my services to clients in other parts of the country,” she said. “Real estate will always be in my future, even when I’m at the beach.”

Susie Carone - AGENT SPOTLIGHT