ParkerQuigley.com

In 1996, company owner Parker Quigley decided to try a new career in real estate – a decision that not would not only change the course of her own life and the lives of her children, but would go on to have an impact on countless others over the next 25 years. Real estate had always interested her, but it wasn’t until moving to Lake Hartwell that she really felt she had found something she loved enough to want to share with others. However, a love of her new home was not enough for a newcomer to have a successful career in real estate. As her daughter, I can testify that few people I’ve known have worked as hard as she does – especially in those first few years. Not only did she work hard to establish herself as a Lake Hartwell real estate expert, but she has always put her clients interests before her own. The public tends to view real estate agents as cut-throat sales people, but Parker has never operated that way. The goal is always to do what is in the best interest of the client. Sometimes that means referring a buyer for her own listing to another agent because she is already representing the seller. After all, once that listing agreement is signed, the seller’s interests are more important than her own ability to earn a higher commission. That means she recommends the tough home inspectors because she’d rather have her buyer clients terminate a contract than buy a home with unexpected problems after closing. It also means that she’s going to tell you exactly what the water is like at the property you love before you write the offer because what you see today isn’t necessarily what it looks like the majority of the year. If you’re her buyer client, her goal isn’t to sell you a house unless it’s the house you want, with the terms you want. If you’re her seller client, her goal isn’t to get your house sold unless it makes sense for you to sell, and you’re able to get the price and terms that allow you to move on to whatever your next phase may be. Her goal is to help you get the result that makes you happy, and that doesn’t always end in a sale. She is never going to pressure a buyer or seller into doing something that isn’t best for them. I’ve been working closely as her listing partner for the past 7 years, and I share the same approach to real estate. Before my mom started her real estate career, she was primarily a stay-at-home mom. During that time, I made a comment that I never forgot, but hopefully she did. I said something along the lines of, “I don’t want to be like you when I grow up – I want to do something important.” A lot of people probably wouldn’t consider selling real estate an important job, but we know that we’re playing an important role in a significant piece of people’s lives, and we take it seriously. Most of our family is involved in this business, and it’s our clients’ happiness that allows us to continue doing what we love.