Don't ask a REALTOR® how experienced they are, but how many times they've renewed their license. That's advice I stumbled upon during my morning news hour - and, I like it! It's a good point. When the market is hopping, it tends to be easier for (newer) agents to find/be assigned business. The definition of success in Real Estate, however, is not necessarily how many transactions someone closed this year, or last, but the ability to weather different market conditions, to survive and thrive for many years.
Ask an agent how many times they've renewed their license, and you'll better understand their level of experience. In Maryland, we are required to satisfy 15 hours of continuing education per renewal period (that number should be much higher but that's a different topic) which is every 2 years.
Local. Trusted. Experienced. is not just a marketing ploy, but very much fact. Thompson Company, REALTORS® was founded in 1946 and is one of Montgomery County, MD's oldest, independently owned brokerages. My broker Cherie is the 3rd generation to lead the company and got licensed so long ago that she had to think about it for a minute. It was 1986 for her which means 23 license renewals. Twenty-three!
I was first licensed in 2004 and just renewed for the 9th time in October of 2022. Combined, we have 56 years of experience. Although we are not an official team, we do team up on many listings, complementing one another perfectly. Past clients have nicknamed us the local dream team, and I couldn't love this any more than I do!
You can travel down history and see just how many socio-economic events we've weathered, individually and as a team. When Cherie was licensed initially, there was still a wall dividing my home country! When I started out, I experienced the frenzy of that crazy housing market and then its slowdown, my first professional certification was the SFR (Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource), a sign of those times.
We both have witnessed many, many beautiful happy closing days. We have guided countless first-time buyers, move-up buyers, and - lately- many more clients downsizing. We've delivered keys internationally and sold property on a Caribbean Island.
At Thompson Company, we took a close look at who we are, who we aspire to be and the value we bring to our (local) community. After 75+ years, we rebranded to a fresher look while staying true to our roots, and just introduced our new logo and brand colors.
So, if you are searching for a REALTOR® in Silver Spring, MD and beyond, give us a call. You get the combined knowledge and experience of 32 license renewals!
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