Serendipity pivotal in Ethel Curbow's career

Ethel Curbow, a top real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realtors, didn't start out wanting to sell real estate.

The former junior high school librarian turned to real estate because there were no openings for someone with her specialization in the Springfield school system when she and her family moved here in 1981.

"The lady who sold us our house talked me into going to real estate school. I thought I'll do this until I get a real job.' That was 19 years ago," said Curbow, who added, "I found out, that was what I was supposed to be doing; I just hadn't known it until then."

Curbow had found her true calling, proven by the recognition and awards she has achieved over her career. In 1998, Coldwell Banker Vanguard, Realtors, named Curbow eighth in the nation for numbers of homes sold 208 houses.

That's an average of a sale every 1.75 days. She also sold about the same number of homes last year. She has been the Top Producer in the state of Missouri for Coldwell Banker and has often placed in the top 10 in the 13-state Midwest region.

She said it meant a great deal to her when Springfield News-Leader readers voted her their favorite Realtor in 1998, but she is proudest of being named Southwest Missouri State University's Outstanding Alumnus this year.

"I was very honored and humbled," said Curbow, who received her bachelor's degree from SMSU.

Because of her success as a salesperson, Curbow found the need to hire assistants to give better service to her customers.

She describes real estate sales as a "huge balancing act," with many activities going on at the same time: helping sellers sell houses, helping buyers find houses, working on contracts and advertising.

Like many top agents, she developed a mini-business. Now she has a listing coordinator, a closing coordinator, buyers' assistants and errand runners.

The nature of the real estate business has altered during the years Curbow has been an agent. Now, she said, there are fewer agents doing more of the business than when she began working in real estate.

Another major difference is the current stress on in-depth, three- to four-hour inspections. It used to be that if a house was under contract, it was under contract. Now there is a 10-day inspection period which usually is followed by contract renegotiations.

The amount of paperwork has increased.

"We have eight pages for a listing and around that many for a contract. It was about one page each when I got into the business," Curbow said.

The Internet is the big change, and it is the future of the industry, she said.

"The technology part of real estate is totally changed. We use digital cameras, the fax and e-mail. We spend a great deal of time putting listings onto the Internet, and we have four or five sites. I get customers calling from my Web page.

"If you aren't technologically savvy, you will have to get out of the business because you won't last," Curbow said.

But still it all comes down to working with people. Curbow describes herself as a "people person" and said she enjoys working with customers to match them up with the right home.

Residential real estate is her specialty.

"This is a very important purchase, and I love being able to accomplish something for someone that's so important and rewarding," Curbow said. "It sounds trite, but I like to help people and get paid for it."

That is her definition of success. "Getting to do what one likes to do and getting paid for it, it's true icing on the cake along with having loved ones to enjoy it with," Curbow said. Her husband of more than 40 years, their daughters and their families are in Springfield.

"I'm really lucky, God's given me good health, a wonderful, supportive family, and wonderful, supportive friends and co-workers," Curbow said.

She added, "I work 24 hours, seven days a week, but I don't sit behind a desk. I do different things all day. I'm my own boss. I like having my destiny in my own hands."