Sharon Ash, member, Complete Realty Services LLC

Since 1985, when I formed my own company, Ash Real Estate. I had that until 2001, at which time I joined – I didn’t sell my company – but joined ERA Rutherford and I was with that firm until (Jerry Rutherford) elected to close that in January 2004. That’s when we formed Complete Realty Services.

Why did you decide to take on this latest venture?

Actually, we were going to start out with Barbara “Bobe” Green, Steve Ruddell and myself. (The three are members of the LLC.) The three of us knew that when Mr. Rutherford made the decision to close that office, we wanted to stay together. We got to talking and some of the agents came to us and said, “What are you guys going to do?” and we said, “We want to stay together.” They said, “So do we.” So by the time we got through, everyone that wanted to stay together, I think there were 47 of us that came out and formed this company. We have 52 agents, and many of them were like myself (with) close to 20 years plus in real estate.

What types of real estate does your company focus on?

Residential. We do have an auctioneer, and we do have some people with a great deal of experience in doing farms. My forte is commercial, but I have managed to do so much of the management that I’m not getting to do what I love the best, which is to sell commercial real estate.

Do you plan to get back into the field?

Oh, absolutely. When we get the company where it’s grown to the point where I feel like I can start turning loose of the reins more, absolutely. It’s real, real important to me, and to Bobe and Steve, that this group of people put their faith behind us, and we want to make sure that their faith is well-founded. We’re just like a big family … like most families, we’re probably dysfunctional, but we like each other.

How does your company stay competitive in the local market?

We have a lot of experienced agents that have been in the business a very long time, and we’ve got a loyal client base that goes with us no matter where we go.

I’ve said this for a long time, and some people don’t want to hear it, but the truth of the matter is, you could work for Elmer Fudd Realty. When you go out and you meet with a client, they’re hiring that agent, so it’s real important that the agent is one who’s experienced and knows what they’re doing. It’s the individual.

How would you classify the local real estate market?

It’s very robust. There’s so much competition for houses in certain price ranges. When they’re on the market, they’re almost off before they get on the multilist service.

What is it about real estate that’s kept your interest?

In the beginning, when I was doing residential, what kept me in it then was the absolute joy that you get from getting someone a home. It’s one of the most important things in peoples’ lives.

Also, the friendships that evolve from that – you work so closely with clients that you really become friends with them. I literally have been to their weddings, their funerals … you just become part of their family almost.

After 17 years or so of doing that, I was beginning to need a bigger challenge. It’s why I moved into commercial.