Her Work Ethic is Polished, Precise, And Efficient. She Works Hard To Anticipate Client Needs, Whether During a Real Estate Transaction or After The Sale, While Collaborating With Clients To Shape a Home as Their Own. Meet Raleigh Real Estate Agent, Susan Ungerleider

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Q: Can you share with us what made you decide to have a career in Real Estate? 
SU:
I worked in Commercial Architecture for 10 years and was constantly being asked by friends to help them with in their personal residences. I realized that I needed a better idea of the nuances of residential resale if I was going to continue offering design advice and so I took a Real Estate licensing class and loved it! I immediately saw the nexus of Architectural Design and Real Estate sales as what I wanted to focus on moving forward. Helping people buy, sell, and shape their spaces.

Q: How long have you been active in Real Estate?
SU:
I’ve been working in Real Estate for 8 years.

Q: Obviously with Covid-19 there’s a lot of changes going on in the world … what changes have you seen that you feel will remain in Real Estate? Do you think there will be more changes?
SU:
As tired as we all are with virtual meetings, they have been so helpful with the design side of my business. I can quickly connect with a client, share a screen, show a sketch or 3D model and get immediate feedback. It has helped me operate more efficiently and effectively in my design projects. No matter what happens, I think this tool is here to stay in this part of my work.

Q: Do you specialize in certain types of properties?
SU:
I work with all types of properties and price points. It is all about finding the most interesting people and projects that I can work with and on each year.

Q: Can you share with our audience what Buyers & Sellers can expect when they work with you?
SU:
Although I love to bring humor into my work whenever I can, I take my job very seriously and I am a hard worker. I am also a skilled negotiator and I see this as one of the top skills my clients benefit from when working together.

Q: How do you help buyers compete in a tight market?
SU:
By being incredibly creative, which is one of my favorite parts of my job given my background in design.

Q: What are two things that separate you from other agents?
SU:
I love the building science behind structures and from the very first showing, I work hard to sleuth out what a house is trying to share through any cracking, settling or defects. For sellers, I adore the opportunity to push the bounds of creativity and market their property in a way that truly showcases their space and offers a unique perspective from how other agents in my area market their listings.

Q: Do you work with both buyers and sellers?
SU:
Absolutely! It makes me a nimbler agent to have constant firsthand experience of what the other side may be thinking because I am simultaneously working with both buyers and sellers. Having said that, I do work with a limited number of clients at one time to ensure that I can offer the level of service I feel is paramount to my work.

Q: What's the greatest fear you've had to overcome to get where you are today? 
SU:
After spending years training to be an Architect it was incredibly scary to leave the field and go into an area I had never dreamed of pursuing. And when I couldn’t find a Real Estate firm that would let me be both a Designer and a Broker, it was also daunting to simply start my own Design and Real Estate firm. I’m so glad I pushed through these fears because I love what I do, and it was worth all of the risk.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments your career?
SU:
It’s a special feeling when you walk into a house with a client and know immediately that they’ve found what they were searching for. Sometimes it happens after 4 houses and sometimes it takes 4 years, and no matter what, it’s one of the best parts of my job. Likewise, prepping a seller’s house for market and hearing them say that they can’t believe the transformation or how easy I made it for them – that’s the best compliment out there. Finally, for my design clients, knowing that I can help them shape their spaces or solve design issues in ways they may not have been expecting brings me incredible joy.

Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?
SU:
So many! But my favorites are don’t believe everything you think, success favors the stubborn, and the 24 hour rule (when I make a mistake, I can dwell on for one day but then I have to move on).

Q: Which woman inspires you and why? 
SU:
Maya Lin for the incredible poise and bravery she exhibited amidst the controversy that resulted from her innovative design of the Vietnam Memorial. Greta Thunberg for her bravery and commitment to her cause.

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?
SU:
Having begun my career in a male dominated field, I saw first-hand how much harder and longer women must work to succeed. I also learned early on that as a woman, I was not able to express myself in the same way as my male colleagues. It’s frustrating to feel like we are playing by a different set of rules, but it also inspires me to see women pushing forward despite the challenges we face, particularly when they support their female colleagues. We are truly all in this together. 

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?
SU:
Curiosity is an incredible tool. Ask questions when you get stuck or when you are unsure. The more you can learn about the situation, your client, the issue, etc. the stronger your position will become. Often, I feel like we are expected to have a quick answer for a client but by asking questions, we can actually get to the essence of the issue much faster and provide more robust solutions. 

Seven Things About Susan Ungerleider

1. What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time? 
I love to horseback ride! Time out at the farm is how I reset and when I’m riding, I can’t focus on anything else, so it forces me to be present and take a break from work.

2. Who is the most fascinating person you’ve ever met? 
My great Aunt Minna, who is 103 and has the most fantastic sense of humor I’ve ever encountered.

3. Are you a morning person or a night owl? 
Night owl all the way.

4. Favorite City? 
Definitely the Bull City, Durham NC!

5. What’s your big passion? 
Helping people design and shape their space to fit their lives.

6. What were you like in high school? 
A complete nerd.

7. Would you rather cook or order in? 
I love to cook!

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