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Judy Jackson, a Realtor with William Raveis in Rye, N.Y., knows just how difficult moving can be, especially with small children. She and her husband, David Jackson, moved to the United States from Melbourne, Australia, in 1994 with three children under the age of 6.
"Moving can be overwhelming," she says. When a family arrives in a new town, parents find themselves looking not just for a new home but for new schools, shops, doctors and dentists. Jackson makes sure her clients have everything they need to get settled.
"When we moved here, I had a problem because the school wanted the names of two emergency contacts," she says. Judy only knew one person. Now, as part of her Realtor services, she always offers her name as a contact.
Once her family was settled in Rye, a town that reminded the Jacksons of the seaside suburb they had lived in "down under," Judy found a part-time job working for a local Rye/Harrison bulletin. Intrigued by the real estate section, she decided to pursue a career selling homes. After working at another real estate firm for nine years, Judy joined William Raveis in their first New York office. The company has now expanded to six other locations in Westchester.
The real estate market in Rye is busy, Judy says. New clients often walk into the office because of its convenient storefront location on the main shopping street. Even more business comes through the Internet, thanks to Raveis' efficient Internet response team.
When she started, Judy built her business by networking with friends. After 13 years, she has a large client base with many repeat customers. "It's naturally in my nature to help people," says Judy, who worked as a dental assistant and medical receptionist in Australia. And helping clients find the right house is her goal these days. "When they pull into the driveway, they have to feel they've come home," she says.
