I was a teacher at Dealey Montessori school before launching my real estate career, so I can appreciate the power of education. After working with the families of many clients who were moving for the last time, and after watching my own parents downsize, I realized there was a need for extra sensitivity, knowledge, and instruction. The regular Realtor training just wouldn’t do.
In 2005, I investigated the Society of Certified Senior Advisors and decided this was the training that would benefit my clients the most. It was very intense and gave me a great overview of the needs this demographic and their families faced. It also led me to other caring professionals in areas outside of my expertise to whom I would feel comfortable referring clients if they needed other services.
Recently, I also earned the Certified Senior Housing Professional designation, which zeroes in on meeting seniors and their families’ needs specific to real estate. With specialized tools and coaching, I now offer seminars such as “Downsizing Made Easy” and “How to Avoid 5 Common Mistakes Made by Adult Children of Aging Parents.”
I wanted to equip as many families as possible with this valuable information. But I realized this was going to be quite an undertaking, given that the adult senior market has quadrupled in recent years due to the Baby Boomers reaching retirement age.
So I teamed up with another caring and experienced agent, Caroline “CC” Allen. As the Senior Lifestyle Specialists, we have put together a network of other Certified Senior Advisors and highly vetted organizations to service our clients. Too many families have been taken advantage of in these precious years, so we want to make sure we work with individuals who have the highest level of integrity and whom we would trust with our own parents.
CC and I offer a monthly community breakfast called Heart Café at the Park City Club that keeps us connected to our clients and community by offering speakers who enlighten, engage, and encourage families going through one transition or another. It has been a wonderful way to continue serving and connecting to families adjusting to new lifestyles.CC and I are both agents with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate, a firm that markets distinctive homes in Dallas’ most-established neighborhoods. We were drawn to the firm because its culture strives for excellence in all aspects of serving clients. Its motto is “Properties of distinction. Agents for life.”
I take the motto to heart. Each home is distinct and special to the owner. I find it to be a great treat to bring out and highlight features that the owner loved and cherished. I’m not just an agent who helps clients buy and sell homes. I walk them through the entire journey, simplifying what may otherwise be an emotional, complicated, and overwhelming task. At the end of the day/transaction, my goal is to leave them feeling overjoyed!
Online resources
Angela McCants
www.angelamccants.com
Senior Lifestyles Specialists
www.seniorlifestylespecialist.org
Heart Café
www.heartcafedallas.com
Angela McCants was featured as the CSA Spotlight in the March Senior Spirit Newsletter.
Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
www.csa.us
