Gene May quit his corporate job with Wells Fargo and sold his house with intentions to move to Canada and buy a fishing resort.
Then the rules and regulations of crossing the border changed, presenting May with a predicament.
"I had no job and just sold my house," he began. "Then the owner of Gullickson Realty approached me. He wanted to open an office in Park Rapids.
The two had met a few years ago, while May was working in financing. Steve Gullickson had just opened his second office in Detroit Lakes and already had a profitable business in Fargo. May mentioned that if he ever opened up an office in Park Rapids, he'd gladly be on board.
"Apparently he remembered," May said. "I've been interested in becoming involved in real estate for a long time. While in financing, I helped a lot of people get a house. Now I'm doing it from the other side."
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May said he prefers the realtor side because he doesn't have to deal with the tedious details that can break a deal.
"Believe me, this side is much, much nicer," he said. "My background as a financer is helpful because I pretty much know if they'll qualify for a loan or not."
The realtors of the Gullickson Park Rapids firm pre-qualify clients for loans prior to showing them property.
"That way if they fall in love with the home, there isn't disappointment waiting at the bank," May said. "Sellers seem to love that too, because they know the person looking at their property is qualified and it's not being tied up."
Gullickson Realty of Park Rapids has seven licensed realtors with various backgrounds, from marketing to finance.
May said most of the agents are recently licensed and he believes it gives them an edge on their competition.
"We're all enthusiastic and not set in our ways," he said. Innovative marketing strategies are in the evolution stage.
Gullickson Realty is affiliated with Multi Listing Service (MLS). Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fargo-Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Grand Forks, Park Rapids and a recent update suggested St. Cloud and Twin Cities realtors will be joining the MLS.
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"The data I've seen shows most sales are from out-of-town people," May said. "So we're going to take a pro-active stance to move the property by developing relationships with brokers from out of town."
Other methods Gullickson Realty has considered implementing are helping sellers stage their home to maximize profit and opening a mortgage company.
Staging a home can include exterior and interior work. Gullickson Realty has a specialist from the Twin Cities for high-end properties.
"She'd be able to tell the owner what has to go and what should be brought in to maximize their dollar," May said. According to May, adding a mortgage representative within the company isn't a new concept.
"It's been happening in the Twin Cities, not just here," he said. "And I heard we're going to launch it here first."
The mortgage representative will not be in-house or on-site, nor will they take applications at the realtor office.
"The mortgage company is affiliated with all Gullickson Realities," he said. "All we do is provide the client with another option."
Gullickson Realty office is located at 708 Park Ave. So. in Park Rapids. They recently opened a fourth branch in Fergus Falls.
