Select GMAC Real Estate
For a team approach to buying, selling real estate
By Margaret Locher Contributing Writer

(l to r) Susan Flynn and Kathleen Spangler at their Shrewsbury office.

Shrewsbury - Teamwork is the name of the game for Kathleen Spangler and Susan Flynn, who have worked in the Massachusetts real estate market for more than 20 years. In April 2007, they teamed up and opened their own company: Select GMAC Real Estate.

"I always wanted my own company," Flynn said. "We've combined the best of traditional real estate offices with what works best for us."

What works best for them, and the 15 agents that work in the office, is a supportive team environment.

"That's not something that many traditional agencies offer," Flynn said.

Select GMAC has a threeperson support team that includes a listing coordinator and a closing coordinator who can take over for agents. Their assistance allows not just for vacation and emergencies, but also simply helps make the agents' job easier.

Flynn and Spangler said that a support team is expensive, but directly benefits their clients.

"There is always someone there dotting the i's and crossing the t's," Spangler said.

The support team follows through on Select GMAC's promise of premiere service for the buyers and sellers they work with by always having someone available to respond to requests.

"Our clients know they have the support of the whole office," Flynn said, "not just the agent they are working with."

The premiere service agreement means listening closely to clients and doing everything possible to take the stress out of their situation.

For example, the premiere service agreement provides sellers with an advisor to help with pricing and marketability, a negotiator to work through contracts, and a facilitator to promote the property and attend the closing.

Every week the office holds an "ideas meeting," where the agents help each other work through any obstacles they have encountered.

"We value everyone's input," Spangler said. "We don't want to be a huge office of 100 agents. We like having a very cooperative environment."

"Everyone has their specialty," Flynn added. "Everyone is an expert at some area of the business and we've found a way to use everyone's expertise and help each other."

The approach has paid off : their office in Shrewsbury boasts a 98 percent customer satisfaction rating, compared with a national average of 74 percent. They also recently won the national Quality Service Certified award from Select GMAC.

"Real estate is woven into the fabric of our lives," Spangler said.

Buying and selling homes is a complicated process, involving many different businesses within a community including inspectors, bankers, house painters and septic companies.

"We're here to make the process smooth," Spangler said. "We think of our clients as partners because we're all working toward the same goal."

Select GMAC is located at 45 S. Quinsigamond Ave. in Shrewsbury. Phone 508-753-2200 or visit www.spanglerselect.com.

Editor's Note: the preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.