Realty business built on integrity, character

Pioneer Times photograph
NEW PARTNERSHIP — Sam Henderson, left, of Northern Maine Realty welcomed Greg Miller as a partner in mid-December. Northern Maine Realty is developing a better Internet-base and looks forward to working with buyers and sellers.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Local real estate agents, Sam Henderson and Greg Miller are joining forces at Northern Maine Realty.
    “Greg and I have always got along really well,” said Henderson. “We met primarily through real estate. We’ve done a lot of transactions together and we trust each other. That is what it is really all about for me.”
    “Sam and I have had a lot of respect for each other over the years,” Miller added. “We did a lot of business together and I like the way he does business  and I think that feeling is mutual.”
    Northern Maine Realty offers a deep-rooted commitment to its customers, along with updated technology to enhance its marketing capabilities.
    “We are each developing Facebook business pages,” explained Henderson. “We are adding new websites as we get opportunities. The bulk of our business is now Internet-based.”
    Henderson noted that Northern Maine Realty is on many sites and if they were all added up, it would be near 400 websites.
    “Our signs are out and we do get activity from them,” Henderson said. “But, people are on the Internet and they are looking. That is how media is transported now. We are trying to develop and promote marketing on the Internet in a better way.”
    Miller joined Henderson mid-December at Northern Maine Realty after working about four years with REMAX.
    “I just think this is a really good fit for me business-wise and personally,” Miller said. “This is a place where I think I can really grow.”
    After working in a convenience store industry, Miller moved onto marketing and then commercial sales with Irving Oil Corporation for about four years and was licensed in real estate in 2005.
    Northern Maine Realty, according to Miller, has a great reputation starting with Jim Shaw in Mars Hill to Henderson locally.
    “Together, Sam and I, will bring a little bit higher level of service,” said Miller. “We have a Web presence and a multi-listing service, along with feeds to all the major websites. Your listing will go all over the world so you get attention from buyers everywhere.”
    Henderson, who had undertaken real estate five years ago was also writing homeowners’ policies with his late father, Dallas Henderson of State Farm.
    “I wanted to switch gears and get away from the insurance aspect,” he said. “I enjoy being out in the field, meeting people at their homes, and I love being around land and walking property lines.”
    After Doug Guerrette moved his State Farm Agency to its new location, Henderson was able to secure the front of the building located at the intersection of North and Bangor streets.
    “One of the main reasons I moved to the front was I wanted to bring on another agent,” explained Henderson. “I went to Greg and asked him if he would be interested in coming over to Northern Maine Realty. We just had to dovetail the timing with State Farm’s move so I could give him an office.”
    The arrangement allows the real estate agents a chance to share office time, as well as bounce ideas off each other.
    “It’s a good trusting relationship between brokers,” said Henderson. “It’s hard to be alone in the office all the time and try to manage it yourself, but having that partnership that you trust is key for me.”
    Henderson believes the real estate market will improve.
    “I think it is starting to swing a little bit here,” he said. “I don’t know about nationwide, but we are starting to see an increase in activity flow in this area, as far as it bouncing back. I don’t know if the prices are going to bounce back, but I think there are more buyers looking at this point in time.”
    Though banks are a “little more leery as far as loans,” Henderson said,  the agents are working through the process and “the banks are working with us to help make deals work.”
    When listing a home, Miller and Henderson will travel to the home and evaluate it, giving the homeowner ideas on how to improve the building or land to make it more marketable.
    “We give them the price and market condition,” said Henderson. “We want people to know we are in business and working for them. We are doing the best we can with the economy dealt to us. It is not easy. There are a lot of homes on the market. But, we want the listings.”
    But, even more than that, Henderson and Miller want to be known as “gentlemen” in the industry.
    “We have both built our businesses on integrity, character and trust,” Henderson said. “Buyers and sellers both can walk through the door and know they will get answers they need. Because when word of mouth goes around, we want people to know, Greg and Sam can be trusted for real estate.”
    The partnership has been seamless for both agents.
    “It’s been good so far,” said Henderson. “We are both excited about it.”
    Miller added, “We compliment each other with different strengths. But, the biggest factor is that we trust each other.”
    Henderson and Miller can be reached at the Houlton branch office number 532-0900 or Miller can be also be reached at 694-2064. Visit Northern Maine Realty’s website at northernmainerealty.com.