PHOTO BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS
sales, ministry and construction,” she said. “There is so much more to a real estate transaction than one would think, and much of it involves knowing how to effectively work with people.” Shonna describes herself as a resultsdriven, systems- and processesoriented communicative professional. She and her team value constant communication and a caring approach with clients, understanding that buying or selling a home is a huge commitment. “We’re hyper-focused on the success of our clients. They depend on us to be the expert in our field and to guide them successfully through the real estate process just like any other professional would do for their client (doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.), so everything is about them, not us,” she said. That dedication can take them to great lengths for their clients. Shonna shared her most unusual experience: selling a home for a couple while one of them was incarcerated. Her team handled everything in person, making frequent visits to the local jail. Amid several obstacles, they were able to meet their client’s needs and get to closing. “Our client was amazed, surprised, and very happy in the end,” she said. “I don’t know that this is something we will ever experience again, but it meant a lot to know that the sale of their home wasn’t impossible, as it seemed.” Shonna is growing her team and continuing to focus on a solid and successful client experience. “We want to increase our presence in Cherokee County as a solid resource for our community, and ultimately be the agents of choice.” Shonna Sherrill Properties, Atlanta Communities Realtor 9860 Highway 92, Woodstock C: 678-634-5581 O: 770-240-2005 www.ShonnaSherrill.com | E Q
Giselle Williams
Staffordshire Home Advisors Not Just a Home Inspection. A Home Instruction. Williams and her husband, Glen, opened Staffordshire Home Advisors in 2017, with one purpose: to serve others. The business was the perfect opportunity to utilize his technical skills and attention to detail, and her passion for people and relationships. “We both love to serve others, and home inspections was a great fit for the both of us,” she said. Staffordshire provides buyer and pre-listing (seller) inspections; radon, termite and drone inspections; and a one-year builders inspection warranty. Each client also gets a lifetime subscription to Homebinder, which is an online account that serves as a central location for homeowners to store information, ranging from paint colors to maintenance reminders. Glen, a Cobb County native, joined the Air Force after high school and became a staff sergeant specializing in radio maintenance. His time in the service taught him teamwork, commitment, setting and achieving goals, carefully planning logistics, thoroughness and leading with integrity.
Giselle oversees improving the organization’s market position, building key customer relationships and identifying business opportunities. She works with existing clients to make sure they are satisfied. While Georgia isn’t a licensing state for home inspectors, Glen and Giselle stay on top of the industry through membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors. “We voluntarily take and have passed the same exam that most other licensed states are required to pass,” Giselle said. “The association also has great resources for continuing education that we complete annually.” As professional and certified home inspectors, Glen and Giselle focus on the following tenets: • Knowledge of a house. Inspectors need to know their way around a house, know what to look for, and how to evaluate the needs. They are required to find conditions, but must understand when further evaluation is needed by a licensed tradesman. •A strong work ethic. Inspectors are expected to show up on time, and perform their work efficiently and within a reasonable, expedient time frame. They should be thorough — leaving no stone unturned — and leave the house in the same condition as when they arrived. •A uthentic care of the client. In many cases, the clients are firsttime homebuyers with some level of angst about the process and the decisions they must make. An inspection serves as a neutral third party to give them the facts.
“We see it as our job, not just to find defects, but also alleviate concerns and offer solutions,” she said. “We are not just a home inspection. We’re a home instruction.” Staffordshire Home Advisors 181 Diamond Ridge Ave., Canton 470-380-8104 https://staffyhome.com | E TOWNELAKER | March 2022
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