I met the Hill family at an open house. They were visiting the area for a couple of weeks and needed to find a home in a relatively short amount of time. As a fairly recent Charlotte transplant myself, I know how daunting it is to move to a different city and have to find a new normal. As a mom, I also know how nerve wracking it is to choose a home in uncharted territory and ensure you’re making the right decision for your kids.
As a former teacher, I see the uniqueness of Charlotte Mecklenberg School District from the perspective of families relocating to our area who are used to much smaller school districts and are overwhelmed by the task of learning the ins and outs of one of the largest in the nation. And while schools were a huge priority for me for my boys, 7 & 2, when we chose our home here in Charlotte, I can only imagine how HUGE that decision becomes when you have a son entering his sophomore year in high school when college is on the horizon and the stakes are so much higher.
Putting on my teacher hat at first, we chatted at length about the various schools, programs, and opportunities available for their son and determined his eligibility based on their timeline for relocating. We narrowed our search area multiple times until we came up with a plan that felt right. The big challenge came when Mrs. Hill returned to her home in Oregon after two weeks to allow her son to finish out his school year, leaving Mr. Hill the task of choosing the new family home on his own…with the help of his trusty sidekick, aka me!
Thank goodness for Facetime and cell phone video! We were able to be her eyes, look at various aspects of homes from her perspective, and find the perfect house complete with a gas range and hood perfect for an avid Asian chef, modern finishes to suit the family’s taste, an easy commute to Innovation Park, and a perfect game room for a high school boy in Skybrook North Villages, a neighborhood full of families who happily recommend their current high school.
It has been a true pleasure to work with this amazing family as they weather this cross country move, and I look forward to continuing to help them make this area feel like home, from finding the closest grocery stores to the best place to get ice cream. I look forward to welcoming Mrs. Hill and their son when they make their move official this summer.
My transition to a career in real estate has definitely not left my teaching background far behind me. Our past experiences shape us as individuals, and I am grateful to be able to offer my personal experience as a teacher, a mother, and a new resident of Charlotte to my clients.
