In her own words: Realty broker Susan Geer

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about your companies and the responsibilities of your position.

Susan Geer: Carter-Geer & Associates and RE/MAX Professionals are residential real estate firms that concentrate on reselling homes for buyers and sellers. We have an extremely high level of customer service here that we feel is completely unique from other real estate offices. With me being here at the office I no longer sell, I sell through my team. I am the team leader for RE/MAX and Carter-Geer. That role is to help educate and be here for my agents, as well as for every single buyer and seller who is in need of my help or with negotiations.

NNBW: How did you get into the real estate profession?

Geer: When I was a child, I wanted to win a TV at my school by selling candy bars. At 10 years old I learned that I could sell and that it was fun. My mom taught me to be persistent, and I won that TV for my bedroom. I have been a salesman ever since I sold those candy bars.

NNBW: How did the recession change the way you do business?

Geer: The recession actually proved to us that we were a very solid company on the correct foundation. We built Carter-Geer on the foundation of building relationships and referrals. You have to give someone an absolute perfect transaction to get a referral. We built those relationships one at a time, and when the recession hit, we were struggling like everyone else, but we never changed our foundation. We never wavered, but we held true to our beliefs and rode through it fine.

NNBW: What was your first job?

Geer: I sold shoes for Steve’s Shoes in Kansas City at the Plaza.

NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

Geer: The sky is the limit. It is the best career to take anywhere you want to go. You can be an independent contractor, or you can turn it into a large business or run a team. There are no limits or ceiling to what you can do in real estate.

NNBW: What do you like most about your job?

Geer: The passion for negotiation and the first-time homebuyer. I love the idea that I’ve truly helped someone fulfill a dream.

NNBW: What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you that helps you succeed today?

Geer: It has to be my mother when I was selling those candy bars and letting me know that if you want something, you can go get it.

NNBW: How do you spend your time away from work?

Geer: My favorite time away from work is spending time with my three grandchildren. Second to that would be kayaking and getting away camping. I love the outdoors.

NNBW: If you could live your life over again, what one thing would you change?

Geer: I have actually thought about this question, and I would not change a thing that has happened in my life. Every good and every bad thing has made me who I am today, and I am very pleased with who I am. I love where I am in life. I own two companies, I have two beautiful girls with three grandchildren . . . I wouldn’t change a thing.

NNBW: If you had enough money to retire right now, would you? Why or why not?

Geer: No, absolutely not. I get up before my alarm because I enjoy coming to work and building my company. It’s fun, and I have no doubt that we will be a very large RE/MAX. I get to do my No. 1 passion, which is work.

NNBW: What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?

Geer: Up in the mountains with my family for a week of fun and playing. But I already took my dream vacation, which was taking my three grandkids to Disneyland. We got to do anything we wanted, no rules and all fun!

NNBW: Why did you choose a career in northern Nevada? What do you like most about working/living here?

Geer: I was selling real estate in Sacramento for a large builder, and they had me come to Reno to see if this would be a good market. I was coming back and forth from Sacramento, but the longer I was in Reno and getting to know the area, people and the weather, I started realizing that it was a perfect match for me. I liked a smaller, friendlier city.

To suggest a candidate for NNBW’s weekly question and answer column, look at our editorial calendar (http://apps.nnbw.com/utils/pdfs/9683736R.pdf) and contact reporter Rob Sabo at rsabo@nnbw.biz or call 775-850-2146.