Meet Chris Gibson of Gibson Associates Realty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Gibson.

Chris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started in Real Estate a year before I retired from the Department of Correction, which was fourteen years ago; Starting in Corrections in 1986 working as a Correction Officer.

During my years in corrections, I worked my way up to Lieutenant. The institution that I worked within was a male institution that housed inmates that were sent by the court for evaluation after a crime to deem if they were fit to stand trial or if they were “criminally insane”. Also during the time that I worked for corrections, I attended Bridgewater State College changing my major three times because I did not know what I wanted to do after my retirement. (I stated with criminology and sociology changing to communication and ending with business, still to this day needed credits to receive my bachelor’s degree. I have my associates from Aquinas Jr. College as a legal secretary, which had helped me in corrections when I was an administrative lieutenant and continues to help me as the broker/owner of Gibson Associates Realty, LLC.

I had planned from the day I started in correction to take advantage of a 20 year retirement bill that gives you 50 percent of your pay after 20 years of service. I actually retired after 18 years due to my husband retiring and being able to take an earlier retirement; It is less than 50 percent, however, I was more than ready to move on to my next career.

One of my last classes at Bridgewater State College was the real estate license class. After taking the class, I started in real estate and found my passion. Not knowing that the first few years, since it takes a few years to build up your client base and referral business, which is primarily how I run my business. Instead of returning to Bridgewater State College, I threw myself into learning the real estate business which is a continued education business to this day. There is always something changing, which I love because I am always wanting to learn. I believe that is the attraction that I have for the real estate business. The market is always changing, how to market is always changing, tools how to do the business of real estate are always changing and my client’s, their family and friend’s lives are always changing. I love to keep up with my client’s changes and be there to help them with their move to their next chapter. After working for other companies starting with a small company premier property, moving to re/max and then Keller Williams earlier in my real estate career, I knew that it was time four years ago to open my own business.

I keep up with the ever changing market, marketing, tools and all other aspects by going to many types of real estate classes, on line training and out in the field study. My office is my car, my cell phone, the homes of my client’s, the future homes of my clients, sometimes while riding or in my barn cleaning the horses or where ever I may be when my phone rings and duty calls. I love that. My friends and family know that I may excuse myself to talk to a client since selling or purchasing a home is one of the biggest things that we all may do in our lives; and I want to be there to make sure that I can answer any question or get the answer to any questions for my client’s and other professionals that I work with during the process. I love what I do and I am grateful that I have continued success. That I have to thank my friends for who have had me represent them, past client’s that come back for my representation and my client’s having me represent their friends and family. Also, the many professionals that are involved during the transaction that help things go as smoothly as they can. There is so much involved when selling or purchasing a home, you need to have a team of professionals. I am lucky that I have found such great professionals that I can call to rely on when in need.

Has it been a smooth road?
Real Estate has a lot of speed bumps. In the beginning, it took a couple of years to get my name out there. I started when the market was down and the home prices were very high and basically major slowdown came nationwide. You have to prove value to clients.

Until I got few sales under my belt and my name out there with a good reputation it was a bit slow and challenging, but I kept going. Some days I thought “is this going to be worth it?”, is this career what I really want?”; but my answer to myself was “I cannot think of anything else I want to do, and I really do love the end result when we close”. And, I had fellow professionals tell me “Chris you are good at it”. Then along the way there are the transactions that have their “issues” that need to be worked through. There are so many “moving parts” to a transaction from listing, marketing, showing, qualifying offer’s, home inspections, septic system (especially if it fails title v-a book in itself), smoke certs, mortgages, actually I can go on and on before I get to the closing part. You have to be on top of everything to make sure that you do get to the closing and I strive to make sure that I do in order not to have any “surprises”. Although they still happen. Not that often and when it does, I am paving the road to make it smooth.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
When I opened Gibson Associates Realty, LLC four years ago specializing in the sale of residential real estate, I wanted to help my clients with any of their real estate needs. I work with all clients to make sure that they are satisfied with their purchase or their sale of their home or investment property. I communicate throughout the entire process from our first discussing if and when they may want to purchase or sell, I guide then through getting their home ready to sell or getting them pre-qualified for their purchase. I am proud that my company has a great reputation from my past and current clients. I am very big on communication throughout the process and that is key.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Our city is awesome. I believe that there is so much to offer. The south shore area … Bridgewater, Hanson, Pembroke, Halifax, Middleboro, Kingston…. I will pick east Bridgewater, since my business is located there… There is the Middleboro/Lakeville commuter train that leaves from Bridgewater state university only three miles away and gets you into south station in Boston under an hour. Then there is the Plymouth/Kingston line only a mile in a half that gets you into south station Boston in 45 minutes. The Middleboro/Lakeville line has a weekend cape flyer that will bring you to Hyannis, which I have had friends that live in south Boston take with their dog to go to Nantucket for a weekend getaway. I also sell in Easton, which is only a 40 minute drive to Boston and 45 minutes to the cape. The city is always improving, I cannot add any suggestions. I already think it is a great city.

Contact Info:

• Address: Gibson Associates Realty, LLC
  256 Cedar Street,
  East Bridgewater, MA 02333
• Website: chrisgibsonre.com
• Phone: 508 272-0606
• Email: chrisgibsonre@gmail.com

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