Local realtor Cheryl Black clearly has her houses in a row.
For the third year straight, she has won the Sterling Society Award, which is given to Coldwell Banker realtors who reach the top 20 per cent of their field worldwide. There are about 84,000 Coldwell Banker realtors world wide.
She has received the award several times over the years, but this marks the first time she’s won it three years in a row. There isn’t a formal nomination process for the award. It’s based on a matrix, which is a minimum of 24 units (houses) sold, and the gross commission made.
Black has lived in Nakusp for 27 years. For 17 of those years, she has been a realtor with Coldwell Banker Rosling Real Estate. She started working in real estate when Primo Villanueva, a former realtor in Nakusp, suggested she try it.
“He liked my positive influence, liked my way with the public, my way with the people, my honesty,” she said. “He suggested it might be a field I might like to go into, and I’ve loved it ever since.”
One thing Black enjoys about her job is all the different types of homes she has the opportunity to see.
“I go home just about every day saying ‘Oh hon, I just listed another one, you should see it, we’ve got to have this one,’” she said.
While she loves her job, she admits that it can be pretty busy. Because there is always someone phoning or sending her an email, taking a day off can be difficult especially if there is a heavy workload. She is currently carrying a load of 67 listings.
Because of this, Black does a lot of work from home, which has enabled her to be more involved in her family’s life. As chaotic as it can sometimes be, Black has no intention of slowing down any time soon.
In fact, she’s hoping to win the Sterling Society Award for a fourth year running.