b'Finding HomeWorking with Rena SpanglerBY ELLEN DONKERW h e o e l l n M o y Gise and R o -s v e l t Bowman wereliv-ingintheirfirstMaplewoodhome, they took note of a letter they received from realtor Rena Spangler. She had just moved to their street and wanted to introduce herself to the neighbors. Gise says, I always thought that was cool, like, [a] very old school way to just sort of announce who you are. As their family grew, and they want-ed a home with more room, SpanglersRoosevelt Bowman and Molly Gise with children Will and Mary. Gise calls this the Goldilocks house because it was neither too big nor too small. It letter came to mind. Gise asked her forwas just right.help and before long they were visiting open houses. That was in 2016, and al-though they didnt make a move untiland he really wanted to move to one ofplace on a cold and rainy January day, it attracted a large crowd. Spangler con-2020, when they were a family of four,those big ranch style houses in News- structed a very strong offer for Gise and Bowman, knowing theyd be compet-Gisesays,Itreallyhelpedusdefinetead. He liked that it was kind of iso- ing against multiple bidders. When their offer was accepted, they had to move whatwewerereallylookingforandlated. And Im a stay-at-home momquickly to put their current house on the market. Gise says, I have two little what we were willing to spend.and I liked being closer to civilization inkids full time and I thought nothing could be more stressful than this, right? On the list were items such as a guesttown because Im running kids to play- Of course, weeks later as transactions for both houses were at critical stages, room for her mother who frequentlydates and parks and preschools. COVID became a reality. Gise says, I remember thinking, I cant believe we did visits from Oklahoma, good backyardWhen a house came on the marketthis. This was the worst idea ever. Everybodys snuggled safe and quarantined in play space for the kids, a roomy two-caron De Hart Road near Orchard Park,their houses. And were packing. Amid the changing protocols in real estate and garage, and a half bathroom on the firstGisewasexcitedtoseeit.Shesays,society when so much was unknown about the virus, she says, Spangler was a floor.AlthoughtheydidntneedtheIve been going to this park since Willcalming presence in an insane time.house to have the latest updates, they[their7-year-oldson],waslike1.ItGise is grateful that the buyers and sellers on both houses worked together still wanted a home that was functionalwas my favorite park. I always thoughtso well. She says, Everybody had the same motivation to close the deals, which and didnt require immediate updates. it must be so nice to live on this street.Rena knew the whole time.Over the years, Gise and SpanglerBut for Bowman, even though the lo- Relieved that they moved before the real es-stayed in close contact, visiting differ- cation offered him an easy walk to thetate market got even crazier, Gise says, I thought ent homes on the market. Gise says,train, Gise says, It took a lot of con- we were doing the worst possible thing at the SomethingIreallylovedabouthervincingbecause he didnt know theworst possible time. But in the end, it was the was that shes been doing this for soneighborhood.best thing we could have done. She concludes, long, and shes lived in the area for soGise called it the Goldilocks houseIm really glad that Rena sent her letter.long. She knew everything. She knewbecause unlike other homes they hadWhether reaching out to a new neighbor the story behind every house and whenconsidered, it was neither too big norwithahandwrittennoteorusingCompasss she didnt know it, she found out. too small. At five bedrooms and twohigh tech tools to sell a home, theres no substi-Whenitcametodecidingwhereand a half baths, it was just right. Andtute for being an aggressive advocate for my cli-to settle, Gise says, My husband anditfeaturedafrontporchthatGiseents, says Spangler. Its all about fostering and I disagreed a lot about what neighbor- had always dreamed of having and, ofmaintainingaone-on-onerelationshipfrom Realtor Rena Spangler worked hood because I wanted to stay in Ma- course, the park.with the Bowman/Gise familystart to finish; thats what made working with plewood. I wanted to stay close to townEven though the open house tookto find the right house for them. Molly and Roosevelt so rewarding. finding home /27'