b'Worth the WaitWorking with Debbie Rybka HowardBY ELLEN DONKERD I N G H OThe Hersh family lived in theirN MColgate Road home for 15 years.IPhoto credit: Sara Rothwell. F ES arah Kissko Hersh and her familyThe whole process came together so fast. It are finally moving. After spend- still felt sudden and like it was all coming together ing three years looking for a homeovernight, says Kissko Hersh. Ive been at this that offered more room for theirfor three years, but it still felt like, oh my gosh, its twindaughtersandthecouplesreally happening. newwork-at-homehabits,theyRelyingonRybkaHowardtoguidethem have found their place on Wyo- through the process, she says, I feel like her ex-ming Avenue in Maplewood.perience really bolstered us against a lot of the Who could have predicted in 2010 that weunpredictable things that could happen, because would have needed to have so much space to accommodate two people work- I just trusted so much her gut instincts when it came to people to bring in. ing from home? says Kissko Hersh. I work from home full time. My hus- And every single person that she suggested to work with, from paint touch-band works from home a couple of days most weeks. And that made theirup to staging to getting various quotes on different things, has been com-home on Colgate Road in Maplewood feel tight. pletely on the up and up.Kissko Hersh initially connected with Debbie Rybka Howard of ColdwellThe Hersh family closed on the house and plan to move in February. In Banker at an open house. The home was above her budget and, she says, Ithe meantime, they prepared their Colgate Road home to sell and, again, was sort of bracing myself for [Debbie] to try to talk me into maybe trying torelied on Rybka Howards help. According to Rybka Howard, this led to 63 put that house in my budget. Instead, Kissko Hersh says, She was just like,groups of people seeing the house during the first weekend plus 30 scheduled well, then forget this house. showings. The Hershes received five offers well over asking price with the Rybka Howard showed them homes in their price range and visited theirbuyer agreeing to exceptional terms. Kissko Hersh says, We put our trust house to consider its market value. It felt like such a partnership from thein Debbie and followed her guid-get-go, Kissko Hersh says. She remembers Rybka Howard telling her thatance and recommendations to a between growing up in Maplewood and working in real estate for 41 yearsT, which is what Id recommend she knows almost every house in town, whether it was from babysitting, visit- to anyone working with her. Just ing friends or helping clients buy or sell. She adds, I quickly learned what anlet Debbie cook!experienced realtor she is.It may have taken the family Kissko Hersh continued to look at homes, but with post-pandemic uncer- a while to find the right fit, but tainty and rising interest rates, she says, It didnt really feel like a wise timeKissko Hersh says it was worth to be taking on a larger investment.the wait. In three years, she and But then on a whim this past October, Kissko Hersh visited a home onher husband will be empty nest-Wyoming Avenue in Maplewood and was unexpectedly wowed by its charm.ers. We wanted a house that gave I walked around for about 20 minutes, and I thought I should bring theus just a little bit more breathingDebbie Rybka Howard helped the Hersh girls and see what they think about it, she says. Of course, they loved it.room but wasnt going to feel ri- family buy and sell their homes.They just were oohing and aahing at every turn.diculous when theyre out of the Anxious to show the house to her husband, Michael, she had to wait untilhouse and in college, she says. Were all really excited for the fresh change the following Tuesday, the very day bids were due, when he was home frombut also still very excited to stay in Maplewood, which is the town that we all traveling. He liked it as much as they did, and they proceeded with an offer. love so very much. feature story /25'