finding home / 35 From Nicest Dad to Trusted Realtor Working with Dennis Hepworth BY ELLEN DONKER F I N D I N G H O M E R eese Little has known local Re altor Dennis Hepworth since he was 8 years old. He has fond memories playing basketball and video games with Hep worth’s son John. “Dennis was always the nicest dad,” Little says. “Always smiling … he just was there to help [us] have a great time.” After Little graduated from college, he noticed Hepworth’s social media posts about weightlifting and got in touch. “We ended up doing a workout together,” he says, “having a great time, and turned it into a weekly workout session, which we’ve been doing for over two and a half years every week.” When Little and his girlfriend, Sydney Clawa ns, decided to find an apartment together this past spring, there was no question whom they would ask for help. “I was completely overwhelmed with where to even begin to look at places,” says Clawa ns. “So I definitely felt more comfortable knowing Dennis was there to help give us options and show us what was available.” The couple was interested in finding an apart ment with one or two bedrooms in a town that offered a reasonable commute to their jobs. Little is a partner at CJE Financial in Fairfield and Cla wans works as a mental health therapist in Flor ham Park and Springfield. Hepworth, a broker associate at EXP Realty, compiled a list of places that fit the couple’s crite ria for them to review. “Reese and I would decide which ones we liked in terms of price and loca tion and how the apartment was laid out,” says Clawans. For the apartments that made the cut, Hepworth helped them take a closer look, show ing them 11 places during a two-day period. They ended up choosing the last one, a two-bedroom apartment in Chatham. Clawans and Little appreciated that Hepworth showed them an array of apartments. “After look ing at all the other places,” Clawans says, “I’m glad I kept my options open and I didn’t get too excited and jump the gun and say, ‘Yeah, this is it.’ ” Through the process, the couple learned what they liked and valued in a home. “So it would be the ambiance, the environment, the neighborhood,” Clawans says. “Like, are you close to town? Are you more isolated? Is it quiet? Is it loud? If we ran into people in the neighborhood, are they friendly? I also think the commute was a big one for us.” The couple says the apartment they chose is an updated unit with plenty of closet space, access to tennis courts and a pool and proximity to walk ing trails. An amenity they thought they wanted, a fitness center, was not offered at their complex. It turns out that they don’t miss having one. Before the couple signed the lease, Hepworth coached them on the right questions to ask. “I re ally appreciated having someone advocate for us,” says Clawans. Little says Hepworth was also suc cessful in negotiating a lower monthly rent. Once the couple had the keys, Hepworth helped them set up accounts with the various utili ties and sent them useful tutorials. “He really was helpful for a couple that have no idea how to do that stuff,” says Little. When they moved in this past July, Hepworth pitched in. That’s where his weightlifting came in handy. “He goes above and beyond with deliver ing and helping transport heavy objects, whether it’s the couch, bed, computers, desks,” Little says. “You know, we ended up not hiring a moving company. Dennis took eight hours out of his day to help me move stuff in all day, which is pretty unbelievable.” Little was impressed by Hepworth’s attitude. Even though it was 90 degrees outside, he says, “That was a real sign to me that Dennis is the man. You know, he’s doing this just because he wants to be helpful. He’s not getting anything from this, and he did it with a smile on his face. We were laughing, you know, having a good time. I re flected on that for a few days, just about how u n b e l i e va b l e that was.” For Little, Hepworth went from nicest dad to weightlifting partner to trusted Realtor. “Dennis is someone absolutely we would use again. I wouldn’t use any body else, and I really mean that.” Reese Little and Sydney Clawans moved into their apartment this past July. Dennis Hepworth helped Reese Little and Sydney Clawans find their first apartment together.
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