22 / matters magazine / holiday 2018 P arents often build their community around their children, meeting one another at school functions and club activities. That’s how Heather Logan met Doug Huebner. Her daughter and his son were in the same robotics club and the families got to know each other at the var- ious competitions and gatherings. It was when she was looking to sell her South Orange Tudor that she discovered he was a realtor. Already familiar with his person- ality and seeing him in action as a parent, she knew he would be the right choice. Logan says, “I like his style. He’s very laid back and collaborative and I’m in- tense so that helps to offset my personality.” She also admired his eye for design and looked for his help to ready her house for sale. She adds, “He walked through the house a couple times and gave sugges- tions, high, medium and low.” He also counseled her to make simple changes that made a big difference. Case in point: he advised her to paint her front door. Rather than painting it a typical Tudor color, he chose a striking shade of blue that really made the house pop. “With Doug, I definitely learned that less is more,” she says. As a realtor who also does home design and reno- vation planning, Huebner has an in-depth knowl- edge of houses. He loves design, and also understands the use of color. Logan was struck by the amount of time he took helping her choose paint colors, look- ing at paint chips in different kinds of light and fol- lowing up with her painters to make sure everything went as planned. Logan explains that as a single working mother with a busy job at Bloomberg it was a challenge man- aging all the details. Huebner would text her gentle reminders to keep her on track. She appreciated that. Once Logan sold her home, Huebner got to work to help her find a new place. Since she was downsiz- ing she knew she had to be realistic about the type of home she’d find in her price range. As she puts it, “I knew I wouldn’t be buying the house of my dreams and that was okay.” She did have some requirements, though. The home had to have a garage, hard wood floors and an easy walk to her children’s schools. Deal breakers were aluminum siding and oil heat. Huebner showed her an array of homes in Maple- wood and South Orange. Logan says, “He just knew when a house wasn’t right for me and was a very smart advisor.” She fell in love with a mid-century home but was outbid. The funny part is, the house she did buy has aluminum siding. She jokes about how Huebner had to cajole her just to walk in the house. But it’s turned out to be great for her family. She says the kids love it. It has a big kitchen. And since the house is a good deal smaller than the 4,000 square foot house they came from, they’re enjoy- ing the benefits of togetherness. According to Huebner, this property was a smart buy. “She bought an undervalued house but one that’s a great investment if she can put some work into it,” he says. Reflecting on why Huebner proved to be such a valuable asset to Logan, she says, “I like the way he collaborates with other realtors. Doug takes a reasonable approach and made the sale easy. To him it’s not an us vs. them game. He takes anxiety out of the equation.” Although it’s not in the cards yet, Lo- gan plans on renovating the bathroom, basement, and eventually the kitchen. But first on her list is to paint the aluminum siding, which she likens to the color of a Band-Aid. She’ll look to Huebner for his expertise, welcoming his trusty paint deck and discerning eye. Finding Home Working with Doug Huebner BY ELLEN DONKER Heather Logan with her children, Vince and Gloria. Doug Huebner helped Heather Logan down- size to a home just right for her family.