b'Learning as TheyWent AlongFinding Home with Victoria CarterBY ELLEN DONKERD I N G H ON MIF EG iovannaandKevinKevin and Giovanna Sheerin now have a home with vous. We had never done this before. They SheerinhadlivedinAt the end of March, the Sheerins found a four-Brooklynformanybedroom sidehall Colonial in Maplewood. years, always in a rental.anticipated that final bids for the house would be But with two boys, agesaccepted by the following Tuesday, but they didnt 3and5,theyneededwant to get involved in a bidding war. Kevin says, more room.So we asked Victoria if there was a number we We were looking for something that we couldplenty of room for their boys to play. could offer on Monday to avoid it going to Tues-moveintoanditwasingoodcondition,saysday. Although they werent told what the number Kevin. I wasnt looking for something fully reno- was, Victoria encouraged them to provide a strong vated. Seemed like that stuff was overpriced foring parents. Giovanna says she started to pay at- offer.somebody elses vision of their house. tention to houses that had a safe yard for theirThe sellers accepted the offer. By June 28, the Needing to find a town that offered a goodboys, a powder room on the first floor and a semi- Sheerins moved into their home. They had the commute to the city, Giovanna also hoped to befinished basement or attic with adequate storage. walls painted, the floors finished and central air in-closer to family in Pennsylvania, where she grewKevinsays,[Victoria]waspatientwithusstalled. Giovan-up. Kevin, who hails from Westchester County,while we kind of figured out what we were look- nasays,Its said, Anywhere but Long Island. ing for. Then she gave us sound advice about oneliketheper-Thecoupledrovearoundvarioustownsinof the houses that we knew that we wanted to bidfectamountof northern New Jersey, visiting Montclair, Maple- on. Although Victoria told the couple they prob- renovationfor woodandMillburn.Theyalsosearchedonlineably wouldnt get the house, she encouraged themus,becausewe and found a home they liked on Victoria Cartersto submit a bid, saying, Theres nothing wrongwereableto website. So we kind of stumbled into Victoria,with making the offer. At least you go throughmoveinand but it worked out, Kevin says. the process right and figure out all the steps anditstotallyliv-TheSheerinsremembertheirfirstmeetingget all your paperwork together. Kevin says, Sheable and totally with her. Victoria is great. I mean, she strikes mewas very much right, adding that even the ad- pleasant. With as the real deal, Giovanna says. I think she gavevice that maybe we didnt want to hear at the timelotsofspace us good advice. I always felt like she had our backswas usually correct. tofill,theyre Victoria Carter helped the Sheer-and was honest with us.Giovanna was impressed by Victorias respon- busyoutfittingins find their first home in Maple-As this was their first home purchase, the Sheer- siveness.Imrememberingthatwhenweputit with new fur- wood.ins learned as they went along. Over time, Kevina bid in on the first house, and we really didntniture. Come September, their older son will be says, We got to understand the price differentialsknow what we were doing, Victoria was literallystarting kindergarten.between what drove prices up in terms of finishedgetting knee surgery, Giovanna says. And thenThe Sheerins credit Victoria with helping to basements or central air or locationhow close itthere was another time where she was on vacation,maketheirmovegosmoothly.Giovannasays, was to town, how close it was to schools.like somewhere tropical, and still navigating all ofThere were moments where I just felt like, Oh, Eventually, the couple zeroed in on homes thatthis with us, which I never would have expectedthank God Victoria is our agent. I think this is go-could accommodate their family, including visit- her to do . She understood we were very ner- ing to work out well.finding home /33'