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BEVERLY, MA: J Barrett & Company, an independent real estate firm, is pleased to announceREALPRO Associates of Beverly has merged with J Barrett. Owned by real estate broker Linda O’Connor, REALPRO provided real estate services independently for more than 20 years.

REALPRO has an enviable long-standing record of success. Last year, the company was in the top 25 percent of all firms in Massachusetts in gross sales for single-family homes and was in the top 14 percent of all firms on the North Shore in gross sales. The company’s records include being a consistent Top Producer per agent in dollar volume in Beverly over the last decade.

“We see a mutual benefit with this extraordinary opportunity,” says O’Connor, who has 29 years of real estate experience. The Beverly resident was twice named REALTOR of the Year (1994 and 2008) and received the prestigious Life Member Award from the North Shore Association of REALTORS in 2011.

“Over the years there have been many opportunities, but I was never tempted until now. J Barrett has the same successful business model that we use, the same high standards, and the same core values,” says O’Connor. “This association is a perfect blend of two business cultures.”

Jon Gray, president, J Barrett & Company, agrees. “Both firms are ‘true’ independents,” he says. “This is an opportunity for continued growth in the Beverly-Salem market.”

With this new association, J Barrett now has five offices in four North Shore communities: Beverly, Gloucester, Ipswich, and Manchester.    “We both believe in supporting our agents and providing them with the tools they need to be successful,” adds Gray. “The result is win-win outcomes for everyone.”

“Having yet another real estate professional of Linda’s caliber is very exciting for our firm,” says Gray. “As a company one of our goals is to constantly expand the depth of our in-house expertise and Linda is an invaluable resource in that ongoing endeavor. She is extremely knowledgeable about so many aspects of the industry as well as the various communities on the North Shore. All our clients will benefit tremendously from Linda’s extensive experience.”

O’Connor is also looking forward to the future. “This new association will allow me more time to focus on the best part of the real estate industry—working with clients and helping them to buy or sell houses,” she says. “I will be able to work directly on that while I receive amazing support. I am very excited about this.”

An expert negotiator, O’Connor, who also has earned several professional designations including ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute and is an instructor for the Institute), and ITI (Instructor Training Institute Graduate), wrote and teaches a Negotiation course across the State. As a Certified Instructor for the Massachusetts Division of Registration, she also teaches over a dozen Continuing Education courses statewide. A sought after instructor, O’Connor has presented at state conventions including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Montana. In addition, she holds a Mediation Officer Certification with the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® and serves regularly on Professional Standards Panels.

J. Barrett & Company Established in 2007, J Barrett has quickly become the premier privately-owned real estate firm on the North Shore. The company serves the North Shore and Cape Ann areas from five offices: 100 Cummings Center, Suite 113D in Beverly, 3 Oak Street in Beverly Farms, 8 Pleasant Street in Gloucester, 4 South Main Street in Ipswich, and 1 Beach Street in Manchester.

BEVERLY, MA: J Barrett & Company, an independent real estate company with 74 of the North Shore’s most experienced brokers, proudly announces that real estate broker Binni Hackett ranks Number One among real estate agents in Ipswich for the first quarter of 2012.* J Barrett’s Ipswich Office is also first on the list among real estate firms for the same quarter.

That period includes January 1 to March 31, 2012 for “Total Sales Volume” and “Total Solds”.

“I’m very excited about this,” says Binni, who has been in real estate for five years. “In recent months business has picked up exponentially and the reasons are simple,” says Binni. “Mortgages are still at an all time low, buyers are jumping down from the fence, and sellers are more realistic about pricing. It’s a ‘perfect storm’ in real estate.”

“We are certainly very pleased about Binni’s achievement and our office ranking but we’re not surprised,” says Jon Gray, president, J Barrett & Company. “Our business philosophy is that the key to success in any real estate market is to develop an appropriate marketing plan and then follow through. Our agents do that.”

“The process isn’t always easy but when you carefully analyze the ‘current’ market—whatever it is—and price homes accordingly, everyone wins,” he adds.

Binni, a native of England and long-time Ipswich resident, has a “green” designation from the National Association of Realtors.

J. Barrett & Company Established in 2007, J Barrett has quickly become the premier privately-owned real estate firm on the North Shore. The company serves the North Shore and Cape Ann areas from four offices: 3 Oak Street in Beverly, 8 Pleasant Street in Gloucester, 4 South Main Street in Ipswich, and 1 Beach Street in Manchester.

• MLSPIN (1/1/2011-3/31/2012)

BEVERLY, MA: Paul Franklin, a full-time real estate salesperson on the North Shore, has joined J. Barrett & Company in the Gloucester office.   Paul, a former inventory analyst, has helped clients successfully buy and sell real estate throughout the North Shore for more than three years.

“Joining an independent real estate firm like J Barrett is an opportunity to better help my clients,” says Paul. “As an independent firm, all decisions are based on the client’s individual needs. All decisions are local and are the result of thoughtful discussions. They do not follow rigid corporate directives.”

“Having a real estate professional of Paul’s ability is an immeasurable asset for our company and all our clients,” says Jon Gray, president. “Paul’s background in research is particularly valuable in today’s real estate market which relies heavily statistical information to make informed decisions.   Paul, a Rockport native and resident, is active in various community organizations including the Beverly/Salem Elks Lodge. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and has a Green Designation from NAR’s Green Resource Council.

In addition to his duties as a real estate agent, Paul is also a notary public for the Commonwealth.

J. Barrett & Company Established in 2007, J Barrett has quickly become the premier privately-owned real estate company on the North Shore. The firm, which serves the North Shore and Cape Ann areas, has four offices: 3 Oak Street in Beverly, 8 Pleasant Street in Gloucester, 4 South Main Street in Ipswich, and 1 Beach Street in Manchester.

BEVERLY, MA: Deb Newman, a full-time real estate salesperson on the North Shore, has joined J. Barrett & Company in the Gloucester office.

A successful real estate professional on the North Shore and Cape Ann for more than seven years, Deb studied to focus on commercial real estate but followed a business opportunity to work in residential. The transition was seamless. “Relationship building and the ‘process’ remained the same; only the product changed,” she says.

“Having a real estate broker of Deb’s ability on our team is an incredible coup for our firm,” says Jon B. Gray, president. “Our clients will be very well served to have Deb on ‘their’ side, too. She has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience plus an enviable success record. She knows how to get the job done and done well.”

“An opportunity to work with such a reputable firm as J Barrett is rare and I am very excited about this new venture,” says Deb. “Their consumer-oriented business philosophy fits perfectly with my own emphasis on personalized customer service.”

Deb, a native and life-long Gloucester resident, is also extremely familiar with neighboring communities and their school systems. An avid beach person, Deb also enjoys sharing her familiarity with the region’s abundant recreational activities.

J. Barrett & Company

Established in 2007, J Barrett has quickly become the premier privately-owned real estate company on the North Shore. The firm, which serves the North Shore and Cape Ann areas, has four offices: 3 Oak Street in Beverly, 8 Pleasant Street in Gloucester, 4 South Main Street in Ipswich, and 1 Beach Street in Manchester.

BEVERLY, MA: J Barrett & Company is pleased to announce that Realtor Ed Dick in Ipswich is working with the Ipswich Triad Council to launch an emergency assistance program for Ipswich seniors and disabled residents.

The Lockbox Program is designed to provide the Fire Department with access to seniors and disabled individuals in the event of an emergency or wellness check. In addition to emergency calls for assistance, the Fire Department performs wellness checks when out-of-area relatives are unable to reach loved ones. “We constantly go to seniors’ homes in emergencies and too often are unable to get in the conventional way,” says Keith Carlson, Ipswich firefighter and chairman of the Triad Board. “Sometimes we can get in without causing damage, but not always. This takes the ‘damage’ right out of it.”

“Sometimes seniors hide a key, but if we can find it (in an emergency) that means it’s not a very safe solution,” adds Keith.

“Safety is a familiar issue when we talk to seniors who are considering selling their homes,” says Ed Dick, who works out of J Barrett’s Ipswich office. “They do worry about being alone in emergencies especially when family is not nearby. After learning about a similar program in Danvers, this seemed to be an ideal way to address this very serious matter.”

Ed, who quickly joined forces with fellow agents Judy Hanson and Sarah Winderlin, arranged a meeting with the Ipswich branch of Triad, a partnership of law enforcement agencies (The Sherriff and District Attorney; Police and Fire Departments), the Council on Aging, and seniors whose goal is to promote older adult safety. “We presented the idea to them and they agreed immediately,” says Ed. “We also volunteered to take charge of raising money for the lockboxes.”

Each participant receives a free secure lockbox accessible only by the Ipswich Fire Department. In emergencies, firefighters will be able to enter homes without delay and without property damage enabling potential life-saving services to be provided much more quickly.

Lockboxes will be loaned for use and, when no longer needed, returned and reused at another residence.

“Our goal for Phase I was to raise $3,500 which will pay for 55 lockboxes,” says Ed. “Depending on community response, we will gladly initiate Phase II.”

“We already have 15 people waiting for boxes which are order,” adds Keith. “There is definitely a need for this and once the word is out…”

Jon Gray, president & CEO of J Barrett & Company, is enthusiastic about the program and the fund-raising effort. “Having an opportunity to potentially save one life is remarkable, but being able to have an impact on the lives of countless numbers of people is amazing,” he says. “Any one of us could be in a similar situation at some point in our lives. It is reassuring to know that we would not be alone.”

Triad Council

TRIAD is a national program promoting safety and awareness on criminal and health related issues for senior citizens. In Ipswich, the partnership includes the Essex Country Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney, the Police and Fire Departments, the Council on Aging, several other public entities, and seniors.

J. Barrett & Company

Established in January 2007, J Barrett is a service-oriented company that has quickly become the premier privately-owned real estate firm on the North Shore. The company, which serves the North Shore and Cape Ann areas, has four offices: 3 Oak Street in Beverly Farms, 8 Pleasant Street in Gloucester, 4 South Main Street in Ipswich, and 1 Beach Street in Manchester.

Box:

For donations: Checks can be made out to Friends of Ipswich Elderly and sent to:

Friends of Ipswich Elderly

P.O. Box 213

Ipswich, MA 01938

J Barrett & Company

4 South Main St

Ipswich, MA 01938

Please note on check: Lockbox Program

Any questions please call J Barrett & Company (978) 356-3444 and ask to speak with Ed Dick