Barbara Wulfing: A Town & Style Feature

by Chuck Roper 13. June 2013 07:30

When Town & Style Magazine wanted insight about what it takes to be a top luxury real estate agent, they reached out to Barbara Wulfing of Janet McAfee Real Estate.   In a feature article by Senior Editor Tony Di Martino, Barbara discusses her start in real estate, the secrets to her success and her life outside of work.  The Real Talk feature follows:

BARBARA WULFING

janet mcafee real estate

By tony di martino

Top broker/sales associate Barbara Wulfing has done more than $500 million in sales since starting her career in 1973. The German-born dynamo, who’s been at Janet McAfee for 10 years, came here as a child and lived with her grandmother while attending school.  She and her husband reside in Clayton and cherish visits from their two out-of-town daughters and three grandchildren.

“I was a stay-at-home mom whose kids were getting a little older. Real estate looked like something I could do part time. I sold $1 million worth of property my first year on the job.  I can’t really tell you why; I surprised myself.  When I first started working, my husband offered to pay my income taxes. He soon changed his tune!

I will never forget my first sale.  With shaking knees I called on a couple who lived in a south St. Louis apartment. I sold them their first home, off Spoede Road, for $43,000.  It felt amazing, but I had a lot to learn. I wasn’t even sure if I filled out the contract correctly.  My bosses said, ‘Don’t worry about that—just keep selling!’

My hobby is golf, though I don’t get to play as much as I like to. My favorite deal ever was helping to acquire the ground for the Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta, Mo.

When people ask for the secret to my success, all I can say is I’m very persistent, and I’m willing to work all hours—nights, weekends, holidays and vacations. I listen to my clients. I rely on my many years of experience for creative solutions to problems. I also have an extremely knowledgeable associate in Pam Thuston, who’s also a broker, and a great back-up team at McAfee. And I owe a lot to my former boss, Jimmie Manion, on whom I can always rely for wise advice. He and I still partner on deals occasionally.

 This is a great business and it’s fun, but you’d better have a lot of time to devote to it. I don’t recommend it to people who have tiny children. Even if you have help and an understanding partner, it’s not easy.

To unwind, I love the symphony, Opera Theatre and The Rep. I try to golf and ski whenever I can. I used to play tennis, but I quit. I can’t keep up with the young players. 

My workday seldom ends before 7 p.m. Luckily, my husband cooks. Otherwise, he would have starved to death by now!”

Tags:

TextBox

Tag cloud