Chuck Gollay

I climbed the dunes!

09-01-08

I climbed the dunes! One year ago today, at the age of 45, I suffered a stroke. The damage was pretty bad: no balance, loss of motor control in my left leg, double vision, and numbness in the left side of my head. I was overweight, with many of the attendant problems: high blood pressure, type II diabetes. It was little wonder that it happened. Really, it was a matter of when, not if, it would happen. And happen it did. It took a youthful, independent man, and aged him, and made him dependent on others. That was not a situation I could live with for long, so I resolved, while still in the hospital, to come out of this situation better than I went in.

One year later, I have lost 91 pounds. My blood sugar is well within the normal range, and my blood pressure is great. I married the loveliest and best woman I have ever known. At her urging, I have joined a weight loss program through the local hospital, and begun an exercise program. Clearly, i have changed.

While convalescing, and learning to walk again without the aid of a walker or a cane (both of which I was forced to use for a period of time), I set a goal that I would climb the dunes again. Living in Northern Michigan,I have easy access to Sleeping Bear National Dunes, and yesterday, one day short of the one year anniversary of my stroke, I climbed the dunes! It was invigorating and uplifting, and I cannot wait to do it again! Tomorrow, my wife and I may go and climb them again.

It just goes to show that no matter the situation, you can plan for your success, implement that plan, and actually succeed. I am sure there are parallels one could draw from this scenario and apply it to real estate, but this little blog is just about one personal success story. Thanks for listening!

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Chuck Gollay
Exit Realty Paramount

Chuck Gollay: Real Estate Agent in Traverse City, MI

Office: (231) 946-4404 x104

Mobile: (231) 409-0758

I work solely in residential real estate, and specialize in short sales and the pre-foreclosure market. I assist distressed homeowners and offer solutions to their current problems.

About Us:

A 1984 graduate of the University of Illinois, and a former Illinois State Scholar, I have a lengthy history of purchasing, negotiation, and sales service experience. I know that in real estate, as in all of life, details make the difference. It's the tending to the myriad details, anticipating situations, and providing superior levels of service that separates me from the competition. I am licensed to operate in the whole state of Michigan, but concentrate my efforts within Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Kalkaska,and Wexford Counties. The fact that I can operate statewide doesn't mean I should; your interests come first, and would be better served by having a local agent help you in the home buying or selling arena. Ask me about my referral program. I have earned the designation SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist), which has given me the education and experience to offer consultation to our aging population. I help seniors make the choices that enable them to live life on THEIR terms. Fewer than 1% of all Realtors have earned that designation here in northern Michigan.

Formerly of suburban Chicago, I now reside in Lake Ann, a beautiful small town about 15 miles southwest of Traverse City. In my free time I enjoy the company of my beautiful wife, our two dogs, four cats, as well as family and friends. I am an avid photographer, and find this area rich in photo opportunities. It is my dream to combine my two passions, photography and writing, to create a photographic journal of northern Michigan. I appreciate the quiet, rustic beauty of the land, respect and admire the wildlife that inhabits the land, and have found the serenity and happiness that eluded me in the big city. I am a proud member of the Lake Ann Lions Club, Business Networking International, Michigan Association of Realtors, and the Traverse Area Association of Realtors. Few people know that I am an accomplished and award-winning home-brewer as well as a nationally recognized beer judge.

Prior to real estate, I had a successful career in the packaging industry. I served as Operations Manager for a corrugated carton distribution company. I realize that service is not just a department; it's an attitude, a way of doing business. With my combination of knowledge, diligence, and passion, you'll experience the difference a real estate professional makes in your life, and enjoy a level of service that will simply spoil you!

Areas of Expertise

I assist homeowners who are in default of their mortgage. I work with them to determine if they are able to remain in their homes. If home retention is not possible, then I can help them to sell their homes. Generally, this involves short sales, the value of which is immense. Even though the homeowner won't receive any payout at closing, the benefits of a short sale are many. A homeowner selling short will receive a "debt satisfied" report on their credit, rather than the deadly "foreclosure." Additionally, the seller will minimize the damage to his/her credit, eliminate any judgments against them for the deficiency, reduce their overall stress level, and allow them to move on to the next chapter in their lives.

On the other side of that token, I can be of immense value to buyers, because I maintain a huge database of distressed properties, many of which never get listed for sale. I can help find the hidden gem!

I have earned the designation of Seniors Real Estate Specialist, and have the training and education to assist our aging population with real estate matters. I have a broad and deep referral network, and can direct seniors to qualified professionals in many, many areas of concern.

Testimonials

Do you have any good testimonials that clients have provided you in the past? Be sure to add them here.