[caption id="attachment_4129" align="alignright" width="300"] Photographs of Mary's family real estate business, Truell Real Estate founded by her grandparents. They were in business over 50 years before deciding to partner with Peabody & Smith Realty.[/caption]

Renovating the Truell Real Estate building

The renovation is in full swing, with the ceiling torn open, drywall going up and the hardwood floor being laid. As I salvage the glass knob from the old front door of my family's real estate office, I think about how many clients' hands have touched this knob opening the door to their future. One after another, moving forward with their dreams of home ownership, or excited to sell and relocate to a new place, each person using our office as a stepping stone toward something new and something better. You cannot help but be pulled into the past when you see a glass knob. I can almost smell the cigar smoke lingering in the air and see the pink marble coffee table and the gigantic philodendron vines that my grandmother had growing on the paneled wall of the office. There were typewriters on every desk and stacks of black and white MLS books. This was the world that I grew up in – I was my Dad's little 9-year-old assistant, doing everything from writing ad blurbs to organizing listings on 3x5 index cards. Many things have changed since then, and my grandfather would be appalled at our no smoking rule and my father would wonder why we don't wear full suits to work every day. But, our values and our investment in the community have not changed. In fact, they grow stronger. We move into this new era with a company that shares our beliefs and high standards – Peabody & Smith Realty is also a locally owned real estate company that started from the ground up. Together we will be able to offer even more to our clients. The glass knob sparkles in the light with a cluster of green glitter at its core. This one piece I will keep as homage to my grandparents who achieved their own dream by building Truell Real Estate.  I will carry forth their legacy and my father's as we proudly open the Meredith branch of Peabody & Smith Realty.   [caption id="attachment_4128" align="aligncenter" width="953"] With some new signage and building renovations, what was previous Truell Real Estate will now operate as Peabody & Smith's Meredith office location. Come visit![/caption]