Agent Spotlight: Betsy Millane

Author,
interior decorator, past president, grandmother, and real estate
advisor,
Betsy Millane, crafts everything she takes on with care and
intention. From holding classes for seniors, providing expert
recommendations for clients, to writing a novel, going above
and beyond is the only way she knows how to operate.

What is
something your clients find comfort in that makes them turn to you
for their real estate needs?

I listen. I care. I communicate. Their needs come first. I have
a stable full of wonderful contractors who can come in and help
them with all of their needs before, during, and after the
move.

What do
you love most about your role as a real estate advisor?

The people! I grew up in a real estate family. The dinner table
discussion was all about my mother and father’s work
challenges and strategies, and how to do good so you can sleep at
night. My father once bought a furnace for a buyer because the
seller had taken it. It was a cold December morning in Michigan and
the buyers discovered the furnace was gone when they moved in. In
an era without cell phones and a day full of appointments, Dad had
to act quickly and didn’t have time to call the sheriff, the
other agent, and the attorneys. He bought it because he needed the
peace the gift would bring everyone. He said “I have to sleep
nights” and “They have kids.” His reputation for
doing this spread near and far, but that isn’t why he did it.
He did it because it was the right thing to do.

Did your
parents pass down any ideas or business practices?

My father passed on his mindset to me – that if you do
what is right, it will work out all right for you. It was clear
that he cared greatly for his clients, as I do. He was confident in
his skills and set high standards for himself. I feel the same way.
It pervades everything I do in this profession, from caring for
houses long before they are sold. I had listed a vacant house. I
stopped over to check it, smelled gas, and stayed while National
Grid came out. I hand-wrote a note to Marty Walsh asking for his
help in getting a title for the house I had listed, out of probate
court, where it had been for 3 years during Covid. It worked! Going
the bonus mile is the only way I know I will sleep nights.

Could you
describe a recent client
experience?

One of the owners, whose mother had died, stopped me as I was
leaving the mother’s house after dropping off some paperwork.
She said how grateful they were that I moved them forward, as it
allowed them all to process their grief constructively and get past
it, free of the clutter of feelings they had when they thought of
the house. They were so happy with a person I recommended to clear
out the house because it lightened their load significantly. We can
sell houses all day long, but in this situation, I was reminded
that we do far more. We help people move on, and let go. We take
care of their memories and their grief and help them turn it into a
positive change that everyone can move from. The owner felt they
were in good hands with me, and that makes me happy, proud
even.

How does
your interest in interior design play into your role as a real
estate advisor?

I am very sensitive to light in a home. Bring it in! Current
paint choices update a home so very well. A conversation
arrangement in the living room, v.s. a television as a focal point,
can make the house look beautiful. A balance of color and furniture
makes a room expansive, friendly, and appealing to buyers. I study
home decorating magazines and visit open houses to know
what’s current. Just a few tweaks can transform a house and
make it a solid sale.

What is
your course, “Staging Using Your Own Things,” about,
and how can people take it?

I have taught this class, “Staging Using Your
Own Things” at the Center at the Heights in Needham and the
Council of Aging in Wellesley. A house needs to be ready for the
market. Staging is a commitment of time, space, and money, and
seniors often don’t want the disruption and cost. I find that
decluttering goes a long way, for example: getting rid of furniture
that is no longer useful or beautiful, painting the walls to make a
house look fresh and inviting, and decluttering brings out the
beauty in a home. I urge sellers to remove one big piece of
furniture in each room to allow buyers to project their furnishings
into the house. I have a PowerPoint presentation so they can see
some before and after transformations. I don’t expect a total
cleanout. I love seeing old wedding photos and other beautiful
items. The collages of the 70s have to go, but not all the
reminders of a beautiful life, well lived in a well-loved house
should disappear. Buyers want to know this was/is a happy home.

What are
some of your favorite local hobbies, activities, or organizations
that you participate in?

I love my friends, my networking, my church. All my business is
from referrals so I cultivate relationships in every dimension. A
friend once told me: “People want to work with You! Not just
anybody!” and that was heartening to hear. Enriching the
community through volunteering is an ongoing effort. My passion for
the environment led me to gardening and working with Green Needham.
I am the past President of the Needham Women’s Club as well
as the past President of the Women’s Business Group that was
based in Wellesley. These organizations make a difference in the
communities as they give back in many ways. For example, the
Needham Women’s Club has a Holiday House tour that brings
happiness to many. The Women’s Business Group supported
various charities through donations and work events. I am also a
writer and author. The response to my book,
Sixty Blades of Grass, a historical fiction based on a true
story, is fantastic. The reviews are in! The readers love it!
Baking is something I enjoy so I bake almond cookies for my
clients.

How long
had you been working on Sixty Blades of Grass and where did the
idea stem from?

My family was active in the Dutch Underground during
WWII. I did a Junior Year Abroad at the University of Lancaster in
Lancaster, England, and visited relatives in Holland, where I heard
their incredible stories of bravery, sacrifice, hunger, and loss. I
stood in the closet where they hid Jewish people. When I returned
to the States, I wrote down what I remembered, and shared the
stories with my family. Later, encouraged by writing coaches and
other writers, I wove the stories into a novel. Writing it took
about two years. To get published took ten. I am perhaps the most
persistent person you will ever meet, but I believed in their story
and I believed I could write it. After countless rejections and
subsequent revisions, I found an agent and a publisher. Sixty
Blades of Grass was published in June 2023 by Bloodhound Books.

What do
you love most about where you live and work?

Boston is a vibrant town and I love exploring it, taking in the
museums, the shops, and the concerts. The access to the ocean and
great parks makes a break easy. But I would not be anywhere without
friends to enjoy it with.

Any
favorite spots or recommendations in the Wellesley/MetroWest
area?

Elm Bank is a favorite to walk with friends in. The restaurant
scene in MetroWest is fantastic. Volante Farms is a great place to
mingle with the plants and people.

What are
three sources of joy in your week?

Workweek joy:

I am all about the relationship,
not the transaction. My intention is to become their real estate
resource for life, and their go-to for friends and family.
Houses are important because they
turn into homes. Home is where we go to recharge, get inspired, get
up and face our day. Home is for family and friends and is an
expression of who we are. I love houses – all houses – because they
become homes.
Joy comes when I find the match,
make the connection, negotiate what is important, and finally,
bring over their housewarming gift. Joy comes when I drive away,
imagining the home they are making at that moment. When a client
tells me they are grateful to me for how I managed the experience,
I am grateful to them for the opportunity to be a part of their
lives during this stressful time.