Ray Mikus

I thought maybe I’d post my resume here, but then I figured I’d just tell people about me.

I live in Middlesex, VT with my wife (a biology professor at Norwich University – I married her because she’s so smart) and our two daughters. Josephine is four years old and Willoughby is two. The two of them keep the refrigerator covered with art, and the hamper full of pink clothes. They also keep us busy going to ballet practices and birthday parties, and fully entertain us with such gems as “Preschool was a cloud of dust.”

Like lots of people, I’ve had a few professional experiences that help me as a Realtor in the Montpelier area. Out of college (Michigan State University, with degrees in Finance and Political Economics, and good grades, to boot), I worked as a financial planner, eventually becoming a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

For my next challenge, I picked up my teaching certificate. I taught 2nd grade in Northfield, VT for a number of years, and I have to admit, it was pretty fun. I finally had a job that included recess. Plus, I taught the kids how to read baseball stats (great for math, geography, history, etc.), and I had a worm farm in the classroom. For me, teaching was a pretty good job. But, I was looking for a new challenge.

VT Real Estate Experience

Since we moved to Vermont in 2003, I’ve been buying and selling properties in Barre and Montpelier. We bought our first house in 2004, then we bought our neighbor’s house, then a rental, and another, and so on. I realized I was spending a good chunk of my free time looking for deals, trying to put them together, working on pricing, etc. – that’s the finance part. Then I reflected on my own thoughts – that’s the teaching part.

Now I’m a Realtor, and I love it. I get to look at houses, meet people, and use my experiences to help them. If I have an idea for how to market a house, I can do it. If I want to snowmobile up to a remote camp to show it (which I did, even though I’m not a snowmobiler), I can do it. If I want to expand a buyer’s horizons and show a property that I think is a great match, I can do it. If it helps an owner sell their house, or helps a buyer get what they want, I can do it. Sensing a common theme?

Blah blah blah, you’ve probably read dozens of agent bios talking about how they provide “excellent customer service” and “knowledge of the market”. Duh! Even if they don’t they’re still going to say that. I use technology, my connections, my own personal experiences, a gob of creativity and good old fashioned elbow grease to help people buy and sell property in the area. Always looking to grow professionally, in 2011 I obtained my broker’s license, and continue to pursue other professional designations.

I joke that I joined Heney Realtors so that I could have downtown parking. The real reason I joined Heney Realtors is because of the well-deserved reputation for integrity and professionalism the agency has.

Someone once told me, “In this area, the Heney name is gold,” and I agree.