There’s No Place Like Home

Sometimes you have to leave home to appreciate what you have...

After almost 20 years in the original office of Michael Saunders & Company, my business partner, Paulene Soublis, and I decide to leave our comfortable nest, spread our wings and fly off when we heard that the “Michael Saunders of Naples” was opening a brand new office in Downtown Sarasota. Being well-established real estate agents focused on the upper end market, theoretically, it was a perfect fit.

We were going to be a blended family successfully working and living in Sarasota and referring back and forth along the Gulf Coast. Along with our clients, we enjoyed the impressive January 2008 Grand Opening, the attention of the Sarasota press and community leaders and the Naples based leaders were all smiles reveling in the Naples to Sarasota mantra. And, as we have for the last 25 years, Paulene and I went to work promoting our listings and selling properties. We had a record breaking $6.9 million sale on Bird Key and soared to the top of the Sarasota Association of Realtors.

The market began changing and those new to the area and/or the real estate business in general began closing their doors. In less than two short years, “The Michael Saunders of Naples” went back to their homeland and Paulene and I ran as fast as we could to the open doors and open arms to the one and only “Michael Saunders of Sarasota.”

We are back home with Michael Saunders & Company and just as Paulene and I sell real estate one home at a time, Michael has built a family-based company one person at a time.

At Michael Saunders & Company, we have LOCAL leadership with tons of support. We have an entire interactive marketing department; we have ongoing and up-to-the minute education, leading- edge technology, offices in every part of town, worldwide first class affiliations and the best sales agents in the industry. We share, we care and we have long-term relationships with each other.

Our roots are grounded again and we are ready to soar.