Annette Given discovered her passion for real estate when working as a paralegal in the 1970s. “I realized the part of the business I liked most were the clients and cases that involved real estate,” she says. “I liked the history and culture of Boston and the greater Boston area.” After receiving her real estate license in 1980, Annette began working as a rental broker. “I quickly realized that real estate, and working with clients who relied on me to find them a comfortable home that fit their lifestyle gave me a sense of purpose I had never felt before,” she says. In 1984, Annette started The Charles Realty, which is now a thriving company with 14 agents that serve Back Bay, Beacon Hill, The South End, and other Boston neighborhoods as well as the the Greater Boston area. Annette’s deep expertise and familiarity with Boston set her apart from other realtors in the area–she lives in Boston, works in Boston and spends almost all of her time in the city she loves. “Knowing the city as well as I do enables me to help clients navigate the nuances of each neighborhood, street and building in Boston. This, as well as almost four decades of real estate experience, has been paramount to my success as an agent,” she explains. “To me, a closing doesn’t mean the end of a relationship with a client, I want to know that they’re happy with their choice, and to be there for anything they need in the future.” As a result of her thorough and attentive service, a staggering 80% of her business comes from repeat and referral clients. What keeps her clients coming back in such high numbers? “I have a reputation for fighting really hard for my clients to get the best results, whether I’m selling their home or helping them purchase ‘the one.’”

To market listings, Annette has an expert marketing team that uses a combination of ads, mail outs, social media, digital marketing and local magazine advertising to reach potential clients. She also has a large network of professionals she can reach out to in order to help her clients prepare their listings for sale. This network includes stagers, professional photographers and contractors, among others. Her teammate, Mackenzie Harpine, who has been with The Charles Realty since 2004, works closely with Annette to provide an unparalleled level of meticulous service to clients. It’s easy for Annette to stay in touch with past clients. “A lot of my clients become my friends,” she says. She contacts them through mail outs, social media and emails, but she also reaches out during holidays.

What’s her favorite part of the job? “The close relationships I develop with my clients, helping them find homes that fit them perfectly, and growing with them. For example, I have clients that I began working with when they were young – I was even invited to some of their weddings! And now they have children who are ready for college and are returning to the city looking for a place to live.” It’s these types of long-term relationships that help Annette see the impact her knowledge and guidance has on the lives of her clients. After working with Annette, her clients often remember the process as actually being fun. “I try to make it enjoyable and as stress-free as possible,” Annette says. And most importantly, she is always accessible. “I work seven days a week and I’m available to my clients 24/7.”

To give back to her profession and her community, Annette sits on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and has since 2008. She was on the Greater Boston Real Estate Board from 2002-2006 and currently is on two of their committees. Annette also hosts fundraising events for Great Dog Rescue of New England. In her rare free time, she loves to travel, listen to live music and hang out with her two rescue dogs, who are well-known in her Back Bay neighborhood. For the future, Annette plans to expand her philanthropic efforts and her community involvement, which are both worthy goals that dovetail nicely with her passion for service and for Boston.

To find out more about Annette Given–President, The Charles Realty– contact her via phone at 617-236-0353 or by email at annettegiven@real estate agent.com. You can also check her out on the web at https://www.thecharlesrealty.com/realestate/agent/annette-given/.