Everyone can't make the claim that Shelley Wilcoxson can: She has been interested in real estate since she was 18. " I took a class at Lincoln Land Community College, and I really enjoyed it," Shelley says. She had worked at Osco and became a supervisor prior to her marriage.

Shelley's next few years centered around her two children, but she never lost touch with her love of real estate. When the kids went to school, Shelley was able to pursue her desire to become an agent in 1992, and then received additional education to obtain her broker license in 1997.

As one of the first agents that joined Dowd Sullivan Real Estate, Shelley says the name change to Springfield Real Estate LLC is a positive one. "I like the new name, but I've been with Dowd Sullivan since I started, and I would not consider going to work with another real estate office," Shelley notes.

Meeting new people is a plus for Shelley who says "One of the best things about what I do is meeting a variety of people, and when you help a family find an enjoyable home within their budget, its a great experience for everyone." Some of Shelley's clients include individuals working at St. Johns Hospital, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield Clinic, State of Illinois government, Frito-Lay and Horace Mann.

To augment her career as a realtor, Shelley is studying for her certification in home staging. Home staging is a hot topic; home staging is preparing your home for sale by limiting or rearranging furniture, using accessories, lighting and color to highlight the special features of your home. Effective home staging allows the buyer to visualize living there, and can also help the seller get a better price for their home. Shelley has considerable experience in staging homes for sale in Springfield.

Shelley is also involved in volunteering as a Board Member for the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival which occurs each September in Springfield.

When Shelley is not showing or listing homes, she and her husband enjoy riding Harley Davidson motorcycles cross country. They belong to both local and national Harley owners' groups. Her own bike is a Heritage Soft Tail, and she enjoys going to Springfield's Charlie Parker's restaurant on the bike for what she describes as "the best breakfast in town."

"Charlie Parker's is like a 1950's diner in a quonset hut -- hard to describe really, but a not-to-be-missed place for breakfast in the Springfield area.

To meet Shelley, give her a call at 652-5374 or send a note to shelley@springfieldsbesthomes.com.