Woodmere Realtor Celebrates 20th Anniversary
BY JORDAN FRIEDMAN
Barry Pugatch (back center) and Susan Pugatch (front center) stand with a number of Pugatch real estate agents in front of their office in Woodmere. Photo by Jordan Friedman
“We both had an interest in the real estate market and he certainly had the real estate background,” Susan Pugatch said. “And we started building up some relationships with some of the people who we were teaching. And that’s how we started our office.”
Twenty years later, Pugatch Realty, now located at 950 Broadway in Woodmere, serves as one of the most widely known agencies in the community. On June 21, the company celebrated its twentieth anniversary.
Susan Pugatch said that the company started in a “small office” in Woodmere and has since expanded. When Pugatch Realty moved to its current location on Broadway, they eventually took over the store next door, which Pugatch noted is a testament to the growth of the company since it began.
“Now we have a double situation and a full basement,” she said. “We have about 40 agents that have their licenses with us.”
Barry and Susan Pugatch both grew up in The Five Towns, which she said inspired their desire to work in the area. Still, Pugatch added that the company has done sales all over Long Island as well as in Brooklyn and Queens.
Along with the company’s growth in size, advances in technology, such as the Internet, have transformed the company’s approach to providing information to sellers and buyers, according to Pugatch.
“Modern technology has definitely taken over,” she said. “We are very involved in it, and we are on many, many sites. If anybody is searching for a house, they certainly are driven to Pugatch.”
But while the ubiquitous nature of technology seems to be one force behind the success of the company, Pugatch noted that word-of-mouth referrals play a major role as well. “We’ve really established ourselves as part of the neighborhood,” she said. “We’ve had repeat customers.”
The success of Pugatch, she added, is also demonstrated by the size of the commercial real estate and co-op/condo/rental departments. “We are very active in that. That part of the market is very active right now as far as rentals,” she said.
The state of the current market is also benefitting residents buying and selling homes immensely, Pugatch noted. Property values and interest rates have dropped and “the office is busy all the time,” Pugatch said, adding that now is an excellent time to purchase a home.
Even with a busy office, however, Pugatch Realty continuously hosts events for its customers – such as a raffle contest for membership to Southwest Fitness Club – to keep high interest among its customers and to keep the office active. In addition, Pugatch provides contacts for home inspections and appraisals.
“We help with packing, painting, even little repairs; we have a nice group of resources, painters and people like that,” Pugatch said. “We help get a house ready for sale, help moving in, help the family get the sale done.”
As she reflected on her 20 years as part of this growing company, Pugatch noted that she hopes she, her husband and the company can continue their success in the community.
“Meeting different families you don’t know and helping them through the process – that’s something we really do here and something we pride ourselves on,” Pugatch added.
Pugatch Featured Homes:
583 Lincoln Street, Cedarhurst
Immaculate 4+ bedrooms; expanded cape; features beautiful hardwood floors throughout; den, sunroom and full basement with high ceilings in the heart of Cedarhurst. $449,000
19 Woodmere Blvd. South, Woodsburgh
Spectacular six bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms; skylit contemporary colonial; offers luxurious master bedroom suite; finished basement; set one-half acre with in-ground pool. $1,649,000
