Herb Goddard - Principle Broker
I was born and raised, and have lived and worked in Dutchess County nearly all my life – Millbrook, Poughkeepsie, Pleasant Valley – finally landing in Rhinebeck. With the exception of a few years spent at a Connecticut boarding school or, as my mom liked to say, ‘reform school with a blazer and tie,’ and another few years bouncing (actually pitching and yawing) between Norfolk, Virginia and Cuba while in the U.S. Navy, I’ve spent my life here. I didn't even leave the Mid Hudson area for college – attending both Dutchess Community College and Marist.
I am married to Bridget, who works for Dutchess County's Social Services Department. We are the proud parents of, Morgan who has "danced her way thru life" and last danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Morgan is the proud mother of one year old Jack Dylan, who is now taking most of her time, and energy! A future commission is already pegged for his first go cart. And Thatcher, who works for Connecticut-based Lee Chapman Racing, a vintage race car fabrication and support shop, specializing in retired Formula One cars. When not working with the team, "Thatch" spends his spare time competing in our Formula Ford. Both attended local Rhinebeck schools.
I hope that, by now, I have a better than average knowledge of Dutchess County property, including homes and land in Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Clinton, Staatsburg, Hyde Park, Tivoli and other area's from Poughkeepsie and north.
I feel it important to mention both my previous and current sales training and background. I "grew up" in the automotive sales dealership world serving many customers in Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Clinton, Hyde Park, Tivoli, Staatsburg and all Northern Dutchess County. In my early twenties I started as a salesperson with Volkswagen and was lucky enough to have been picked to attend the Volkswagen training programs. Their training at the time was very similar to being an apprentice. I took basic sales courses, then back to the dealership for performance based evaluations, then back for more Volkswagen training which eventually included many more sales, sales management, marketing, accounting and general management classes. With Volkswagen you had to prove yourself prior to being able to continue on with the class schedule.
I moved on and eventually received much more sales training through American Honda, BMW, and finally Mercedes Benz. I strongly feel this background has truly made me stand out a cut above the average sales person. I have learned to understand the importance of qualifying the buyer or seller, using that information to find the right home, in the area of your choice. I further understand the many nuances of a well prepared home sales presentation based on product knowledge. I pride myself as not having to use high pressure techniques either acting as a seller’s agent or as a buyer’s agent.
My training in real estate is continuing, and I am sure it will never end. After taking the real estate sales persons qualifying course, I have continued my Real Estate education with architecture classes, classes in "Running Your Real Estate Business", Accredited Buyers Representative Agent, Equal and Ethical Service for Today's Consumer, Finance, Quadrennial Ethics II, the 45-hour Real Estate Brokers course and five of the eight necessary courses for my GRI designation. I plan on completing the remaining courses necessary to obtain my Graduate Realtor Institute designation within the next year. Since my early twenties, my career has been in the professional sales world. Yet, after attending every new course, class or seminar, I always feel I have learned something new, and through my continual training can continually offer my clients and customers more.
I am a member of the Dutchess County Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors, Mid Hudson Multiple Listing Service, Real Estate BUYERS AGENT Council and The New York State REALTOR Institute, GRI Chapter.
I love the Mid Hudson Valley – our unique small towns and villages, the Hudson River, views of the Berkshires and Catskills and our open farm land, restaurants, cultural events, our proximity to great skiing, golf, and many other sporting events. – The list is long and I would be delighted to share my love for the area with you.
I would like to help you find the “perfect” property in an area I consider my home town and would like to be "at your service."
Herb Goddard
