Agent Spotlight: Jacquie Goumas Fox

Tell Us a little bit about your path to becoming a Realtor:

My parents moved to Ohio when I was a senior in high school. When they were on their house hunting trip I came along and as upset as I was about moving, leaving my friends, etc. That trip stayed with me. I was fascinated with the agent and the process of looking at homes as I had never moved before. I went off to college and after I came home (without a clue as to what I was going to do) I had a conversation with my parents and my father reached out to his Realtor and asked her to give me a shot. Little did I know at the time that they had no desire to take a chance on a 22-year-old kid, as at that time the industry was made up of older people, retirees, and part-time agents. I became licensed at 22 years old and haven’t looked back since.

I have worked in residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, and for 15 years I owned a Title Agency, but came back to residential sales, as that is where my heart has always been.

Flashback as a 10-year-old kid. What did you want to become?

A Nurse, as I always wanted to help people. Little did I know then that is exactly what I get to do every day, just in a different capacity.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Central Ohio?

The seasons. Ohio is beautiful all of the time! Each season brings its own beauty.

What excites you most about the Central Ohio Housing Market?

The growth and the direction we are going. It literally changes every day. It continues to grow and improve; the appreciation values are incredible, and we don’t see it slowing down. It’s a great place to invest.

Typical Day:

There is nothing typical about my days as no 2 are the same the only consistency is my mornings and evenings:

Wake up between 5 and 6 am, take care of my cats and plants, meditate and exercise, in the shower, and be ready for the day coffee in hand by 8:00 am.  My typical day morning consists of Social Media posting/film/editing, database work for my past, present, and future clients, and Client outreach or preparation work. The middle of the day varies depending on what is going on but showing homes, attending inspections, closings, walk-throughs, listing appointments, working with agents in the office, marketing, and the list goes on! My evenings usually consist of cooking dinner, volunteer work, and time with friends and family.

What sets Vutech Ruff apart from other brokerages:

The people. Our team is an amazing group of individuals who are collaborative, humble professional, and hardworking. Always willing to lend a hand to help. We also have a lot of fun together; weekly office meetings always involve a lot of laughter.  It’s amazing when you can work and laugh with the same group of people.

Special Skills and Talents:

I love to cook and bake. I’m known to bring a great from-scratch cake or throw a wonderful dinner party.

Tell us a little about your family:

I’m lucky enough to have a blended family. I have 1 amazing son and 3 stepkids and 1 daughter in law.

Although they are all grown and on their own, my favorite times are when we are together.

I have amazing parents who are in great health and that I love to spend time with and a wonderful brother and his family. Our family gatherings are some of the highlights of my life.

In the fall my brother and I go away for a week with my parents every year, just the 4 of us like when we were kids. Spouses and Kids are not invited. We head to the beach and just spend quality time with each other. This year will be our 10th anniversary trip and we cherish every moment of it. I consider my family my greatest accomplishment.

In my spare time:

I honestly don’t get a lot of spare time but (Don’t laugh)I love to clean! There is just something so satisfying about working on a great home project and completing it.

Three things I couldn’t live without would be:

My Family

My Cats

My new Jura Coffee Machine. (I’m obsessed)

Agent Spotlight: Sarah Abbitt

We are proud of the team we have built at Vutech | Ruff, Cutler Real Estate. Our team of qualified agents stands as the cornerstone of our real estate agency, bringing a wealth of experience, expertise, and dedication to guide you through your real estate journey.  

We are excited to share more about the team behind Vutech | Ruff, Cutler Real Estate. Keep reading to get to know Sarah Abbitt. 

Tell us a little bit about your path to becoming a realtor 

I began my education at Capital University in Nursing.  I realized nursing wasn’t for me and switched gears to work on my associate degree at Columbus State.  During this time, I worked full-time for an insurance software company, Ebix Inc., formerly Peak Performance.  While working for the software company, I managed several different areas within the company.  I worked on HR processing, payroll / AR / AP, planning conferences, and managing colleges.  While working at Ebix / Peak, I had the experience of merging three multi-million-dollar companies.  This work experience helped shape my career and prepare me for managing my own business.  After staying home for a few years to raise my children, I returned to college and obtained my bachelor’s degree in business at Franklin University.  I graduated from Franklin University the same year I obtained my Real Estate License.  I had big goals in 2016!  After obtaining my license, I joined the Vutech-Ruff team in June of 2016.   

Flashback to when you were 10 years old. What do you want to be when you grow up? 

When I was 10 years old, I lived in Nashville, TN.  I lived near Alan Jackson and Dolly Parton.  I went to school with Travis Tritt’s daughter and my friend’s mother had written a song for Patty Loveless.  I remember visiting the Grand Olde Opry and thinking to myself how cool it would be to be a famous singer.   

Why did you choose to become a realtor? 

By the time I was in high school, my parents had owned 12 different homes.  I lived in 7 of those.  As my family picked up to move each time, my interest in viewing properties grew stronger.  I enjoyed seeing the different architecture and styles of homes in the varying cities.  As I grew older, it was intriguing to me to be able to run my own business while still being able to love what I do.  I also loved the fact that I could build my schedule around my children or work from home as needed.   

What’s your favorite thing about living in Central Ohio? 

My favorite thing about living in Central Ohio is the proximity to so many different things: Hocking Hills, Buckeye Lake, Short North, Easton Town Center, Polaris Mall, OSU Stadium, Blendon Woods, Blue Jackets Ice Rink, and so much more!  Being born in Columbus, I have witnessed Columbus’s growth since the early 80’s.  The downtown area has transformed in more ways than one.  The development that our city is putting into our infrastructure, parks, and business is drastically different than what I have seen in years prior, and this is a direct reflection of the growth our city is experiencing.   

What excites you the most about the Central Ohio housing market? 

The growth we are going to witness over the next 7-10 years is going to be astonishing.  To hear headline news call us the next “Silicon Valley” is very exciting.   

Describe your typical day for us. 

Part of my morning routine includes checking the MLS for new listings, coming soons, and automated searches I have set up for my clients.  If I see any listings that could be of interest to any of my clients, I reach out to them to gauge their interest.  I check my schedule for showings that day and check each of my transactions to make sure they are on target for closing.  Later in the morning, I like to catch a Jazzercise class before jumping headfirst into my day. 

What sets Vutech | Ruff, Cuter Real Estate apart from other brokerages? 

Just as our motto states, “We are the dream experience”.  When working with a Vuetch-Ruff agent, our clients rest assured knowing they will have a quality experience along the way.  The Vutech-Ruff team is based on building relationships, not just closing transactions.  I tell my clients at every closing, “Things don’t end here.  Please utilize me as a resource moving forward.”  I, as do my teammates, genuinely enjoy receiving updates on our clients’ home improvement projects, marriages, additions to the family, etc.. As I look inward to our team, I am thankful to work for a team that functions as a family business and truly cares about the well-being of each individual on the team.  

What special skills or talents do you have that others may not know about? 

It has been a couple of years since I picked it up, but I have played the violin since 4th grade.  In high school, I was the second chair seat, and I played with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.  When my girlfriend got married, she asked me to play during her wedding ceremony.  I was also a color guard in high school and marched in the Rose Bowl Parade.  Although those days are long gone, I did participate in the alumni ceremony three years ago with my alumni band.  Currently, I enjoy Jazzercise classes as a means of working out.  

Tell us a little bit about your family. 

My family consists of my two children, Tagan (13) and Scarlett (10), and my two cockaliers, Luna and Nova.  My children stay active with hockey, mountain biking and dance.  When they aren’t busy with their own activities, they enjoy helping me with showings, playing with our dogs, and spending time with friends and family.  My extended family all live within a couple of miles of me.  We have several family gatherings a year, which consist of 30 people or more.  My two children are the youngest of 12 grandchildren but do well at keeping up with the older clan.  

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

My favorite thing to do in my spare time is travel.  My number one location is the beach but as I get older, I am yearning to view more historical landmarks.  When I am not traveling, I like to entertain friends and family or participate in family and friend gatherings.  

What are three things you can’t live without? 

My family, my dogs, and my health. 

Finding your dream home is one thing. Your dream experience is another. Contact us to discuss.