Grand Welcome Center caters to potential homebuyers

Potential home buyers in Sun City Grand have always been able to read the statistics, tour the facilities and chat with realtors. But now, new and potential residents can gain even more insight about the community from the 40-plus residents who love where they live and volunteer at the community's new Welcome Center.

The Welcome Center opened little more than a month ago inside the Palm Center, one of Sun City Grand's recreation facilities, as the brainchild of Harvey Noteboom, former President of the Community Association's Board of Directors.

First impressions are invaluable in the formation of an opinion about a potential new place of residence, something community officials knew well. The volunteers who work the center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, provide a point of view that a realtor, Web site or brochure cannot, Meda Cates, membership supervisor said.

"We want visitors who are interested in moving to Sun City Grand to have a place to come and get information," she said. "Our volunteers are very enthusiastic, happy people. They love living here so they can answer all (the visitors') questions, specific things that a visitor might be interested in."

Welcome Center volunteers Vicki Dillon and Dean Hirshman love where they live. The duo said they are happy to share their positive experiences with potential homebuyers and new residents.

"I think it's a great idea," Hirshman said. "There's so much to offer in Sun City Grand and this is an opportunity to help promote (it)."

"I think people want to talk to residents. They want people who live here day-to-day who know what's happening," he added.

Cates said the Welcome Center's location inside the Palm Center allows visitors to gather information in a relaxed setting. The center will soon be equipped with a new TV so visitors will be able to view a DVD showcasing Sun City Grand while lounging in one of several plush armchairs and maybe enjoying a cup of coffee.

"We want them to have a really good impression," Cates said. "It's a perfect place for people to come get the information they're looking for. It's a very positive atmosphere for people."

The volunteer-run center has only been operating since March 3, but already caters to a substantial number of potential homebuyers.

"We have so far, between 20 and 30 (visitors) a week who are genuinely interested in buying a home here, and that's without any advertising or PR. It's through word of mouth. I try to encourage realtors to bring their clients here or send their clients here," Cates said. "They get such a positive experience here when they come to the Welcome Center. We want them to feel welcome. We want them to learn all the wonderful things here for them in Sun City Grand."

Dillon said she volunteers because she enjoys chatting with new visitors.

"It does give us an opportunity to share our enthusiasm with people who want to come in and get a different viewpoint," she said. "Being residents, we can give them a lot of hands on, what it's like living here."

"People come in and all they're going to get is the hype from the realtor and we're trying to give them a full focus as to what the community is all about."