Community Highlights: Meet Sandi Fortenbacher of Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandi Fortenbacher

Hi Sandi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am originally from Wisconsin, my husband and I moved here for a new start. I had new Fitness Instructor position and he was to work for a friend. I was 22 yrs old and had our oldest son Tyler who had just turned one. My husband moved back to Wisconsin 3 months later…Tyler and I stayed. After a few years the fitness industry started shrinking, I started at The Muskegon Chronicle as a Part-time Advertising rep, and taught Aerobics part-time. 18 yrs later and many promotions, two more sons and another husband later, I left the industry in 2010 when that industry also took a huge decline with the start of On-Line Newspapers and advertising, that is when my salary took a plunge from $100,000 a year to $10.00 per hr. for the same position. The Newhouse News was being run by the next generation and they were making changes. I decided it was time to take my future income into my own hands, I finished my degree in Marketing, worked a few odd jobs along the way and became a Realtor in 2014.
This industry has taught me so much, I love that it is always changing so the learning never stops. I already knew I loved people and helping them, but this industry gives me the opportunity to connect with them on so many levels. I love getting to really know my clients and most end up being friends when we are done with the home buying or selling process.
I took my love of Real estate and moved to Florida, when my youngest went off to college, I sold homes in Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Estero, Marco island Etc. for a few years, and loved it. The architecture is different down there and I just loved all the landscaping people did around their homes. I taught Pilates at some of the gated home communities and enjoyed everything about the warm weather, learning the difference in Real estate down there vs here and more. Then I met the love of my life and he was back up here in Michigan, so here I am, back in Michigan, we ended up getting married. Between my 3 boys and his 4 girls we are growing this incredible family and look forward to welcoming grandbabies soon. My Real Estate business is growing and I couldn’t be happier. When I moved back to Michigan in 2017 I rejoined REMAX of Norton Shores, I switched over to Five Star after a year or so and joined a team to be their Ambassador of Fun (meaning I planned the client events and bought all of the closing gifts for our clients). This was fantastic and actually sprouted a new business idea that my husband and I created in 2024 called A Thoughtful Thank You. We bought a Laser and customize gift packages. These are mainly geared toward the Real Estate industry as we promise customization within 3 days instead of 3 weeks like Pinterest, but could be used for any gift occasion that you want to make special by personalizing. Our sales continue to grow as we enter our second year. Between my Real Estate business, A Thoughtful Thank You and helping my husband with his two businesses, trying to spend time with our 5 grandchildren, I keep myself pretty busy. I am so incredibly blessed.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No it has not been a smooth road, I had many struggles, mainly being a single mother for most of the time my boys (3) were growing up to I navigated raising boys, their dad was good, we lived close to each other and that helped a lot, but it was always a time and financial struggle.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed Realtor and a Certified Stager, I have my degree in Marketing and have taught some form of Aerobics since 1985. I have had the opportunity to work for a few different brokerages in my years in the Real estate industry and have found that Coldwell Banker truly wants to help their agents as much as their clients. They give us the tools to really help our clients navigate the real estate market. Between the tools and my natural love for people it just speaks for itself. I am so blessed to meet and help my clients, I guess that just comes through as we are working together. I bring an extra asset to my clients by being a Certified Stager. This allows me to help them create the type of environment that will welcome the new buyer into their home and be able to see themselves living there, all for no charge. I feel my years and experience in the industry puts my clients as ease and can relax while I guide them through the process professionally. Being an agent with the Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt family gives me the ability to help my clients whether they want to live in Michigan, Florida or the U.S. Virgin Islands, I can help, just give me a call or reach out.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I would have to say it was a vacation we took to Disney Land when I was about 12. My parents rented a 32′ Motor Home (my dad happened to be a long distance truck driver so this was not a big deal to him..my mother didn’t drive) We stopped in the caves in Tennessee and went to see Elvis’ Graceland, but it was Monday and Graceland was closed on Monday’s, my dad was very disappointed, the rest of us, not so much. We stopped at an Aquarium and I saw Mermaid Ladies swim with fish for the first time and a huge eagle spread its wings on the arm of the handler that was nursing him back to health. We stayed in different campsites along the way, stopped at the Space Shuttle Station and rode the extremely long bus tour out the the lift off deck…(another one of dad’s bucket list items, check) and finally made it to Daytona Beach!! which was MY bucket list item, we stayed for about 2 hours and then mom decide we all had enough sun. Disney was amazing and come to think of it I should probably go back now as an adult.

Pricing:

• $10,000-$25,000,000.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sandi-fortenbacher.cbgreatlakes.com/
• Facebook: Living along the lakeshore
• Other: https://www.athoughtfulthankyou.com