Meet John
John W. Chiles Shore Tern Realty
ABOUT JOHN
I’m originally from the small, family oriented, Southwestern Virginia community of Natural Bridge Station. My family moved to Northern Virginia when I was six. We lived in Germany when I was twelve. My German friends and I had great fun playing soccer and riding bikes well beyond the surrounding towns and villages. On the weekends our family explored the surrounding countries. Back in the States, McLean High School awaited. I enjoyed school. I was a shot putter and was a fill in for other track events. I also sang one of the leads in a musical. My friends and I found time for many adventures. I organized twenty five guys for a trip to Ocean City for a three day weekend – and the sweet, little lady who owned the tourist home invited us back! I contracted for two open-top tractor trailers and sixty of us went on a hayride to Lake Cacapon in West Virginia. Most of my classmates formed a caravan and we spent the day at Beaver Dam Swim Club north of Timonium, Maryland. Lifeguards patrolled the former rock quarry in rowboats. During the summers, I worked for a bricklayer then a carpenter and then as an independent contractor doing yard and pool maintenance.
In September, 1963, I matriculated at The Virginia Military Institute. I was on the Rat (JV) Swim Team and then the Ranger Program. My engineering course load was weighed heavily toward structures. I graduated in the top half of my class with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.
My wife, Judy, and I were married the Saturday after I graduated from VMI.
I went to work in The Virginia Highway Department’s Engineering Training Program in Fairfax (Northern Virginia). I helped survey the ORIGINAL Mixing Bowl on what was then Route 95 by the Pentagon. I helped inspect a number of bridges and roadways during construction. A year later I was transferred to the Central Office in Richmond. After six months I was promoted to Assistant Resident Engineer in Christiansburg Residency. I was second in charge of all construction and maintenance in Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski Counties. We oversaw the construction of Route 81 up Christiansburg Mountain from Salem and the Route 460 By-Pass around Blacksburg. It was a great experience.
Then at twenty seven I was promoted to Resident Engineer at Edinburg. I was in charge of all construction and maintenance in Frederick and Shenandoah Counties. During the six years I was there, we built the southern loop of the Route 37 By-Pass around Winchester. We funded and built some critically important secondary roads and bridges. We also completely rebuilt a 210 foot, WOODEN covered bridge which had been destroyed by an arsonist. It was another fascinating, but truly unique project! Then I had the privilege of speaking at the Virginia Highway Department Annual Engineering Conference. I shared many of the original, unique methods and tool’s my crews and I had come up with for maintenance and construction. That night my hotel room was packed with engineers from across Virginia.
I was promoted to Resident Engineer in Charge of Maintenance in the Fairfax Residency. Fairfax Residency covered all the roads in Fairfax County and the Interstate and Primary Roads in Arlington County. They said with all the traffic and budget constraints, some things just couldn’t be done in Fairfax. It turned out those things could be done.
In 1983 I left the newly named Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
I started a commercial roofing company. My brother joined me nine months later. In our third year we completed $ 977,000 of Federal roofing contracts and had 16 employees. I sold my half of the company to my brother.
I then started a residential roofing company. Over the next two years, we reroofed 88 existing homes.
I then worked full time as a freelance writer for six years. I had several short stories published and wrote a best-selling how-to book; The Complete Guide to Home Roofing Installation and Maintenance.
Judy and I and our youngest, Dan, moved to the Outer Banks in August, 1994. I took the real estate courses and exams to become a broker. I gained experience with four brokerages. In November, 2002, I opened my own home based real estate brokerage – Shore Tern Realty, Inc. Since then, with Judy assisting, I have sold over $60,000,000.00 in real estate.
It’s interesting where things lead. In addition to real estate and furnishings, I have sold six boat/motor/trailers and eleven vehicles for clients. I get a kick out of helping people.
I believe service before, during and after the sale is the secret. Whether I’m a seller’s agent, buyer’s agent or dual agent, service and attention to detail is the key. Many of my past clients have become great friends. Many of my sales come from referrals, but I’m always interested in meeting and working with new people.
Judy and I have lived on the Outer Banks (in paradise) for over twenty years. We thoroughly enjoy helping others realize their dreams too.
Copyright © John W. Chiles, Jr., April, 2015