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East Peorian Heather Bean received her realtor’s license Sept. 1, 2011, but she began her career with a more exciting twist than most.
After beginning her professional career at Jim Maloof Realty, Bean soon thereafter met Travis and Natalie Anderson, ages 26 and 23, at an open house in Peoria.
“They were just the sweetest people... we just started talking. I ended up showing them a house the next day, and from there we developed a really good relationship,” said Bean.
Like many first-time home buyers, Bean found the Andersons at an open house for real-estate that was out of their price range. Bean said she was excited to help the young couple learn more about buying a house and aid in finding their first home.
For their first home, the Andersons were looking for a fenced-in backyard, updated kitchen, finished basement, a private location, and very importantly, a home with a lot of curb appeal.
“I love houses, so selling them comes second nature,” said Bean. “If I can fall in love with a house and get someone else to fall in love with it too, I don’t have to buy it.”
One night, after Bean began showing the Andersons houses in the area, the couple watched the show “House Hunters” on the HGTV channel and Natalie “half jokingly” said to Travis, “We should be on House Hunters.”
After his wife’s cable-television comment, Travis completed the application for the show online, which consisted of a brief email that described their house-hunting situation and a family photograph. A few days later, they were both interviewed over the phone and submitted a video of themselves answering questions, so the producers could see their personalities on camera.
House Hunter’s producers were looking for interesting qualities that would engage viewers. One of Natalie’s biggest concerns was living in a haunted house, which gave the producers a unique angle for the episode.
Once the couple was accepted, the casting director contacted Bean and requested she complete an audition tape as well.
“As the realtor, I just came as a packaged deal. (Travis and Natalie) could have been working with anyone, and it probably would have worked out,” said Bean.
The entire interview process lasted approximately two weeks with one week between the Anderson’s and Bean’s auditions. Two-and -a-half weeks later, they began filming.
During the Anderson’s house hunt, once the cameras were turned on, not much was different than before, except the process took longer because they had to repeat all of their comments three or four times to ensure the lighting and camera angles were correct.
East Peorian Heather Bean received her realtor’s license Sept. 1, 2011, but she began her career with a more exciting twist than most.
After beginning her professional career at Jim Maloof Realty, Bean soon thereafter met Travis and Natalie Anderson, ages 26 and 23, at an open house in Peoria.
“They were just the sweetest people... we just started talking. I ended up showing them a house the next day, and from there we developed a really good relationship,” said Bean.
Like many first-time home buyers, Bean found the Andersons at an open house for real-estate that was out of their price range. Bean said she was excited to help the young couple learn more about buying a house and aid in finding their first home.
For their first home, the Andersons were looking for a fenced-in backyard, updated kitchen, finished basement, a private location, and very importantly, a home with a lot of curb appeal.
“I love houses, so selling them comes second nature,” said Bean. “If I can fall in love with a house and get someone else to fall in love with it too, I don’t have to buy it.”
One night, after Bean began showing the Andersons houses in the area, the couple watched the show “House Hunters” on the HGTV channel and Natalie “half jokingly” said to Travis, “We should be on House Hunters.”
After his wife’s cable-television comment, Travis completed the application for the show online, which consisted of a brief email that described their house-hunting situation and a family photograph. A few days later, they were both interviewed over the phone and submitted a video of themselves answering questions, so the producers could see their personalities on camera.
House Hunter’s producers were looking for interesting qualities that would engage viewers. One of Natalie’s biggest concerns was living in a haunted house, which gave the producers a unique angle for the episode.
Once the couple was accepted, the casting director contacted Bean and requested she complete an audition tape as well.
“As the realtor, I just came as a packaged deal. (Travis and Natalie) could have been working with anyone, and it probably would have worked out,” said Bean.
The entire interview process lasted approximately two weeks with one week between the Anderson’s and Bean’s auditions. Two-and -a-half weeks later, they began filming.
During the Anderson’s house hunt, once the cameras were turned on, not much was different than before, except the process took longer because they had to repeat all of their comments three or four times to ensure the lighting and camera angles were correct.
“We were in each house for probably eight hours,” said Bean. “Without the cameras, it would normally have taken 20 minutes maximum to show them a house.”
In addition, the Andersons were required to outwardly express their opinions about the eight houses they toured in greater detail.
“I think we were more vocal about out critiques of the houses, but the things that we had to say about each of the houses is how we really felt,” said Natalie.
The producers also focused on Natalie’s fear of living in a haunted house.
“They often asked her if she was worried that someone had died there,” said Bean.
HGTV viewers can watch Natalie and Travis pick their first home when the episode premiers on an a still-to-be-determined date.
Although Bean was not the star of the episode, she said she is grateful for the experience and thinks she has gained valuable knowledge to advance her career.
“I learned to let your buyers discover a bit more instead of just telling them everything that is in the house,” Bean said.
She also said that not being the focus of the show helped her to learn that “everyone wants different things.”
“There are all types of buyers and you have to learn that you are selling a home; you’re not selling a house,” Bean said. “You have to put their Christmas tree in the window and their family around the fireplace.”
In addition to the publicity for herself and her company, Bean hopes that the show will “drum up” the housing market in Peoria. She said her future plans include beginning a family in the area and continuing to develop her career.
“Everything pointed towards (being a realtor). I tried it, and I love it,” Bean said.
