Long Time Advertiser: HomesGroup-Hawai‘i
For nearly 50 years, Bill Sanborn has been in the business of providing “peace of mind.” Bill and his partner, Sue Moss, owners of HomesGroup-Hawai‘i, make sure off-island homeowners don’t have to worry when it comes to the care of their second home.
Bill learned about taking care of properties at a young age. Born and raised on O‘ahu, he grew up spending his summers on Kaua‘i at his family’s beach home on Hanalei Bay.
“It was a large plantation-style home built by my grandfather, who was the manager for Princeville Ranch,” says Bill. “I spent summers taking care of the property where my father grew up—doing whatever tasks he assigned me.”
Bill says he learned from an early age the challenges of taking care of a Hawai‘i property, including having to deal with salty air and tropical weather. He also learned the value of common sense and practical solutions to maintenance concerns.
During those youthful summers, Bill developed a passion for real estate and property management that has remained with him ever since. He went on to graduate with a degree in management and real estate. Since 1971, he’s worked in real estate related fields, mortgage banking, and property service industries, and has been a licensed property management broker since 1977.
In 1987, Bill and Sue, his partner for nearly 30 years, moved to Waimea where they live in close proximity to many of the resort properties the firm manages.
In addition to supporting the Estate Services division of HomesGroup-Hawai‘i, Sue is an interior designer and the principal owner of Trans-Pacific Design. A current member and former national board member of the American Society of Interior Designers, Sue’s design work in the Kohala Coast resorts and residences, in Waimea, and in other areas of the state has received dozens of awards; it has also been featured in numerous magazine articles.
With Bill’s real estate and property services experience and Sue’s skills as an interior designer, there’s nothing this dynamic duo can’t handle when it comes to home oversight. Their expertise in assessing, recommending, and handling absentee home owner concerns is widely known and appreciated.
Bill explains that HomesGroup-Hawai‘i offers both Estate and Property services to its customers.
Estate Services cover things such as home visits to check on homes whose owners are away. This includes a whole list of safety items, such as checking smoke detectors and exhaust/AC fans, ensuring that fire extinguishers are not past their expiration date, that appliances are in working order, looking for any plumbing leaks, and in particular, following up on specific concerns of the homeowner.
The Property Services division of HomesGroup-Hawai‘i handles long-term rentals, serving as the representative of the property owner. This service includes placing tenants, managing their concerns and handling necessary repairs and maintenance.
As a Sustainable Hawai‘i State Business Corporation, HomesGroup-Hawai‘i is committed to providing underserved individuals and communities with beneficial services in the provision of rental housing.
“We’re a one-stop shop acting as the on-island representative to oversee and care for a person’s residence while they’re away,” says Bill.
Clients seek out HomesGroup-Hawai‘i for a variety of reasons. To begin with, there is the professional foundation on which the company has been built. In an industry where many people are not credentialed, HomesGroup-Hawai‘i is licensed, bonded, and insured.
In addition to their respective career accreditations, Bill and Sue are also long-standing members of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) and the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, where Bill is a former board chair and decade-long board member.
Beyond all this, it is the personalized service and attention to detail that has both customers and professional real estate agents referring friends, family, clients, and new purchasers to HomesGroup-Hawai‘i.
Jan and Mick Madden, one of their clients, says, “We appreciate how Bill and Sue handle themselves in caring for our property.”
When not busy managing their businesses, Bill and Sue are active in the community. The couple is involved in many organizations, including those mentioned above, as well as the Waimea Preservation Association, and the Rotary Club of North Hawai‘i.
Bill and Sue are happy to talk with any homeowner interested in their services.
PO Box 190, Kamuela 96743
808.895.1122
Denise Laitinen
Hailing from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Denise has called Hawai’i home since moving to these islands in 1994. With a writing career spanning more than two decades, Denise is a regular contributor to Ke Ola publications and her work appears frequently in newspapers, magazines, and websites around the country. Passionate about sharing the stories of the people and history that make Hawai’i so unique, Denise’s motto is, “because people’s stories deserve to be told.” Denise is also a sought-after social media instructor who provides social media training for government officials, corporate leaders, and small business owners. Active in the community, Denise was nominated as Hawai‘i County Woman of the Year in 2009 and has served as president of the Big Island Press Club, as well as on the board of directors for the Social Media Club Hawaii. An ardent pet lover, she lives on the slopes of an active volcano in lower Puna with her cats and dogs.
