25 Years and $200,000,000 in Residential Sales…That’s experience!

In 1979, Melanie Lunn decided to venture in the competitive world of residential real estate. Long-time friends Nancy Van Eaton and Gail Romero encouraged her to consider this challenging career path – they had both been very successful in the field and recognized in Melanie the business sense and compassion necessary to help families find homes that met their needs, and their budgets. It turns out that the founders and co-owners of Van Eaton & Romero were right to enlist Melanie as a member of their team – for more than 25 years, Melanie has been one of the top selling and listing agents in all of Acadiana.

According to Gail Romero, “We continue to pat ourselves on the back for our decision to convince Melanie that this was the right choice for her. She always represents this firm with a great deal of professionalism and enthusiasm, and continues to be one of the top producers in the area. She is a valued contributor to our company’s strategic planning processes and is simply a great asset to Van Eaton and Romero.”

During her tenure with Van Eaton and Romero, Melanie has received much recognition and numerous awards, including a designation as a Certified Real Estate Specialist (CSR), a membership in the Million Dollar Club (since 1980), identification as one of the “Top Ten” in the City of Lafayette, (since 1983), membership in the “Who’s Who in American Real Estate”, graduation from the Real Estate Institute (earned GRI levels I, II, and III), and the honor of being named to the top 5% of all real estate professionals in the US. In addition, at Van Eaton and Romero, Melanie has consistently ranked as top overall producer, was the top selling and/or listing agent from 1987-1999, and in 2001 is widely recognized as Lafayette’s number one expert on residential real estate sales.

Clients attest to Melanie’s service-oriented philosophy and style. According to Alan Vance, a new Lafayette resident transferred from Bakersfield, CA in mid-2000, “Melanie was a joy to work with – very personal and not pushy. I have recommended her several times.” Adds Alan a Lafayette resident who chose to build a home when he couldn’t find an existing home to meet his family’s needs. “Melanie helped us to find a qualified builder, arrange financing and made us feel as though we were her most important clients. It was a very positive experience, overall, and Melanie has a lot to do with that!”

Selected in 1989 by SIRVA (an advocacy agency that helps relocate families for large corporations, such as local employer Chevron USA, Inc.), Melanie has placed more than 150 Chevron employees (and their families) in the homes of their dreams. According to Sandy Allen, the Team Captain for HomePool, “Melanie Lunn is a true professional relocation expert and out company is fortunate that she chooses to work for Van Eaton & Romero.”

Melanie takes all of her accolades in stride, claiming that she merely treats her clients the way she would like to be treated if she were looking for a new home. According to Melanie, “I’ve always tried to place myself in the shoes of those families with whom I’m working. I believe it’s important to get to know then personally and invest time in researching their wants and needs – this goes a long way toward ensuring their satisfaction. Usually, by the time we’ve closed on a house, I feel as though my client families have become part of my own family!”

Melanie’s family consists of her husband of 42 years, Rodney, daughters Steffany and Aime, stepchildren Jana and Monty, and eight grandchildren. Like most south Louisiana natives, family is very important to Melanie. Despite the fact that three of her four children live in other parts of the country, she makes certain that everyone stays close through holiday get-togethers and regular, lengthy telephone conversations! Each year Melanie and much of her immediate and extended family ride in one the Mardi Gras parades held in Jefferson Parish (where her parents and siblings reside); typically, the family representation on the Mardi Gras float spans four generations.

Civic involvement is another important focus of Melanie’s life, serving as a member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, working with the local chapter of the Heart Association, Committee for “Go Red for Women’s Awareness of Heart Disease”, and organizing Van Eaton & Romero’s corporate drive in Lafayette’s Food Net. In addition, she is a former board member of the Boys and Girls Club.

hen the Lunn’s moved to Lafayette in 1972, Melanie didn’t foresee the high-profile career path she would eventually take. “I feel so lucky,” states Melanie, “that I’ve been given an opportunity to become so involved in such a remarkable community. My family and I are blessed to have made the friends we have, and to have been assimilated into this incredible culture. Whether I’m welcoming a family into Lafayette from across the country, or helping a Lafayette couple locate their first house, I feel a genuine sense of excitement for them when we find the house that will become their home. I’m proud of Lafayette and strive to share the warmth of this community through my interactions with each of my clients. ‘Taking the time to listen’ is my slogan, but it’s also my personal philosophy in dealing with others.”

Melanie Lunn. GRI, CRS Honors and Awards: