©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan Elise Campbell
Signature ONE Realty Group is within weeks of moving into its new space at 2460 Route 9 in Malta, according to owner Cindy Quade.
This is the first time in Quade’s 35-year real estate career that she is taking on a total commercial renovation. It is also the first time Quade and her agents will conduct business from a place she owns, rather than rents, she said.
“When our lease came up for renewal this spring, I gave our agents the choice of staying on or working remotely,” said Quade. “It was unanimous. They would work out of their homes and meet on Zoom and at restaurants.”
Quade purchased the turn-of-the-century building in 2018 with thoughts of remodeling and occupying in one or two years. Originally a schoolhouse that was “added to and propped up over the years,” the structure was rich in history and nostalgia, she said.
“I had several contractors looking at the building and found it would not be feasible to do a remodel,” she said. “Even if I did remodel, there would still be some issues with the structure. We needed to tear it down.”
Quade said she was “working out the design and my vision when COVID came. I had watched Franco Construction Services build Little Achievers Child Care nearby on Route 9. They kept that project moving even when it was difficult to get labor and materials.”
Quade hired the Ballston-based firm.
“The Francos are small and independent, like I am, and very hands-on,” she said. “They listened, they were patient, and they did a great job. This was my first commercial project, although having sold new construction helped me.”
Quade said it “made sense to relocate the new building on the parcel” and construction is in “the final stretch. We will be in by the end of the year.”
“The exterior design is sprinkled with a lot of residential elements. It is a beautiful building” sharing some of the arts and crafts features that Franco Construction built for the day care, said Quade.
“Inside is very open and we are doing some unique features, like a coffee station,” she said. “We hope our neighbors will come in and visit us.”
The 2460 Route 9 address is just south of the Dunning Street traffic circle, so Signature ONE will be “easy to find and provide plenty of parking and space for events. We will have room to do so much more for the community,.
Her favorite charities are the Mohawk Hudson and the Saratoga humane societies. When she organized a neighbor-wide garage sale, all proceeds when to those two organizations.
Quade said she grew up in Latham and has been in the Malta area for 27 years.
“I’ve seen the transformation in Malta and it’s a gem with room for more positive growth,” she said.
She is working with Dave Rosenberg of Brix Wine & Liquor and another collaborator on Malta Business Works. Its mission is to bring together local businesses and find ways to make Malta even better for its businesses and the community they serve, she said.
“The business climate is really wonderful,” said Quade. “This community is also accessible to everything, from downtown Saratoga to Clifton Park and Albany.”
To real estate agents, Quade says, “any interested in joining Signature ONE should contact me. Once we are in the new space we will bring on a few more agents, and then consider ourselves full. My goal is not to grow in quantity but to develop who we have.”
Signature ONE has an ice cream social every summer and a donuts and cider event in the fall. Visit signatureonerealtygroup.com for more information.