“We are proud to announce our membership in an exciting new group, The Bentley Team, that provides huge savings and discounts to our HOMETOWN HEROES when buying or selling or refinancing a house,” says Marissa Barbera, president at Charter Oak Insurance Agency, Inc. in Darien. The Bentley Team is a lower Fairfield County chapter of the national Heroes Home AdvantageTM (HHA) program founded in 2011 to say “Thank You” to America’s HEROES for their services to our country and communities.
Are you a hometown hero? Qualifiers include military personnel active duty, veteran, retired, reservist and National Guard; law enforcement including police officers, prison guards, State Troopers, county sheriffs, Border Patrol, firefighters, health care professionals, first responders such as doctors, nurses, technicians, EMT, home health aides, ambulance dispatchers, and teachers.
“Charter Oak joined The Bentley Team because we want to be part of paying it forward to those very people who serve, protect and help our country as part of their daily working lives," says Barbera.
To date the team also includes realtor Joelle Bentley of Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Greenwich, mortgage broker Penn Johnson at Stamford Mortgage Company, attorney Jan Costello of Pierson Law Firm, LLC, also based in Darien, and home inspector Kara Golden of Tiger Home & Building Inspections. All underwent a stringent vetting process by HHA, all provide their clients located throughout Fairfield County in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, Westport and surrounding towns with rebates, discounts, cash back or credit as allowable per state law.
“So, for example, Elliman RE will donate 25% of their entire company’s commission in cash back or credit as allowable by law,” says Barbera. “Stamford Mortgage Company offers participants a minimum of $500 off their commission; Kara Golden offers a 10% discount off her home building and inspection services and Pierson Law Firm is giving a $100 minimum rebate.” Because state law does not permit Charter Oak, as an insurance agency, to forgo any commission, the firm instead offers substantial closing gifts to local heroes for their services.
‘“We want our local heroes to contact us and find out how they can get some great deals – it’s a wonderful opportunity for anyone who has served, or is serving, our community and our country.”