Dockery celebrates 18-year anniversary at Clark & Associates

Brandie Collins
Posted 1/16/25

LUSK - Tandy Dockery has been a staple in Niobrara County for nearly two decades. Year after year, Dockery has been helping newcomers find their perfect home and settle into the community. Dockery …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Dockery celebrates 18-year anniversary at Clark & Associates

Posted

LUSK - Tandy Dockery has been a staple in Niobrara County for nearly two decades. Year after year, Dockery has been helping newcomers find their perfect home and settle into the community. Dockery recently celebrated her 18th anniversary as an associate broker at Clark & Associates.

Dockery, a 1998 graduate of Niobrara County High School (NCHS), was working at NCHS as an accounts payable secretary when Cory Clark approached her about selling real estate for him. Dockery had also earned a two-year degree from Eastern Wyoming Community College.

“Cory came to me and asked me if I wanted a job and I knew nothing about real estate at the time,” Dockery said. “He [Clark] wanted a residential agent to work in Lusk. He felt that there was a need to have someone full-time because he mainly did the farm and ranch properties.”

With no experience in real estate, Dockery faced the challenge of earning her license while working for the school district full-time. At the time, she had her hands full coaching middle school volleyball and basketball and helping to take care of her family.

“Real estate is a total world of its own,” Dockery said. “You have to get your real estate license through Wyoming. This came along and I talked with my husband and I thought I’d give it try. We haven’t looked back since,”

While transitioning into the world of real estate, Dockery earned her real estate license. In the interim, she relied upon the experience and knowledge of her coworkers at Clark & Associates.

“I asked lots of questions from our broker and, at the time, I asked a lot of questions from our office manager, Sandy Thomas,” Dockery said. “She was very helpful. They were my main go-to.”

The challenges of being an agent are never the same. Dockery shared what has changed in the real estate market throughout her 18-year career.

“Each transaction is different and they are never the same. It seems the last 18 years have become more difficult,” Dockery said. “The lending that is being done on residential property and any type of real estate is more demanding on the buyers.”

Dockery is typically the first person that many potential buyers meet when they come to Lusk. She is happy to oblige them with information about the community, schools, hospital and local businesses.

“Many people that want to buy a house don’t have the first clue about it,” Dockery said. “It is my job to explain everything every step of the way. Their lender and I have to work as a team to make sure the buyer and seller both know exactly what is happening with the transactions.”

Dockery’s education in real estate began with a Sales One course. She took the class as an at-home course. Dockery would go to the park during her lunch breaks and read her textbooks. She was able to take as long as she wanted. Dockery took her proctor tests at the Niobrara County Library.

“That was kind of my own pace. I then had to take an in-class course and it was three days, which I felt like I was really ready for,” Dockery said. “Then, I had to take my final test in Casper at the H&R Block and it was all automated.”

Despite the intimidating nature of her real estate education, Dockery passed her final test.

“That was really an overwhelming point in getting my license,” Dockery said. “I guess it was the only point that I felt overwhelmed. I got license in January.”

Dockery did double-duty, working full-time for the school district and full-time for Clark & Associates.

“I wanted to make sure that this was a good fit for me and my family,” Dockery said. “I kept working for about six months for the school and realized how much I loved this job.”

The moment Dockery realized that her passion was for real estate was when her two children were becoming more involved with school activities. She realized that she had more freedom with her time management and would be able to attend her kids’ various school events.

“My time became more flexible and my family became more of a priority,” Dockery said. “This job was going to fit right in with those priorities. I make my own schedule and I schedule around my kids’ activities.”

“This is going to work good for me and it has for the last 18 years,” Dockery said.

Dockery is now a grandma and is able to spend time with her children and grandchildren.

“If the kids need a babysitter, I’m there,” Dockery said. “I’m in the office from 9 to 5 every day and, if there is something that my family needs, I can certainly schedule around that for them.”

Dockery has been very involved with the community while working her job. She is on the Niobrara County Fair Board. She also volunteers for the local Niobrara P.E.O.  Chapter (Philanthropic Educational Organization) and Lusk ROCS (Revitalize Our Community Spirit).

“I like to pitch in anywhere I can,” Dockery said/ “I’m kind of like a tour guide and I get to tell people about all the local businesses, the hospital, and the fairgrounds. I’m able to answer their questions honestly and openly.”

Dockery does not mince words about the town or the community.

“I tell people that we are small town U.S.A. If you want to get your milk, the store closes at 8,” Dockery said. “If you want to see people, go to the fairgrounds or the local football game because everybody is going to be at one place or the other.”

“I feel if people are looking at Lusk, they have to have some sort of indication that there isn’t going to be everything right at their fingertips,” Dockery said.

According to Dockery, the real estate market in Lusk has been stable. Dockery said that she sells anywhere between 20 to 25 houses a year. During the COVID epidemic, Dockery had the biggest sales numbers. The factor that contributed to this spike was the fact that Niobrara County is the least populated county in the state of Wyoming.

“People wanted a safe haven,” Dockery said. “It wasn’t that they necessarily sold their properties out of state, but they wanted a place to run to if they got shut down again and they realized that Niobrara County didn’t really get shut down.”

Dockery said that the number of homes for sale is presently low, but potential buyers still buy. Dockery said that the steps for purchasing a home have changed over the years. Now, it takes between 40 to 45 days to complete those purchases.

“One of the major issues these days is the home inspection,” Dockery said. “When a home inspector comes in to see our older homes in Lusk, those inspections can be a hang up. It is part of my job to be the bearer of bad news, which I hate because I want everyone to be happy.”

As far as the future, has no intentions of retiring or leaving Clark & Associates.

“Clark & Associates have been so good to me,” Dockery said. “It is a job that is flexible. I can say that I am not going anywhere for a while. Cory has been so good to work with and he has included me in ranch deals and learning that side of the business, too.”

Ultimately, Dockery is thankful for her job.

“Even though our business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, this job does require lots of nights and weekends because most people looking at homes also have jobs. So, it’s important that I adjust my schedule to fit the needs of our customers,” Dockery said.