I did not choose real estate, it chose me! My parents were flipping houses in the 70's before it was fashionable. I grew up sitting on rolls of carpet, amongst paint cans, tools, and ladders. My mom encouraged me to be brave and creative, and my dad showed me how to use every type of tool and saw he had. So it became very natural for me to become a DIYer. I didn’t sit around and wait for someone to help me, I would always figure out a way - to cut countertops, to move a fridge, to build a wall. It was so satisfying to see the finished product! So since my parents flipped properties and owned and rented apartment buildings, it only makes sense that I would one day join the ranks!
My teenage years found me ending up at the University of Pittsburgh. After Pitt, I worked for Henry L. Hillman in his real estate development department at The Hillman Company in downtown Pittsburgh. I traveled to California and Oregon to our west coast offices to train others on our real estate portfolio management system. Mr. Hillman and my department manager were really great influences, and I was very proud to be a part of this team, but I knew sitting behind a desk was not for me. I always say be careful of what you wish for you just may get it. I used to sit and look out my window from my downtown desk, and see cars driving around in the middle of the day! I wondered why they had the freedom to drive around in their car while others had to work these 9-to-5 jobs.
Well, after raising my children, doing here and there part-time sales jobs, and also becoming a landlord, I got my wish of driving around during the middle of the day! To the tune of 22,000+ miles per year showing houses! When my youngest started driving, I knew it was time. I followed in the successful steps of my aunt and knocked on the door of a local real estate office and asked if I could become an agent! (You should have seen the manager's face, Haha!).
In my first full year of business, I closed 15 transactions. In my second year, I closed on 31! I hit the ground running and never looked back. Someone once asked me if real estate didn't work out for me, what would I try next? I said there is no next! This is it. I am not a jack of all trades, master of none. I just know Real Estate. I have always loved meeting new people. Helping people. And I know how to fix and make houses look amazing (I've sold all my own personal homes to the first buyers that walked through the door). I've always been good with numbers, and I like to problem solve.
So when all these worlds collided, it would become the best and only career for me! I was the perfect product of parents with an entrepreneurial mindset. I ended up like I grew up and now I show up! Every day, for my clients! I would be honored if you were one of them!
