Science has always been my North Star. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a medical doctor when I grew up. To me, this was the most admirable way to help all kinds of people and I knew that this profession would help to satisfy my curiosity about the world…
Fast forward to college graduation; I received my B.S. in Biology from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington and, for the first time, medical science didn’t quite appeal to me. Call it intuition, but I knew that it was not what I was prepared to do with the rest of my life. It took about 7 years for me to discover why medicine wasn’t in cards for me…
I began my real estate journey in 2010. A family member convinced me to ‘just take the classes.’ I would like them, she said. I was working as an event coordinator for one of the very best venues in Wilmington, NC, right on the Cape Fear River. It was pretty cool, being one of the first professionals in the position, getting to create the framework for what would turn out to be one of the most popular wedding venues in Wilmington. I was having a ball, meeting people from all over the country who were looking to me to control the chaos and help them plan one of the most important days of their lives.
The day of the wedding was always my favorite. Meeting the whole family, being introduced to long-time friends…Juggling those dynamics along with those of the florist and baker and photographer and caterer and musicians – all while ensuring that the freshly married couple was having the best time – It was fun! However, in the back of my mind, I know this was not my forever job. The hours were pretty terrible if you hoped to have a family or even just a life away from the business. Weekends were always booked with weddings and the holiday season was filled with parties every evening of the week. My family got to see me briefly between seasonal festivities and weekend celebrations. I would breeze in and out, often overworked and just plain tired. Too, and most importantly, I was not fulfilled. I wanted something more – I wasn’t sure what that was, but I knew it had something to do with the scientist in me…
SO, I took real estate classes at Laney Real Estate in Wilmington. I really enjoyed them. As a new homeowner myself, I found it all so practical and relevant. I remember thinking that a course in real estate would behoove anyone looking to own a home – homeownership is one of the biggest financial commitments most people make in their lifetime, folks need the education!
After having enough of the event scene and deciding that I was not getting any younger and if I wanted to pursue a new career, I’d better get on it, we moved to the great city of Durham and I began my full-time career in real estate. That was in January of 2012. Exactly one year later, I had my daughter – 7 years after I graduated from UNC Wilmington…
Real estate allows me to have the schedule that I need to be the mom I want and need to be. The flexibility also allows me to spend a lot of time volunteering in my community and on committees for organizations that I believe are doing wonderful work in our area. The demands of medicine would’ve never allowed for this kind of pursuit. I respect those medical professionals immensely because they devote themselves so selfishly to science and their patients. They are heroes, with an incredible focus, absolutely.
I left my medical career before it had even begun, but each and every day I practice real estate, I get to be the scientist I have always wanted to be. Sciencecouncil.org says a scientist is someone who systematically gathers and uses research and evidence to make hypotheses and test them, to gain and share understanding and knowledge. It might sound a little sensational, to compare a great Realtor to a scientist, but I don’t think it is. A great Realtor works tirelessly to learn and discover everything she can about a property she is looking to list for a client or for a client who is looking to buy a particular property.
When working as a Realtor, one needs excellent communication and negotiation skills as well as patience. Knowledge of the industry is a must, but so is intimate familiarity with the local area. We must know the ins and outs of construction and the history of architecture. However, I think Realtors who lead with science – asking questions, looking for answers, seeking to understand the homes they sell and the communities they serve – have the edge, and deserve it. I have this determination to be the best I can be for the sake of my clients, customers, and communities, especially when the goal is to be one’s Realtor for life. I am a real estate scientist and that gives me the edge. It also keeps real estate interesting and satisfying – I love being a Realtor!
Working with a Realtor who has a background in Science
