Today we’d like to introduce you to Katelyn Grizzle.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Where should I begin? I’m an Upstate SC Native who fell in love with the area at a very young age. My passion for the Upstate is a big part of what led me to this point. So I guess it isn’t surprising I made a career out of it! A few years ago, I was 21 years old with a newborn and unsure where to go. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so I knew a 9-5 wasn’t the best fit for me. I started researching and stumbled across someone sharing their experience being a Realtor. I was hooked instantly. I got my real estate license in the Summer of 2021, but I didn’t do much with it at first. I was a showing assistant opening the doors for other agents because I had no confidence to sell homes and manage transactions then. Once I started getting a feel for things and good client feedback, I started working full-time in real estate. I connected with an amazing real estate team, Hamilton & Company in Greenville, SC, that offered me the support and mentorship that I needed to get my career started and get my foot in the door. Finally, in March of 2022, I started working full-time in real estate and haven’t slowed down. So, that’s what got me here.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
It’s been the opposite. Real estate can be a hard career, especially as a young (and even younger-looking) new agent. I think real estate agents tend to keep a certain persona and image, making people think all we do is open doors and collect fat checks. I wish! There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, whether it’s cold calling for hours on end, door knocking, writing letters, showing homes and not selling a single one, working with contractors/inspectors/attorneys, negotiating, paperwork, etc. on top of keeping deals from falling apart altogether. Starting in real estate was a lot of trial and error for me. You can pass your real estate exam, but they don’t do a great job of preparing you for what selling real estate consists of. I’ve made mistakes, had clients I didn’t click with and had deals fall apart. Unfortunately, in most things in real estate, you can only learn by experience. Real estate throws something new at you every day; you are learning something new every day. There is no textbook for what we do. Trust me, what you see on social media is only pretty! Outside of real estate, maintaining a work-life balance is tough! When I get a call from a potential client, I’ll drop everything to help, but I must remind myself that family comes first, then work. I would work on Christmas day if it weren’t for my daughter. I cut my phone off at a certain time every night to ensure I’m getting family time, and if I set a commitment with my daughter, I’m always sure to follow through and don’t cancel on her because of work. That’s been something I’ve been working on lately!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
As I mentioned before, you’re learning every day in Real Estate. However, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that the average person knows several real estate agents, so it’s important to ensure I’m providing value and customer service that others aren’t. Don’t automatically assume someone will use you just because they know you. Any real estate agent (should!) know how to sell a house; the agents who go the extra mile will stand out. A real-life example, my clients were under contract on a home, and a couple of days before the closing date, the sellers removed a tree from the yard without disclosing to us before going under contract that the tree would be removed. My client was understandably upset and wanted sod to cover the hole in the yard where the tree was. I contacted the listing agent and sellers and asked them to take care of the sod. Neither could fulfill our needs, so I purchased the sod for my clients and had it at the house before closing. Was it my place to take care of the sod? Nope! However, because I went the extra mile for my client and took care of something that was not my responsibility, she left me one of the best reviews I will ever receive, and I have had a client for life. The moral of the story is that I’m responsible for my client’s satisfaction, and when there’s a problem, it’s important to solve it. Be the person who comes through and saves the day when others fall short, even if it means going beyond what you’re expected to do. Going above and beyond will set you apart from the other 12 real estate agents a person knows every single time.
Contact Info:
- Website: katelyn.mygreenvillehome.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/katelyngrizzle.sc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077642899076
