We were lucky to catch up with Karen Finch recently and have shared our conversation below.
Karen , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
The best investment I’ve made is in myself, by believing in my abilities & doing the work. I decided to switch brokerages 2 months into my real estate career & it has served me well. I had to trust & bet that I could accomplish my goals at this new brokerage that could give me & my business what it needed. I called Keller Williams Ann Arbor & talked to the broker, LaTanya Keith. Not minutes into the call she said, “you don’t need a team”. Hearing that from someone who didn’t know me, but knew the business, was moving. I met with the broker & decided to join in January of ’23. I have learned so much from how to truly run a business (having my own coach), what systems in real estate look like, how to explain contracts to consumers, lead generation, & CRM management! It took letting go of comfort & trusting in my own abilities to get there & have no regrets.
Karen , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
The pandemic sparked my journey into real estate! I did behavior therapy with autistic kids & I lost passion for the job during this time. It was then I was introduced to the role of a transaction coordinator (TC). I was a TC for less than 2 years succeeding in assisting a couple top producing Detroit realtors. I eventually attained my real estate license at the end of October in ’22. I’ve learned a lot my first full year in real estate as a realtor. I have truly taken the student position so I can be the best realtor for my clients & those in my communities. I got an opportunity this fall that old me would’ve been terrified of & that was a million dollar listing right in Ann Arbor! I met the family & all was lovely, but I knew seconds before leaving their beautiful home that I would be back again with a co-lister! I was a new agent (which they knew)- I never have to fake anything & I think it really is what makes me stand out. So I had my first meeting & it was to get to know them some, see what their needs were, tour the home & see if I would be a great fit for them. Being the right agent doesn’t mean you have to get it done alone, especially being new. One of my biggest takeaways was that I stayed true to who I was, listened to my gut & did not over/under deliver. Being a realtor, I have resources & can always find an answer if I don’t know myself but I wanted hands on experience with an expert. I knew it could shift my business by seeing someone else’s business in action. Co-listing with an experienced luxury agent brought resources I may not have attained yet, which benefitted my clients. Choosing to co-list with Carmen Knick, The Cadence Group was a great choice for my clients. I was able to learn so much from doing this with her! Being able to gain hands-on experience with a realtor who actively has systems in place & strategic marketing has elevated my business. This transaction taught me that not every transaction will look the same no matter the price point & my focus is always on what’s best for my clients & their family. Kay Realty Services is about community & bringing together resources to help you achieve your goal in homeownership through knowledge and preparation. I was able to cultivate these things & that’s everything to me. Did the million dollar listing sell? This home we went under contract after ONE day on the market, well over asking price & all else is history to a smooth closing.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Sometimes in life we can be focused on other people and what they think versus doing what we innately know is helpful & right for us. I learned this the hard way by not showing up how I needed to for over a year! My start to my journey in real estate has it’s story! Back in 2021 I decided to go for my license, but took it via online. I had done online classes throughout college & felt I could succeed. I knew shortly into the first chapter that this was not going to work. I knew even more I need an instructor when I kept trying to pass the exams 4 times to be exact (paid for 5 times). It wasn’t until Fall of 2022 I decided to retake the course how I needed to take it. I studied for 3ish weeks & took my exam. I passed the first time! Showing up how I need to for myself, not how others want/expect me to show up was something I had to unlearn. I found this true in many areas of my life, not just studying for a state exam.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I wasn’t always at Keller Williams Ann Arbor, I actually started at another brokerage. I saw fast that I wasn’t where I was suppose to be so I figured it out. I am a hands on learner & KW offers much of that, so I switched & it didn’t take me long to get my first listing. Being where I was suppose to be changed my business. I learned that where you choose to plant your business matters!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kayfinch.kw.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayfinch.realtor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087396407699
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-finch-284a87263/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/karen-finch-keller-williams-ann-arbor-realty-ann-arbor
- TikTok: @kayfinch.realtor