We recently connected with Princess Williams and have shared our conversation below.

Princess, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

It’s completely fine to ask family and friends to support your business by sharing post, giving referrals and honest reviews. However, I do not feel it is appropriate to demand someone to invest in your business or hire you. This may ruffle a few feathers but I do not believe you should support someone’s business based on your relationship with them. As an entrepreneur, you should prove that your product or service brings value to your clients whether you know them personally or not. Some business owners do not provide the same level of service to family and friends as they do for clients they do not know.
Oftentimes, it’s due to people you know expecting discounts or free services. I want my friends and family to hire me based on my professionalism, knowledge and ability to do the job.

My first cousin, hired another real estate agent to find him a home. I was unaware that he went with another agent until he reached out with a few concerns in regards to his transaction. Instead of being disappointed that he initially choose another agent; I decided to dismiss our familial relationship and provide him with excellent customer service. I was able to negotiate a lower price on the property and he was able to keep the seller’s refrigerator, washer, dryer and all of the mounted televisions at no extra cost. I created him a timeline, kept him in the loop throughout the entire process and bought him a closing gift to express my appreciation for him trusting me with his real estate transaction. Years later, he still refers me to his peers and I know it’s because he is confident in my ability to handle the transaction not because we are related.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Anyone that knows me will tell you I love beautiful homes and decorating so pursuing a career in real estate was a no brainer. However, I was reluctant to get into the business at first. After graduating college, I jumped straight into marriage, motherhood and corporate America. I worked in the health care industry and even though I made decent money; I was not content with my career. I used to sit in the parking lot before work praying that God would bless me with a career I sincerely enjoyed. I started the real estate courses several times but never finished; thinking my career in healthcare was a more stable and secure choice. I guess God knew I wasn’t going to move so he allowed me to get laid off my “secure” job. I used that opportunity to complete my real estate courses and linked up with some of the best real estate agents in my area to increase my knowledge and skills.

The hardest part about being a new agent, is proving you are capable of handling the transaction. I went to classes at my brokerage weekly and assured I understood the main contracts as if I wrote them myself. Creating a routine and being disciplined enough to contact people from your sphere of influence on a daily was tougher than I thought. I did not want to call 5-10 people daily begging them to support my business. My phone calls became genuine once I found a way to connect with each person from my sphere of influence; whether it was regarding children, hobbies or just catching up. Being disciplined along with advertising landed me my first deal within 45 days of becoming a realtor. I was in the real estate game only eight months before receiving the “Rookie of the Year Award” at my brokerage in 2017. I was extremely proud of myself for taking a leap of faith, staying disciplined and having a career where I could help others obtain homeownership.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The year 2023 was full of unexpected changes in both life and real estate. I went through a divorce, my oldest son left for the military, I dealt with health issues and a decline in business. The changes I was experiencing along with the rise in interest rates was killing my business. For a short while, I allowed my problems to consume me and become my focus. I was not advertising or accepting as many clients. I went back to my maiden name after my divorce and it was as if I did not even exist in the real estate world. I was a top-selling agent my entire tenure in real estate and could not afford to lose my clients or reputation especially after going through a divorce. At the end of the day, my youngest son still resided with me and depended on me. I could not allow him to see me give up or fail.

People underestimate the power of a good counselor. In fact, my counselor, Wanda McKinley, was phenomenal! Counseling taught me not to allow my losses to define me but make me stronger. With new found confidence in my situation; I started advertising my business again but quickly realized that just pitching to my sphere of influence wasn’t enough anymore. Through real estate coaching I learned to rebrand myself and utilize social media to obtain clients. All agents claim to be professional and knowledgeable but I wanted to bring more value to my clients. I put my talents to use and started an interior decorating business, The Clean & Design Company. Some of my sellers have been able to utilize my services to transform their home before putting it on the market. As a result, they were able to sell their home in the least amount of time for the most profit. My interior decorating business definitely elevated my real estate business. Now your favorite realtor is also your favorite interior decorator.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Buying or selling a home is one of the largest transactions you will make in your lifetime and having someone you can trust guide you through the process is an absolute must. To my clients, I am the realtor you can trust to have your best interest; even over my own. I established this reputation by being visible online through a professional website, social media platforms and email marketing. I actively engage with my clients and community through social media and local events. I’ve also built trust with my clients through expertise. Demonstrating deep knowledge of the local real estate market and staying updated on industry changes by pursuing further education and certifications has helped me save my clients thousands and prevented deals from falling through. I prioritize exceptional service by being responsive, transparent, attentive to my clients needs and maintaining relationships even after the transaction is complete. I love my clients and they love me back!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.princesswilliams.kw.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/princessmyrealtor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/princesswilliamsrealty/
• Other: https://www.thecleananddesignco.com