We were lucky to catch up with Caitlyn Balderas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlyn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

I hope I create a legacy of taking intelligent risks and creating a life I love. Life is too short and precious to spend in a way that doesn’t bring you joy, peace, contentment, and fulfillment. I think one of the great things about the millennial and Gen Z generations is that many of us are willing to look outside of the typical idea of “work” and can incorporate a work/life/fun balance that creates a holistic happiness about living a big life. I also love helping others strategize about starting businesses, real estate or otherwise. From naming to systems to logistics, it is so exciting and fulfilling to be able to help someone start on the road to freedom (and hard work). So I want my legacy to include helping others grow.

Having built this business with my children by my side, they watched me every step of the way. I hope that they see how satisfying it is to work for yourself, have unlimited growth potential, and create a life you truly love. I hope they see how the freedom from being a business owner has allowed me to attend all their school events and sports, and be present. I plan to do the same thing for my grandkids. So while the legacy comes from financial stability and growth, that is really there to provide for the most priceless thing in life: time.

Caitlyn, 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?

I began my real estate career in 2016. I had no background in this industry but felt led by God to enter this field after connecting the buyer and seller in a transaction for my friend’s home. At the time, I had 4 kids under 10 and was homeschooling everyone, it was crazy! But I couldn’t let the idea go, and I jumped in. To be honest, I was afraid to fail. But with the guidance of a friend who is a dream coach, I jumped in fully and didn’t look back. My business took off very quickly and has been consistently busy ever since!

After working for two brokerages, I felt God leading me to the next level of this adventure. In January 2020 I felt called to start a brokerage that year. Shortly after, the pandemic hit, and everything went haywire. A few months later a family member died in a car accident and that threw our personal life into a tailspin. I wasn’t sure if this was the year for starting a new company, but the thought would not go away. Through many divine interactions, I pressed through and started Haven Homes Austin in November 2020. After taking a few months to plan and prepare, I started welcoming agents in early 2021. I currently have 4 agents and a full-time transaction coordinator. I look to hire a specific type of agent- one with high integrity, a strong work ethic, and a great personality. I am growing the company organically with that specific focus in mind. My goal is to have 10 full-time producing agents in the next 3 years.

I have grown a business I love, and it would not have been possible without my amazing clients! This business is run 100% by referral. All of our clients come by word of mouth. We put their needs before our own and our goal is to give them the highest level of service available. We provide a concierge level of service to every client, regardless of price point, and aim to make this an enjoyable experience. We see the blessings of that when people connect us with their family and friends. I am very thankful to have helped multiple generations of the same family. Buying and selling property can be a very stressful experience, and our goal is to make it the most peaceful process possible. Whether we are looking at a small condo downtown, a ranch on the outskirts, or new construction, we are here to guide and assist our clients at the highest level! We would love the opportunity to work with anyone who wants to accomplish their dreams of home ownership, building rental portfolios, and more.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Because we are a referral-based company, I have taught my agents how to offer their services to help the people they already know. People like to do business with people they know, like, and trust. So if they are already your friends, hopefully they already know, like, and trust you! By showing your knowledge and expertise through social media posts and videos, treating people well, and serving at a very high level during a transaction- you can create fans for life. When you are good at what you do and spread kindness to all who you interact with, you will naturally attract people to work with. Follow that up with consistent touches (phone calls, mailings, social media interaction, gifts, and coffee meet-ups) and you will never lack business.

What has brought you success in social media? And how do you use it in your business?

Be yourself. People want to see the person behind the brand. In many regards, you are the brand. Spend some time writing out who you are as a person, what you want to communicate through your time on social media, and what your unique value proposition is. If it’s not authentic, people will not connect with you. Try to be consistent, but not boring or scripted, or people will tune you out. Videos are extremely helpful because they allow people to see your mannerisms and hear your voice. When they finally do meet you in person, they will feel like they already know you.

My specialty is helping families transition from one house to another (move up or move down buyers). I also want people to know I know where all the fun stuff is! Yummy restaurants, fun concerts, refreshing swimming holes, all the best Austin has to offer- I know about it. It shows I am a real person with area knowledge, and I am happy to share about it. I have been consistent in that and have received great feedback from people who follow me, so it’s working!

Try to think of social media as a place to be a creator, not only a consumer. Your time is best spent producing content, sharing good info (business-based and otherwise), and interacting with your potential clients. It’s easy to get sucked into scrolling, don’t do it! Stay focused and intentional.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.havenhomesaustin.com
• Instagram: @havenhomesaustin
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/havenhomesaustin
• Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/haven-homes-round-rock-3

Image Credits
True Essence Branding – Kati Maxwell