We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jamie Foreman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jamie below.
Alright, Jamie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?
There is a saying that your netWORK is your netWORTH and I agree, but not in the traditional sales sense. I do not ‘work my database’ the way some people would tell me to with high pressure phone calls or guilt driven sales pitches. Instead, I just treat them well and welcome questions and conversations around real estate. Luckily, this industry is one that everyone wants to talk about – so if someone I know needs my help, it usually comes out without me even having to ask. When generating new business, word of mouth is the best advertising I could ask for (…and I do)! They know my heart and work ethic, and so the biggest compliment I can get is when they trust me with their referrals.
There are over 5,000 realtors in the Knoxville area, so standing out as the ‘obvious choice’ is not an easy feat. Social media is a big part of our marketing campaign and so ‘liking’, sharing and commenting on our content really helps our reach and growth. This is a simple ask that I don’t think twice about. I am blessed with a very genuine circle who takes an interest in my business and I reciprocate 100%. Our social media programming includes Local Business Spotlights where we highlight our partners, vendors and friend’s side hustles to help them grow as well. There is enough business in this area for all of us to be successful, so why not promote each other and help those we know vs. the big box corporations.
And if there is a way for us to partner up to serve more clients together – please reach out as I am always open to new ideas and collaborations!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2019, the Knoxville area real estate market, like many others, has seen record home sales and an unprecedented increase in home values/prices of up to 25% year over year. Starting as a buyer’s agent during that time taught me so much about the industry and how to serve my clients effectively. I joined a well-known team and was juggling 3-5 clients at a time, closing at least 3 transactions a month. It was a fast and hard pace, but it was an education that I am so thankful for. 9 times out of 10, my clients were bidding on homes with 15 other buyers, and my guidance and execution was the only way to stand out of from the pack. 3 years of multiple offer situations on the buy and list side for clients have made me a well-rounded, experienced agent that you can count on. My education is in marketing and psychology which I rely on daily – I should add non-licensed therapist to my business card!
I am also not afraid to ask for help. In 2021 I did just that when I changed brokerages and asked my husband to get his license so we could work together under Heritage Realty. This allowed us to take on new clients without sacrificing quality service. Ken and I both have marketing backgrounds so working together to promote listings, shoot videos for social media and stage homes are some of our favorite things! Our brand is ‘That Couple in TN Real Estate’; two fun-loving professionals that want to build our client’s wealth through real estate. If you check out our social media, you will see our silly side which you can enjoy when working with us. Real estate is hardly ever a quick transaction, so why not trust and like who you work with? We tend to become friends with our clients and turn existing friends into clients.
Our work ethic is fueled by passion to help others and provide for our family, so it will not fluctuate with the market. Real estate is a fluid industry and so it needs people who can study it, adjust to it, hustle and succeed whether it’s hot or not – ‘That Couple’ checks all the boxes!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
In my opinion, the only thing hotter than the Knoxville housing market these last few years, was the rental market, so we knew this would be a great resource for future business. With so many people moving here from out of state and housing inventory at an all-time low, lots of people had to rent first before purchasing. Luckily, our brokerage, Heritage Realty, is a full-service property management company as well! Patrick Welsh, our fearless leader and rental expert, manages over 75 properties in the Knoxville area and is taking on new clients every day. Patrick analyzes the rental potential, prices it, markets it and then uses his team to vet their applicants. Ken and I get to speak with applicants about real estate, develop a relationship and when it’s time for them to purchase, we can be their guides! This has been a great resource for new leads and it’s taught me a lot about property management which is something we’d like to spearhead in the future.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Well… my business partner is also my husband, Ken, and the story of how we met is truly one of a kind! It was April 2012 and my career was starting to take off – I was recently promoted to marketing manager of a popular movie theater chain in Naperville, IL. Ken on the other hand, had an established career as VP of promotions for Regal Cinemas in Knoxville, TN and had just gone through a divorce, so needless to say, neither of us had intentions to meet our soulmate on a work trip in Las Vegas! We both attended a national conference called CinemaCon for theater professionals – it is 4 days of networking, meetings and of course fun.
With an average attendance of 5,000 people, Lady Luck had to step in to bring us together. On night 3 of 4, I mistakenly approached Ken at an industry event thinking he was someone else I had met the night before…casinos are darkly lit and drinks were plentiful, so imagine my embarrassment after 5 minutes of small talk and realizing he was a complete stranger!
Ken laughed and said with a confident grin, “I’m not sure who you think I am, but I can guarantee that I’m better. Would you let me buy you a drink so we can properly get to know each other?” The rest, they say, is history. We dated long distance for 2 years, then got engaged and I made the move to Knoxville to start a life with him and his beautiful daughter, Stella. Flash forward 8 years and we now work together in real estate – I can’t wait to see what Lady Luck has in store for us in 2023…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jamieforeman.heritagerealtyknox.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatcoupleintnrealestate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatcoupleinTNrealestate
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-foreman-24346641/
- Other: https://g.page/r/Cfm8utNKvFzdEB0/review https://g.co/kgs/kN2LQr