We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Missy Derr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Missy , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, what do you think about family businesses? Would you want your children or other family members to one day join your business?

Family means so many different things to so many people. Family can be the blood you are born into or the family you create. Real Estate is interesting as it encompasses both of these criteria. Real Estate is in my blood. For a bit of background, my parents were a successful real estate team in my hometown. My father’s mother was a Broker and amassed an astonishing portfolio for a dainty lady coming into her own as a single mother in the 1960’s through the 1980’s. My mother’s grandmother was a force to be reckoned with in the 1930’s to 1950’s as a tastemaker who not only built homes but sold them furnished. I felt these strong women in my DNA and always wanted to be a REALTOR. However taking the leap of faith to pursue this passion was not based on it being an easy path or rooted in any sort of nepotism. I was beyond fortunate to have this calling recognized and fostered by being accepted to be an agent with Engel & Volkers Atlanta. A second family was spurned in my acceptance at EVATL. It is tight knit community that encourages connections not only professionally among agents across Atlanta but within in our own personal lives. My sister, Abby Derr is my best friend and has tirelessly went to event after event with me. It quickly became clear that her blood burns just as mine does for Real Estate. It took years of careful planning and perhaps a bit of coercion on my part for her to join me in Real Estate and it is beyond question the best thing either of us have decided to do. Working with your best friend and family is beyond incredible.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am bigger than myself as a REALTOR, and so fortunate to be one. The love of my life is REAL ESTATE, as I get to connect buyers and sellers with their dreams. I am a matchmaker, and we all know the highs and lows of falling in love, which means I am able to connect reality to fantasy. Buying or selling a home is not as easy as one may think. It is larger than slapping a number together on a contract, it is thinking critically to best serve all parties. I am tenacious in my pursuit of effectively executing my clients’ demands, and this translates to unmatched results. Through the insane Buyer’s market presented by the Pandemic, I often got my Buyers under contract at list price or below while ensuring my Seller’s were rewarded with the gains they much deserved. As I come up on five years as a REALTOR, I am proud to reflect upon over a 100 homes sold, translating to $40 million dollars plus in volume as I am able to expand my reach not only in Metro Atlanta, but to the North Georgia Mountains, Columbus, and Middle Georgia, with the help of my sister, Abby Derr, who shares the same enthusiasm and beliefs I do. We work in all price points as every sale is as unique and important as its participants.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I truly believe that Real Estate is NOT about selling a home, but being a part of shaping someone’s future. Through this belief, it is beyond paramount I understand my clients on a personal level to truly understand their needs and create a bond. This is fostered through creating curated experiences for each client and truly sharing who I am. Be it taking them to dinner at a fun spot in the neighborhood they’re looking to buy or remembering something they loved such a dog bed teepee seen in a home we toured and surprising them with it at Closing. I believe it’s important to give Closing gifts that they will proudly enjoy and display so that I am always present. Also after their Closing, I keep up through a variety of ways. My favorite is my annual Gingerbread House Decorating Kit that I hand deliver every Holiday season. I get to not only say “hi”, but I ask they share their creations on social media which is a great way for us to not only stay connected but it is free advertising.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Speaking of social media and piggybacking off of my annual Gingerbread House Decorating Kit drop, the majority of my new clients find me organically through these clever ways of staying in contact with previous clients who refer me while advertising the many personal touches I incorporate to my Real Estate transactions. I have created a small, but loyal following that fortunately support my career wholeheartedly. I am forever indebted to my clients who are now GOOD friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://missyderr.evatlanta.com/
• Instagram: @sisderrssellatlanta & @yourcatsrealtor & @yourdogsrealtor
• Facebook: Missy Derr Sells Atlanta

Image Credits
Ginger Bondurant