We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Freed. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My dad was very close to his grandfather who started a business in the small town of Hemlock, MI in the year 1937. While the economy was heading towards recovery- it didn’t get “good” till WELL into the 1940’s. This taught me “don’t wait till” and that you can be successful DESPITE circumstances. It’s not the weather’s fault, or the economy’s fault, or a person’s fault if you’re not doing well- because if this man could build a successful business 2 years before the end of the depression- what excuse do I have? lol

With that said- something my great grandfather instilled in my dad- and my dad instilled in me is this- IF you take care of your PEOPLE you won’t ever have to worry about the PAYCHECK. I say people over paychecks. My great-grandfather was very generous and my dad carried that through his life as well. They were both visionaries. I’d like to think I get that from them as well.

My mom would eventually work at the family business as well which was a car dealership- she was a female in a male-dominated industry and she was unapologetic about it. She outsold multiple men combined and gave the number 1 guy a run even surpassing his numbers. She was a friendly competitor and she didn’t obtain that level of success with pushy or strong sales tactics- she used softness as a strength. She showed she cared and listened. When cars were delivered they’d have something special- a rose- puppy treats- whatever her client was into- she had personality- I get that from her- her personality- and I learned that you don’t treat every client the same- you treat them EQUAL- but not the SAME. Everyone needs different things from you. She was the integrator, something I’m not lol but greatly admire.

From what I hear about my great-grandparents- My great-grandpa Jack Hohman was the visionary. My great grandma Mae Hohman was the integrator. He saw the vision but didn’t know how to execute it. She did. Together they made a great team!

My parents both had drive and heart in business. I’d like to think that was instilled in me as well.

Nicole, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Growing up in a small-town family-owned business teaches you that there is NOTHING SMALL about small business, and just because you own a business does not mean you’re rich lol Also- after seeing everything my parents went through- specifically my dad because it was his family’s business- I thought I’d NEVER want to work for myself!

My family experienced tragedy on January 2, 1999- my dad left to get a generator for my great-grandmother to ensure she had power with the oncoming snowstorm and would not return home. He was in a fatal, single-car, car accident. To prevent hitting the car in front of him, who due to visibility he wouldn’t see till the last moment, it’s believed he thought he’d just go into a field but it was a ditch. He left this world with heart- and drive.

More tragedy came when the roof of the 100-year-old building that was the home of Hohmans Buick Pontiac, the family business for 60+ years, would cave in from the weight of the snow days later. We would eventually move from the home I had known for the last 10 years to a different home without any memories of my dad it in.

As a 14-year-old- this was a lot- it was tough to be around my peers so I sought out my high school Counselor, Mr Sheltraw, and told him “Get me out of here”. This would lead me to Duel Enrolling in Delta College into the 3+1 Program with Northwood.

I bought my first home when I was 19 and green- I wish I would have gotten into real estate then! I didn’t- I’d continue on with my education- and then have a career from 2008-2018 with Verizon Wireless. I was released from employment unexpectedly just a few days after getting married in August of 2018- and my husband and I opened up and run an Airbnb from Oct 2018- present.

There was still more for me to do- but WHAT?! After a year – our Airbnb was up and running, cash-flowing, and paying the bills. I was 35 years old- and had NO idea what I wanted to be -with a useless to me accounting degree lol I knew what I DIDN’T want to do lol My mom suggested I read a book called “Your Best Self” by Mike Bayer- so I downloaded Audible- used my free credit and listened to it.

That snowballed! First- I came to understand I’m my best self when I am of service to another. I’m genuinely happy and excited and I do my best thinking when I can be of service- but- WHAT service? Also- I signed up for an Audible subscription to ensure I listen to a book a month- then I go onto Thrift Books and see if I can find said book and I mark it and highlight all the good stuff :)

The next book I downloaded was Rich Dad Poor Dad. I read it in 2004- but listened to it in early 2019- this led to about 8 more audible downloads of more Robert Kiyosaki books (author of Rich Dad Poor Dad) and even bought the cashflow game. In October I’d have coffee with my cousin Stephanie Stephens who was a realtor at Coldwell Banker. I had NO intentions of getting into real estate, I’d just ask her what got her into it. I’d eventually decide to inquire what real estate class she took and think I’ll just go “take the class and see what I can learn” She invited me in to meet her direct managing Broker Jeremy Wolfrom and I’d go from class to licenced in less than 30 days! FOUR days after signing my papers to start my real estate career the world would shut down with a worldwide pandemic. CUE PANIC.

I did my research. The good, the bad, and the ugly of real estate. This is what I knew- I was entering into a world with a SOLID 80 % failure rate. This is a “belly to belly” business- my instructor TOLD me this just a few weeks prior- and it was ILLEGAL to be belly to belly. Paychecks are not guaranteed when you’re starting a business- ONLY the bills. Oh by the way- the cash-flowing business I built with my husband- the one that paid the bills- yeah- that was shut down for a YEAR.

Despite those CIRCUMSTANCES-I’d continue on to build my referral-based business on social media- the results looked like this: in 2021- my official rookie year- I’d sell 3.5 million- I’d do 27 transactions and in 2022 I’d close 40+ transactions and over 7 million in sales which was not only national recognition within Coldwell Banker but also Tom Ferry’s Real Trends awards which ” identifies the country’s most successful residential real estate agents” According to real trends these numbers put me in the top 1.5% of all realtors nationally! In addition to taking care of my business- I’d mentor new agents- one of them being Erin (Martin) Peffer and the other Adam Sinclair. Erin would continue on to be our company’s FIRST-ever Rookie Of The Year in 2022! Winning that award out of 300+ agents in our Coldwell Banker side of the company which spans across greater metro Detroit. I would start a team and add an assisting licensed realtor- and the Airbnb would have its best year as well. 2022 was a good year!

2023 would bring some challenges and some well-deserved rest! I have children so this year offered me the ability to balance my roles and goals. If you only look at the numbers of my business and measure success that way- you might say I wasn’t “as successful” however the way I see it- I was MORE successful because I was MORE present for my family and friends! I’m SO incredibly grateful for ALL my clients- my patient friends and family and every single person who has referred me or mentioned my name, liked or shared a post or viewed a video! This year I was also grateful for a little extra time- as I have learned it’s fleeting and it’s truly my most valuable asset. I LOVE what I do- my business is 100% referral based- you will not see me on a billboard- bus or bench- I’d rather take EXTRA time- or do something EXTRA for my clients instead of spending $500 a month on a billboard lol

I tell my clients 3 things:
1) I won’t tell you what you want to hear. I’ll tell you the truth- and THAT IS HARD FOR ME because- I’m a people pleaser to the CORE! and despite the fact you might like what I have to say- I’m going to tell you anyway- because they deserve the truth, and I need to have the guts to tell you. Everyone says they WANT the truth- they do not- they want to be told what they want to hear. This business doesn’t allow that.

2) I won’t treat you the same but I will promise to treat everyone equally- everyone needs different things from me- One seller might need their stairs vacuumed because they don’t have the attachment. A buyer might need a shed painted. A first-time home buyer might need a 2 hour call talking about budgets and things like “What do things look like if you buy this house and your car dies” Another client might need me to wrap it up in as few words as possible- while this doesn’t come natural for me- I CAN do it lol My goal is to lead guide educated and protect. However that needs to happen.

3) This is the real estate roller coaster. Buckle up and ride- I’ll be right by your side. Every deal is different- every situation is different. You need to be creative and find solutions on the fly. Every deal is not smooth- I don’t understand why realtors promise a “smooth” transaction- they can’t? there are too many things outside of our human control despite how much we babysit everyone and ensure that people are doing what they should be lol What I CAN promise is this- WHATEVER we come TO- we’ll get THROUGH- it’s just how we do- and we always finish the ride safe and sound ;)

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my business on social media – the gift of starting in a pandemic- everyone was on social media!

I have always been a little bit of an oversharer (when it comes to me- NOT my clients) and I was so excited to “be a realtor” and I shared that!

It was genuine enthusiasm- I wrote how I speak- when I meet people who only know me from social media they say that I’m the same lol That is a compliment to me! My broker says that when he reads my post he can “hear me” say those things :) I ran into another realtor at the local “watering hole” and she said she was excited to meet me! Gosh, what an honor? she only knew me from social media!

I started at the beginning of my journey- when I signed up for the class- when I finished! When I took the exam and passed the first time! When I signed up with the board! When I showed houses!

When I wrote an offer and it was multiple offers- I’d ask my friends and family on social media to cheer for my clients! Send them “good juju” or “vibes” to win! It can’t hurt in that crazy market! I never thought of it this way but a former colleague advised something he admired about me is it was about my clients- it wasn’t about me- and it’s NOT about me- I also didn’t use names or tag my people- their privacy was protected.

People can tell you’re using AI- don’t do that- people can tell if it’s your marketing department- only INCORPORATE that- don’t allow it to be your only thing- Be YOU- be genuine- that’s my best advice for social media- when you’re REAL- in a world of fake? that will stand out!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I genuinely love people. I don’t care who ya love- who ya voted for- where you’re from- what color ya are- where ya work- if you bleed red- and you’re good to me- I’m sure we’ll find SOME common ground somewhere :)

Folks in the business that have been less than stellar to me- I just send them love- I don’t hate them- I don’t try to get back at them- I just send them love- clearly, they need it- what I have learned is hurt people HURT people- and maybe if they had a little love- they wouldn’t continue to hurt others.

I believe people are mostly good. I know everyone is going through something- so if I can be a little light – if we can share a laugh- then maybe that will help. If you can’t help- just don’t hurt.

People asked me what my sales goals were when I got in the business- well I had NO idea and it wasn’t important to me? I was taught if you put the people first- the numbers will follow- thats not just clients!

This is the ONLY thing I’ve ever sold- from cars- to knives- to phones to now homes- I have never in any other industry needed another person to complete the sale like I do this one- so my goal was for other realtors to be excited to show my listings- other realtors WANT to take my offer because they knew my buyers would be educated- they’d get excellent communication- and we might even have a little fun and laughs!

Same thing with Title Companies- Lenders- inspectors- appraisers- and everyone I come in contact with- my goal is to leave them better than I found them!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nicolefreed.com
• Instagram: nicolefreed_realtor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleFreedRealtor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-freed-coldwell-banker-professionals-of-midland-realtor/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NicoleDotFreed

Image Credits
I took these photos credit goes to me lol