We were lucky to catch up with Rob Phillips recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Rob thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.
I decided to start my real estate firm in 2021. I had only had my real estate license for about 3 years. Of course, people thought it was a mistake and way too early to try and branch off on my own. I even thought maybe it was risky and too soon, but I believed I could do it. The first goal was to continue being the agent I was and do it under my own company. Soon after, a friend of mine from high school Scott Walker, called me and said he was going to get his license. We stayed in touch and when he passed the class, he joined me at my firm. I let him know I had no clue what I was doing. I had never had any agents at my firm, but he was all in. He went on to have a great first year and we started to grow. It was a lot of learning as you go and having good people around me. We now have 15 agents and a brick-and-mortar office in downtown Goldsboro at 156 S. Center St.
Rob , 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?
I got into real estate when my wife purchased her first home in 2012. At the time I didn’t think it was a good idea and remember telling her I thought it was a bad decision. We were only dating at the time and I’m glad she didn’t listen to me. She purchased a foreclosure home that needed a ton of renovating. Her dad helped her renovate it and the transformation opened my eyes to the world of real estate. I got married and we got started investing in rental property and eventually, I got my real estate license. I went on to sell 58 homes in my first full year as a realtor. I credit my quick successes in real estate to my friends and family who vouch for me and all of the personal relationships I have had growing up in Goldsboro. When you are buying a home you want someone in your corner that you can trust. So who you are is very important to your brand and your business. You are your brand.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I have always been very conservative with money. I operate The Firm NC with no debt. This allows me as the owner to run our business with less stress, have competitive splits, and focus on client needs. My wife and I have been debt-free since 2015 and did so through hard work, saving, real estate investing, and living within our means. All of our real estate investments including our real estate office are mortgage-free. This is important to me as a business owner and as a realtor. This strategy is not for everyone and certainly takes patience and delayed gratification, but It was the reason I was willing and able to start my own company so quickly.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I credit my family and friends for my success in the market. My dad was a pastor of a large church for 25 years in Goldsboro. Growing up as a preacher’s kid certainly helped me because I knew everyone in the church. I have always appreciated the support they have shown me and my business. My mom is my biggest fan on social media. I don’t think she has ever missed a post. My brother is my number one fan, and the person he is in our community helps me tremendously. My in-laws have always supported my business as well. My father-in-law was the one that opened my eyes to real estate investing. I don’t know that I would be in this business if it wasn’t for him. Your circle of influence is so important to your success in real estate. I am proud to have so many people who will vouch for me and my agents as their go-to real estate firm here in Eastern NC.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robwphillips?igsh=MWZhZGQxOTl1ZHk1YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rob.phillips.39/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-phillips-916865197?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Image Credits
Alex Manning, John Haggard,