We recently connected with Sara Cowley and have shared our conversation below.

Sara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you ever seen (or implemented) a really awesome way to show a client you appreciate them

Showing my clients that I appreciate them is probably the part of my business that is most important to me. I’m very aware that each of my clients probably knows 5 other amazing Realtors they could have worked with, so on top of guiding them through a real estate transaction, I like to sprinkle in fun treats for them along the way to show my gratitude.

Some of these are standarized: sending hot cookies to people generous enough to refer my services, providing a spreadsheet of all my tried and true contractors around Atlanta, and being available to answer any of their questions (because naturally, there are SO MANY questions when buying or selling a home).

Other ways I show clients I appreciate them is based on what is going on in the moment and in their lives. Recently I had my cleaners come and do a deep clean for a client that had just moved her father to assisted living. Another example was when I hosted an open house for a listing last Spring. This sweet family had young kiddos, so I sent them off with a restaurant gift card so they had a place to hang out during the event.

These are little things, but my hope is they make what can be a stressful experience—selling or buying a home—into something a bit more manageable.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Real estate is a second career for me. Up until 2017, I worked in graphic design and marketing—a career I adored, but it was time for a change. I wanted to get out from behind the computer and work directly with people, helping them. Plus I LOVED houses. My husband and I were always making small changes to our home, and the renovation bug bit me hard. I completed my first flip project and was completely hooked. From then on, I jumped into real estate and haven’t looked back since.

Being in marketing for 15 years taught me the importance of implementing a marketing plan tailored to each property and my clients’ goals. I love to negotiate on my clients’ behalf and guide them through the sales process — shouldering stress and making it enjoyable so they can move on to bigger and better things!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

There are so many ways for real estate agents to grow their clientele. There are old-fashioned techniques like literally knocking on doors and making cold phone calls. You’ve seen the billboards. Some agents have great success paying for leads through Zillow and other real estate-focused sites.

For me, I focus on relationships. I do my best work when I have the opportunity to connect with my clients so I can best understand their needs. My business is about 70% referral based, which I am very proud of. So many of my clients turn into friends, which is such an amazing perk of my job.

I also put a lot of energy into social media. It’s such a great way for potential clients to get to know me, and I’m able to keep in touch with all my past clients and see what’s going on in their lives.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

All real estate agents have to operate under a brokerage. Some of the big ones are Keller Williams, Compass, and Remax. You know them! Brokerages support their agents, have insurance to protect against errors in transactions, and offer agents years of experience and advice.

I personally chose a small, boutique brokerage, Golley Realty. We have 16 agents total, and it’s the opposite of all things corporate, which is a big part of its appeal for me. The owner, Frank Golley, has lived in Decatur—our home base—for over 30 years and knows every street. Because we’re small, I’m able to connect with other agents easily and hear about their listings before they hit the market. I love the laid-back culture and wouldn’t change it for anything. And bonus for being right next to Taqueria Del Sol in downtown Decatur… stop by next time you’re over this way!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.saracowleyhomes.com
• Instagram: @sara.atlanta.realtor
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/saracowleyhomes