Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shantonya Scott. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shantonya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

In the real estate industry, you’ll hear the phrase, “you eat what you kill”, meaning, you only make a profit when you close a deal, and all the steps leading up to the closing are essential to your client’s experience and your success. The biggest challenge to profitability for realtors is discipline and consistency. Without discipline you’re unable to be consistent and being consistent help grow a successful and profitable business.

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’m Shantonya Scott, a Realtor and lifestyle designer. I help people create and design the life they want through buying and selling real estate. My ultimate goal is my clients’ complete satisfaction. By advocating on their behalf, understanding their needs and wants, and delivering a stress-free environment. All while saving them time and money.

I come from a background in higher education. I previously was a senior academic advisor at my local university. I truly enjoyed helping students reach their educational, personal, and professional goals. Real estate is actually the same in my eyes, now I help people reach their real estate goals. Just as I did my former students, I mentor my clients through their homeownership journey by guiding them in making the best decision for them and their families, while helping them build wealth.

I always had a passion for home shopping and home decor. I never realized I could actually make a career out of things I loved to do and was already doing in my free time. When I was selling my first home, I had a conversation with my realtor about how I like house shopping and home decor. He invited to career night at his brokerage. Upon attending career night, I met another realtor who pretty much took me under her wing, encouraged me to take the salesperson prelicensure class and get my license, and I did just that. I took a week of vacation from my job as an advisor and took the 40-hour prelicensure class in a week. I studied for another week, went and sat for the state exam, and passed on the first try (very rare by the way). I went on to join the same brokerage that I attended for career night and the agent I met that night became my mentor and friend. I appreciate her for seeing something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I never dreamt or thought of being a realtor or entrepreneur, and now I’m going into my 7th year, and I love it!

My career in advising and customer service totally prepared me for the real estate industry. The customer service skills, working with diverse populations, and organizational skills I gained over the years allow me to do my job as realtor with ease. Helping people is my God-given talent and I truly enjoy being able to assist clients throughout their real estate experience. My clients become family and I really love and appreciate the bonds I’m able to form and continue to foster through real estate connections. When someone works with me, they get G.R.E.A.T. (Genuine-Relatable-Educated-Authentic-Trustworthy). To all my future clients, let connect, I’m ready whenever you are!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me are referrals. I love when a past client or fellow realtor entrust me with their family and friends. Most of my clients are a lot like me and we share similarities which helps create a positive and successful partnership and contributes to their overall real estate experience. I have referral partners all over the country that I’ve vetted and know they’ll deliver an excellent home buying, selling, or investing experience for anyone I send their way. So, although I service the state of Michigan, I can assist anyone with their real estate experience and even some places abroad.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn is perfection. I have been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember. Growing up I always wanted things in place and neat, I loved matching to the T, and would talk myself out of doing or completing something if it wasn’t perfect. The new era of social media and the power of its influence on my business has taught me that done is better than perfect. I believe I’ve missed out on making valuable connections and business connections due to always wanting everything to be perfect. I realized that perfect is in the eye of the beholder and other’s perception of perfect can be different from my own, and that’s ok. I practice gratitude and believing that whatever I do and create is already perfect or perfect enough because I did it with passion and love, and that’s all that matters. My hope is that my perfectly imperfect outputs into the world touches someone else’s life in a way that matters and brings them happiness.

Contact Info:

• Website: shantonyascott.com
• Instagram: shantonyatherealtor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShantonyaScott

Image Credits
@melissadouglasco