We recently connected with Stacy Porto and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Stacy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
As a lawyer, I am automatically different than most realtors. I have a love of negotiating and creative thinking outside the box. In 2008, I served the White House as a civil rights lawyer and logistics coordinator for the Obama Administration. This unique role not only took me all over the world, but instilled a confidence in me that I never had before. When I moved back to Kansas City, my dad passed away unexpectedly and my mom wanted to downsize. It was an emotional decision none of us were prepared for. She wasn’t having the best of luck with her realtor, so I decided to just get my license and help her.
My mom was my 1st client. We looked at over 50 houses and she was under contract 3 times. This taught me the real estate business isn’t easy, but also instilled in me that I will treat each and every client as my family. And that is exactly what we do.
Our business is 99% referrals. That means most of our clients come from past clients – one way we differentiate oursleves from others in the industry is our high standards. Each client is a part of our family. We host many client events, like donation days where we collect for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and we donate 1 nights stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City from each closing. Investing in our greater community is investing in ourselves and each other.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am Stacy Porto – I am a realtor, an attorney, and the leader of Selling KC Real Estate. Our real estate team has been ranked the Top Small Team at Reece Nichols Real Estate, Kansas City’s largest real estate brokerage. We help everyone, from investment properties to luxury homes. I don’t have a specific neighborhood I focus on – I help anyone that needs me. One thing I love about real estate is that for the 1st time in my career, I feel like I am truly helping people. We figure out their home goals, and I make it happen. I am a creative negotiator that doesn’t see in black and white, and I love to make the whole home buying and selling process fun. Mostly, my clients become my friends. I stay in touch with them constantly, act as their therapist during the emotionally intense home buying/selling process, and am their go to for advice after they close. While most realtors may never reach out again after closing, I am always checking in to see how things are.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I graduated from the University of Denver College of Law with honors in 2005. I then got my dream job – as a poverty lawyer at Legal Aid of Western Missouri in Kansas City. I struggled with the fact I wasn’t learning all the varieties of practicing law, so I took on a clerkship for a Judge at Circuit Court. It was truly one of the best jobs I ever had – I learned so much and met so many different people. One day at the courthouse, I heard then Senator Barack Obama speak at the Democratic Convention. I knew right then I had to work for him, so I emailed everyone I knew asking if anyone knew him.
Turns out, someone did. His assistant called me offering to get in touch with me the next time they were in Kansas City. Instead, I offered to drive to them. I left the next morning at 4 am, and the Obama campaign realized I was high energy enough to be one of them. For the next five years, I traveled with the Obamas. I held multiple phones at once, had many sleepless nights working, and realized that with a lot of hard work, anything is possible.
The hustle is real. This framed my move to selling real estate. I realized that by being my own boss, not working within the confines of government or a law firm, I can work as hard as I want to do and make anything happen.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I grew up in Kansas City, and love Kansas City. I support shopping local, living local, and all of my family lives here. My 3 brothers and I are all lawyers, and know so many people throughout the community. I am known to be professional, honesty, determined, and smart. Plus, I know all the ins and outs of this city. I think this has helped shape my reputation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sellingkc.com
- Instagram: sellingkc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StacyPortoKChomes/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-porto-404980b/
- Twitter: @PortoStacy11672
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sellingkc-stacyportoreales2375
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/stacy-porto-realtor-and-attorney-kansas-city-2