We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. When you were first starting out, did you join a firm or start your own?

When I first started my career in real estate, I joined a large franchise company. I made that choice mostly because the company had the best brand recognition in the market, and I thought that would make building my business easier. The company also had an office close to my house, and the office manager read me well at my interview. He predicted that I would be a great agent, but I would struggle with overcoming my fear of not knowing what I don’t know. I could see that I would learn a lot from him, and I did. He helped me gain knowledge and confidence quickly, which definitely contributed to my success. One thing I didn’t know when I got started is that real estate is a networking business, dependent on relationships and referrals. This is significant because I was new to my market and knew only nine people, which meant I didn’t have a circle of friends or family to give me opportunities and experience. In this case, not knowing what I didn’t know probably saved me from giving up before I got started. Thankfully, through solid guidance and support, consistent networking habits, and some luck, my business grew. I have now served 338 families in 15 years. I am grateful for the wisdom and support of that first manager.

Stephanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The best title I have for myself right now is Creative Entrepreneur. I have almost always worked for myself in some capacity. I think some of my drive was inspired by my time as a waitress and bartender, where my income was directly related to how well I treated my customers. After college I worked as a freelance graphic designer for close to a decade. I had a couple of staff jobs as an art director and creative director during that time, but with 2 kids and a husband on shift work, I found it difficult to work my life around having a 9-5 desk job. This motivated me to transition from graphic design to real estate sales in 2007. My years as a graphic designer and marketer came in handy as I built my business from knowing 9 people in my market of Charleston, SC, to earning accolades and sustaining a reliable commission-only income from my sales. In 2018 my husband and I purchased a second home at Lake Wateree, SC. I promptly started marketing the property as a vacation rental, and The Lake House quickly became a popular short term rental property. I’m now challenging myself with a new role. I will be host of “Selling Charleston,” a new show produced by The American Dream TV. I love exploring new opportunities, and I love that I can do these things while still serving my real estate clients and growing my real estate business.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

It’s pretty basic, but I just really focus on taking care of people. People respond when they feel seen and known. In my first meeting with potential clients, one of my goals is to connect with them on some level beyond real estate. Having a bond with people lasts long past the real estate transaction, so I work at building that bond. That bond leads to repeat business and referrals.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think the timing and context surrounding my transition to real estate from graphic design is a great illustration for this. The year was 2007, and the market would soon collapse. I had lived in Charleston for about a year, and knew only 9 people. My husband and I had $10,000 in savings to sustain us until my first sale, which seemed like a lot, but goes fast when your daycare expense is $1000/month and you have a mortgage and car payments. My husband’s income as a police officer wasn’t enough to support us completely, but was definitely helpful. The odds were stacked against me, but I refused to let these things hold me back. I didn’t have any sales training, or a social network, but I did have a vision of a new life, fueled by the motivation to stay out of the 9-5 world so my kids wouldn’t have to spend so many hours in daycare. I took every class and read every book I could find. I developed a consistent routine, and I trusted the process. In 2008 I was named “Rising Star” by my brokerage, and in 2009 the local REALTOR® association recognized me as “Rookie of the Year.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stephaniedavis.realtor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniedavis.realtor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanieinchs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniedavis/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/chshomesellers

Image Credits
Kathie Lee, Real Estate Photography; Stephanie Davis; Keen Eye Marketing