Editorial
Front Page - Friday, December 25, 2009
Agent reflects on career, being a second-generation seller
Stephanie Coward
Chattanooga Real Estate Executives, Realtor Frankie Bass, has been selling and listing properties since 1980.
“That’s when we used to have to pick up keys,” Bass said with a chuckle. “Now I am in the business of selling, like to the children of the people that I sold to – second generation.”
Bass fell into real estate after she was laid off from Combustion. Her brother-in-law had entered real estate in Nashville and his experience generated interest within Bass. “So I said, ‘Hmmm … it sounds interesting. I think I’ll get my license and go do real estate,’” Bass said. “I just got so nervous because everyone was telling me how hard the test was and I’m like, ‘Oh my God,’ so I went to Chattanooga State and … got my class and took the test and passed the test.”
Bass joined Century 21 and met Willa Cox, her first broker. “Century 21-Willa” – as Bass warmly refers to her mentor – “encouraged me so much.”
According to Bass, she was the second or third black female in Chattanooga to work in the real estate realm. “I’ve had people actually come up to me and say, ‘You’re one of the reasons I got into the business,’” Bass said.
When Bass began, agents still “cold called” people. “That’s really how I got my first listing, on a cold call,” Bass said. “I listed a raw piece of land.”
From her first listing, Bass was hooked. “A lot of people didn’t want to do it, but I fell in love with cold calling because I saw where it was actually very profitable for me,” she said.
Right around her second year in real estate, Bass received her first achievement plaque in sales. “At Century 21 I learned so much. Who I give credit to is, of course, Willa and a lady named Shirley Trotter. Shirley was my mentor. Shirley and Anita Barto were my mentors,” Bass said. All three ladies were part of the Century 21 team.
Cox played a large part in Bass learning how to cold call as well. “She used to actually take us to a subdivision, let us out, leave and come get us maybe an hour or two later,” Bass said.
She left Century 21 for Washington Real Estate, where she worked for a while until Trotter opened a Re/Max office and asked Bass to come work for her. Re/Max was a 100 percent company, which worried Bass.
“I’m like, ‘I do not think I can make it,’” because working at a 100 percent company meant that Bass would have to pay all her desk fees and, in turn, get 100 percent commission.
It all worked out for her though as she was part of the President’s Club consecutively her first four or five years with Re/Max.
Bass has been active with the Women’s Council throughout her career and has held several positions on the council during that time. Her cousin, State Women’s Council Treasurer Joyce Smith recruited her into the council.
“I really enjoyed it. Just really got an opportunity to travel and meet great people, professional people,” Bass said. Smith and Bass actually got their real estate licenses at the same time; Bass said that the two of them sat across from one another during the exam.
Bass has two daughters and one grandson. Raising children while maintaining a viable career in real estate can be a tremendous task but Bass didn’t do it alone. She had help from her husband, Edward.
Bass was extremely nervous when she first entered the real estate arena but soon found her comfort zone. “Unlike an 8 to 5, people call you all times of day and night … People want to see houses or people wanting to know how their contract is going or why hasn’t their house hasn’t sold,” Bass said.
“But I loved it. I just loved it. It was very challenging and at that time, I was just up to the challenge because it was just such a rush.”
She and her husband put their girls through school – one attended UT while the other went to UTC. Her grandson attends the Chattanooga School of Arts and Science where he plays on the basketball team among other things. “He’s not famous yet, but let him tell it, he will be,” she said.
She has dealt with many first-time homebuyers. “I’ll tell ya, the cheapest house I’ve ever sold was $11,000,” Bass said she can’t remember who financed it or how she sold it, but she did it. She prides herself on selling to and for anyone. “I would sell to people, your norm … would not sell to.”
Bass has experienced the technological revolution first-hand. “It does make your job a lot easier,” she said. But she said that it has had both a positive and negative effect on real estate. For instance, agents must be careful about calling people on the phone now as so many are on the Do Not Call List.
Now with Chattanooga Real Estate Executives, a green company, Bass has the option of choosing 70 percent or 100 percent at the start of every year.
A good challenge has remained a favorite part of the job for Bass throughout the years. And her favorite part of the business remains, “Honestly, working with people I’ve helped get into homes that, the perseverance, just not really giving up. Not giving up on people who have really given up on being able to find houses.”
Bass reminisced about a client she had years ago who flat out told her that she would not be able to find them what they wanted. But Bass surprised the client and the first home she showed the couple is the same home they live in today.
She still represents buyers and sellers and also spends a great deal of her free time caring for her 92-year-old mother.
When not working or caring for her mom, Bass enjoys the outdoors. “I just enjoy nature,” she said.
She is also an altar minister at her church, New Covenant Fellowship. When people want to join the church, Bass is one who speaks with the person about his or her decision.
More information on Bass and home listings can be found on her Web site at www.frankiebassrealty.com.
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