It’s not how many houses you list which makes you a Realtor. It’s not how much you advertise that makes you a Realtor. And it’s not even how many homes you sell that makes you a Realtor. It’s commitment and the willingness to go the extra mile that allows ordinary individuals to earn the prestigious title of Realtor. Although associate Broker Sharan Jackson has only been a certified Realtor for a little over a month, she’s already got commitment and service on the forefront of her mind, earning her title and setting up a sure way to go far in the real estate business.
Jackson is from Detroit, Mich., where she lived, attended school and established herself until about five years ago. That was when she packed it all up and moved to Chattanooga. After five years of getting to know the city, she says she loves the area. Jackson enjoys that it’s a very laid back and relaxing place with a slower pace. Jackson received her real estate license about a month ago, but the idea of going into the business had been brewing in her mind prior to then. “Real estate is something I’ve always been interested in,” Jackson says. “I have worked in customer service for about two decades, and I’ve come to thoroughly enjoy helping people make decisions that make their life easier. Real estate gives me the opportunity to pursue that.”
At the same time, real estate also offers Jackson a way to transition into being her own boss and a way to make her own schedule, ideas she finds appealing as well. Furthermore, being a Realtor allows Jackson to research different homes, an activity she has always enjoyed doing since the time she was looking for a home for herself.
“It was always exciting to see the different styles and uniqueness about the homes,” she adds. When Jackson finalized her decision to be a Realtor, she began to look for which agency she would like to work for. She chose Wayne Roach & Associates, she says, first because Roach has been in the business since 1978, and she liked that he had a lot of experience in real estate. Jackson says she feels there is much she can learn from Roach with her being new to the business.
Jackson also chose Wayne Roach & Associates because, out of all the brokers she interviewed with, Roach and his office manager were the most helpful. “With me being new to the business, [it] was important to me for someone to be willing to help me when I needed help and to provide that support for just starting out,” she says. Wayne Roach & Associates is made up of six agents and broker/owner Roach. Their record of service is built on working to help meet the needs of people who’ve become more like friends than customers. Located in the heart of Chattanooga’s thriving East Brainerd area, they have their finger on the pulse of development in the region. On their Web site, they offer valuable information about real estate in general, mortgage news, their own listings under the “featured homes” link, and free access to the Chattanooga area MLS system.
According to the Wayne Roach & Associates Web site, they appreciate the loyalty of their agents, many of whom have been with the company for almost 20 years. The Wayne Roach & Assoc-iates staff offers their friends and customers a total of over 170 years of professional service and experience. Now that business is picking up (a situation they have seen and survived before), they are offering a relaxed, professional working environment for new or experienced agents with minimal office expenses, and no desk fees or transaction fees.
Jackson says she has already realized during her short time in real estate that agents need good family support in order to be able to step out and be involved in real estate and make the transition into this lifestyle. New agents should also realize that they need to have financial support as well in becoming a Realtor. Agents will have to go with their heart and what makes them happy too, Jackson says. Customer service skills, attention to detail, patience and being willing to go above and beyond to help people are skills Jackson says are important for those starting out as well as those with 30 years or more under their belt.
“For the most part, clients do need your help, and you do have to go that extra mile to help them,” she says. In the next couple of years, Jackson says she would like to become involved in investing in real estate, another reason she got involved with the business. She says she would like to build a great clientele, where she can help many people and meet their needs. “I am committed to helping people and committed to providing them with the best service possible,” she says. Jackson enjoys reading, working out, shopping, spending time with her family and traveling at any available opportunity.
Contact Sharan Jackson at 423-421-7698 or email her at RealtorSJackson@WayneRoach.com.