Brittany Harris

Let me explain my living situation for the few that don't know. My roommate and I are both Realtors. We both have at least one other job that brings in steady income and keeps the bills paid and my roommate also runs her own property management company. She had her parents home listed for almost 2 years and it never sold so when her parents bought a new home we moved into her parents home and furnished it very well for the purpose of staging it and leaving it on the market. Well I guess we did an excellent job because we moved into the home in December, put it back on the market in January, and got an almost full price offer on it by the end of February! The catch is, we have to be out by the first week of March. So we have been packing like worker ants and trying to find another home to move to, but some of the criteria these people have been telling us makes you want to laugh in their face. Now I see why so many people just go to an apartment. The only reason we haven't taken that avenue (yet) is because we would each have to have a storage room for our things and that can get really expensive. We would just like to have the extra room for our furniture and possibly an office. Ok, so one company told us that every adult in the home must maintain a 580 credit score. Which is a joke because in my opinion, if everyone in the home had a 580 we'd be buying not renting... Another company told us... (oh, this one is hilarious) that each adult in the home must make a monthly income that is 3 times the rental amount. Oh ok, so I guess we both have to make at least 3,300 a month just to share a 3 bedroom home. But what if we get a third roommate to help us with a third of the rent... I guess it doesn't matter if the first two both make 3,300 a month or not because if the third one doesn't we don't qualify anyway... Which is genius! The last and final idea we all had was to take a look at this older home that just had a for rent sign in the yard not a company name with it. It was only 790 to rent and it was 3bdr/1.5ba with new carpet throughout... It was extremely spacious, plenty of storage, and a great backyard! And as of this morning he left me a voicemail to let us know that he chose to rent to a family that put their application in before ours and that it really wasn't that their applications checked out better it was simply that they had theirs in first and that we only had a 3 month rental history in the house we were moving from... Um, did he miss the part about it being so clean and staged at all times that it sold immediately! It's down to the wire and we have to be moving VERY soon and as of this morning we're back to square one... So we are 2 very independant money making adults that can afford a 3 or 4 bedroom home up to about 1200. We could even possibly have a third roommate. We would like to stay around Riverdale/Hacks Cross/ Shelby area or a little north of that... So please let us know or email me immediately at brittanyharrisrealestate@yahoo.com with the address so I can google search it to see what the area around it looks like. (We're two women you know, we would like to feel somewhat safe!)

Alright so as we creep up on the closing date everything was going smoothly. So smooth in fact that it was incredibly scary. I called the mortgage guy several times "just to double check" and my buyers and sellers both thought it would be more convenient to close a day early on monday instead of tuesday. And after talking to everybody involved they seemed like it was going to be fine to do. However.... The friday before closing we waited ALL day to hear from the girl at the attorney's office when she received the package from the mortgage girl. (Not that this is relevant but the girl at the attorney's office is the sister in-law to my buyers which is the reason we closed with them) So when my buyers nor I had a clue what time the closing was supposed to happen on monday we went into panic mode. Keep in mind that my buyers have to know an amount to get a cashier's check for so that was also on pause. So after we find out that the package never got to the attorney's office because their system was freezing up and wouldn't print we just knew to expect this... You know the saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is." Well, we weren't going to stress anything. My buyers were planning on having most of the week off anyway to move in and the sellers were retired so thank goodness it wasn't a huge issue for anybody. So monday morning comes and I was helping out at the office by answering the phone at the front desk for about an hour and my buyers called to let me know that they package just got to the attorney's office and that they were headed to the bank to get the cashier's check. So I told them to call me when they got to the attorney's office and I would meet them. And sure enough they just signed everything in a calm laid back atmosphere like there were never any problems. It was perfect! If you're not sitting back in your chair with a long sigh of relief like I was then you obviously don't know some of the drama that happens in the real estate world. (This is off topic but we had some homes listed with a builder for a while and we finally got a contract in on one so I was working with the mortgage guy and attorney to get everything ready and the attorney called us to let us know that the home was just sold in a tax sale the previous week! How insane is that! Talk about freak out mode!) Ok so back to my story, the sellers met us there and signed their side while we waited in the other room and after they were done we all met up and the other Realtor and I hugged, ( I got the other agent a thank you card just to say thanks for being great to work with...) we were all off and headed in different directions. It was a wonderful day and everybody was absolutely wonderful. Later, in talking to my buyers I found out that the seller stopped by one afternoon to just check on them and make sure everything was working (which he didn't have to do) and my buyer was having trouble connecting the washer and dryer so the gentleman stayed and helped him. They also mentioned to him that none of the windows came with screens. Not that they didn't already love their new home without screens on the windows but the man had a company come in and install screens on all of the windows the next day. I definitely know Southern Hospitality is alive and well. I am so happy to be where I am and doing what I love.

I'm back to my hometown! I moved back to Memphis, TN during the Thanksgiving holiday and I have really enjoyed myself. Just to give everyone a brief update as to my current situation... I am a licensed Realtor in MS & TN with Keller Williams Realty. I also got a job working with Jim N' Nick's Bar-B-Q in Cordova. I helped open the store this time 2 years ago so it has been fun getting back in touch with old friends and making new ones.

Now, please keep in mind that in this blog I would like to discuss my journey becoming acquainted with the big city of Memphis while I kick off my oh so successful career in Real Estate. The reason I consider it "kicking off" is because I have worked for 8 months as an assistant to several agents. I put their listings on several (ok, more like 35+) websites and updated their information daily. Before I came into general real estate I worked for a Corporate Builder out of Florida that assigned us certain subdivisions and we were given some specs and available lots to sell. The catch is, you make a percentage on selling anything in your subdivision but you can ONLY sell that subdivision. In a sellers market it was an awesome idea; even thought they build a great home, I knew it was temporary. I also worked for the Local Board of Realtors for a year and for their publication for almost 2 years so I definitely had a desire to learn more about Real Estate early on. (I love the marketing aspect also!)

But one thing past jobs can't teach you is how to write about your experiences and communicate with people to make new relationships. So I've decided to start this blog as a way to share with people my daily experiences as I go through the world making new friends and advancing my real estate career as a knowledgeable, professional, and personable Realtor that everyone wants to do business with and maybe go have a drink after work... Lol!

Consider this a journal, a day to day autobiography, or even a celebrity gossip blog! I want to show you what Memphis and it's surrounding areas have to offer. (And please know that I lived my whole life in Pope, MS about an hour South of Memphis. We had no bars, no attractions, and only one 24-hour gas station.) So I'm sure that I will find excitement in many of the simple things. I plan to review restaurants, events, and anything I find important to the attraction of Memphis. Now, I realize that some of this knowledge will be useless, but other parts of it may be vital. I do want you to be aware of nicknames for everything I give. For example: My restaurant, Jim N' Nick's BarBQ will always be referred to as "The JNN", and of course my Real Estate firm, Keller Williams Realty will be referred to as "KW". I also venture out with my roommate who I will call "Diva", but please know that diva is also a licensed Realtor in MS & TN and owns her own property management company known as Lane Property Management. Many other friends will be in and out of stories but I will refer to them with hilarious nicknames so that no ones business is "put on front street". (That is a phrase that simply means your personal life is out for everyone to know. A little something I learned in the "M'Town")

Hello Everyone! I am so happy to be with Keller Williams Realty of Southaven, MS. Well since this page is a little about me I'll go ahead and cut through the non-real estate related topics first...

I absolutely love to network with friends, family, clients, and fellow Realtors. Some Realtors don't always play well with others, but that can be the case in any business and industry. I personally have always enjoyed meeting and networking with other agents. I worked for Adams Homes, LLC when I first obtained my real estate license in MS & TN. While I worked daily in a model home for them as a listing agent I also helped our local Re-Max office as their front desk receptionist when needed. Now most people at this point would be wondering why in the heck would they allow me to work for them while I'm a licensed agent for another company... Well, it was because their company trusted in me so much so that they knew it wouldn't be a trust issue having me there. I am great friends with many of the agents there and I believe they knew me on such a personal level that it never became an issue.

I would be more than happy for people to take a look at some personal pages of mine at myspace or facebook. Just go to http://www.myspace.com/brittharris2003 and I'm not quite sure what my facebook page url is but I can be found easily as well. You'll find some personal photos like my new beautiful neice who is our world!

And as many of you know, I am a huge sports fanatic! many people in our family are big into sports, mostly football.

The girls in the photo with me are two great friends of mine. We celebrated and wore our Memphis Tigers colors as we supported and cheered them on at last years final game. It was so intense! The next photo is our beloved South Panola High School football team at last year's championship game. They have been undefeated now for 5 years making it over 85 straight wins. I graduated in 2003 so I was a senior during the 2002 football year. That was an awesome year as we all the sudden went undefeated during the year and got all the way to the State Championship and lost. That was their last losing game. They have won every game they've played since then...

I also am the oldest of 3. I love my sisters and we can have the best times together. Nobody gets our inside jokes like we do...

Now! As for my Real Estate Career!!!

I have spent the last 6 months assisting the Broker here at Keller Williams Realty in Southaven with her listings. The list of job activities is endless... From general clerical stuff to meeting with Million dollar clients to designing websites and virtual tours. I have had such an amazing opportunity to work with so many websites providers and host sites. I have been able to see first hand in her business what works, what costs, and what doesn't...

I now am extremely proud that I have the knowledge and practice of putting listings on over 40 websites. Many are local but there are several national as well as bilingual sites that could be valuable when relocating. I am able to watch daily where her hits and clicks are coming from. For years now I have loved designing flyers and logos for people. I have several for the imaginary business I plan on running. LOL! So I have teamed up with several agents from multiple offices to help their business while I learn how to build mine. It has definitely been a win-win for us both. I am helping one agent build his website. So I show him how to do things that he wants and I learn more things I want to do with mine... I am helping one agent design a custom logo and build a custom listing presentation. Which has helped me branch off and design logos for multiple companies. (Right now, I am designing a logo for BAB Custom Enterprises. It's a custom builder in Memphis. I have to admit that their logo looks absolutely amazing. I'm shocked that I created it!!!)

I'll be sure and show you once I'm through... Also I work for a Crye-Leike agent in Collierville, TN. (She introduced me to her pro basketball clients as her marketing director.) Which has given me the idea to market myself as a "Marketing Consultant." Think about it though, when we get listing and meet with sellers we are offering them ways to market their listing. The more places and ways you market your listings just puts that many more people in front of your info. It's what the sellers don't know how to do or don't have time for. They are more realistic about price and wait time in this shifting market, but they just don't know how to market it successfully.

In an end note, I just want to say that I am so excited to be launching my new team logo and personal marketing brands at the first of the year. It's similar to that saying, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." -Theodore Roosevelt. I will be launching my new website, new logo, new cards, new flyers, new team, new everything! And it will be huge! I will be targeting buyers and sellers that really need to market their homes. But please keep in mind that I will also be working one on one to help other agents market their listings better. I plan on building a succesfull team and being in this business for a very long time... I'm definitely here to make friends along the way! Until next time...