Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Guerrieri-Phipps.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a wife and a mother of 2 amazing kids. I have been working in the corporate world in Global Retail and for several years have wanted to work in the real estate business. I took the risk and started the course while I was still working full time.
In between working and my son’s sports, I would fit in the CE courses during any small break time that I had. I was determined to complete my goal and get licensed. It was taking me a bit longer because of my long hours being on the Global side of Retail.
Once Covid hit and we could work from home, my hours were a bit more flexible and I went in full speed and completed everything and got my license within a few months. I was so excited that I could accomplish this by working full time!
It was important for me to own my own business and find a career that I felt was fulfilling to me and I found that in real estate. Having two full-time careers takes a lot of my time, but my family is so supportive and they know that in the end I love real estate and my goal is to have this as my only career and business.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not a smooth road in the beginning. It was definitely a learning experience on how to balance two full-time jobs and family.
Having those conversations with your family to explain that your end goal is to do real estate only, but that you just need the help around the house for a set time frame, things become better. We set that time frame together, and I am on my path to that date, which is right around the corner. Woohoo!
The other learning experience was that you should take the time and look for a brokerage that is the right fit for you. These are things that you learn along the way. I am a very process-driven person and need to understand the end-to-end process, so in the beginning, if you don’t have those daily learning tools you will not feel confident to go out there and find leads and have those conversations with clients.
Once you find that right fit and the right balance, things will fall in place.
We’ve been impressed with Next Step Realty MD, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Next Step Realty is Maryland’s local brokerage that believes only top talent agents should be able to represent buyers and sellers in their most important transactions.
The brokerage is built by and for top producing agents who understand the Maryland market and are in a position to represent their clients each step of the way. Our goal is to educate the consumer and help them achieve success when buying and selling their largest investment, their home!
We have sweepstakes called “Mortgage on the House!” Which is something awesome that we are offering our homebuyers. For the third year in a row, we are thanking all our homebuyers for trusting us with their biggest purchase by entering them in the mortgage on the house sweepstakes where they have a chance to win a year of Mortgage payments on us.
I am most proud of how we subscribe to the quality over quantity mentality and value service above all. At Next Step Realty, it matters who you work with!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The best advice I can give someone starting out is to take the time to find the right brokerage.
Each brokerage offers different tools and support where some might work better for you than others. Have your questions ready on what you are looking for in a brokerage and find that right fit for you. Most importantly and I found it helpful was to have a mentor who can help you through each of your first few transactions in the beginning.
You find out quickly that no one transaction is the same, which is what is great about this career, but you need that support to be a quick phone call away or text to help ensure you provide the best solutions and options for your clients. You are always learning in this business and I absolutely love my relationship with my mentor and other brokerage agents.
They have been so beyond helpful to get my business off to great success. Another great piece of advice I can give is that you can make the choice to start with a team or to start as an individual agent. That is your choice and you will succeed in whichever direction you decide to take as long as you have the right tools in place with your brokerage and a mentor.
It is so important to have those weekly check-ins and meetings upfront to learn the process and ask questions. Always trust yourself. This career is so rewarding when you make it to the closing table and see your clients’ happy faces! I love that part.
Contact Info:
- Email: jennifergp@nextsteprealtymd.com
- Website: https://www.realtor.com/realestateagents/600a74efe173d0001171bd6d
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jengphipps_realestate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jengphippsrealestate
- Other: https://nextsteprealtymd.com/our-brokerage/
Image Credits
James Harper Media Manager | Next Step Realty
