Conversations with the Inspiring Courtney Rozier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Rozier.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Courtney. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved to Atlanta from Chicago in 2001. I spent 14 years in Commercial Real Estate, but always had an interest in residential real estate sales. When I first arrived in Atlanta at the peak of the real estate boom, I always joked that “everybody & their mama had a real estate license” and many appeared to be killing it! I started the process of getting my license in 2002, however, I didn’t continue with it because I was moving up in the ranks of commercial. I believe timing is everything. The things I learned in commercial property management; managing others, multi-tasking, handling potentially stressfully or uncomfortable situations with tact, etc., definitely makes me a well-rounded real estate professional. Fast forward to December 2011 my now husband and I found out we were expecting twins and I was laid off from my job all in the same week!

After a tumultuous pregnancy that had me on bed rest for 6 out of 9 months; I found myself at a crossroads when it was time to determine how I wanted to continue making a living. With my new roles as wife and mom, I was faced with new perceptions of what it meant to be a success. No longer was concerned about climbing the corporate ladder; success now meant having more freedom to be home with my kids after school and attend their events or nurture them when sick without guilt for taking off. Yet and still, I decided to go back to corporate in 2013. Boy, that experience really made my WHY and my perception of success that much clearer. It was exactly what I needed to kick my real estate career into high gear! I got serious and enrolled at GAMLS to complete the hours needed to sit for my license. Shockingly to me, with 2 rambunctious twins and husband, I passed the state exam on the first try on May 5, 2015. By Memorial Day, just by chance, I had linked up with one of the top rising real estate agents in the city at the time (Yakira Prise) as my mentor; remember timing is everything! I still had my corporate job at the time. By October of that year, I had closed 3 transactions with 2 more in the pipeline, my boss said 1 sideways thing to me and with my husband’s blessing, I left and became a full-time agent. I haven’t looked back since.

Over the past four years, my husband Mikell has come into the business with me as a full-time realtor and we’ve started Atlanta Home Enthusiasts and we are proud of the growth of our family business. In addition, I own a Contract to Close company called Time Freedom TC. Real Estate transactions can be extremely tedious and time consuming with all the contracts, paperwork and processes to ensure a smooth closing. Many agents spend the majority of the day showing homes; only to have to get back to their office to do paperwork which can lead to burnout. My team of Transaction Coordinators and I work with local real estate agents that are looking to get their time back by outsourcing the tedious 80% of the job to us so that they can spend their time on the income-producing 20%; generating new ideas, leads and business.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anything worth having will not always be smooth; however, I will say for me, it has not been extremely hard with the support of my husband. The main struggle many of us women encounter is time management which for moms and wives, in particular, can lead to mom and wife guilt because It’s really hard to be “present” sometimes when you are building a business from the ground up. Additionally, lack of time management will most certainly end up in burnout eventually. This is your own business; you’re no longer working for someone else that is going to pay you even if you slacked off for a day. No baby, you’re in the big leagues now; you don’t work you don’t eat! So, understanding that you will need to be disciplined enough to work daily; way more than you did when you worked for someone else, is a must. A misconception many have when they are in the corporate rat race dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur is that they don’t have a boss and that they can work “if and when” they want. Hate to break it to you but, to an extent, your clients are your boss and I don’t know many women in my business haven’t worked on their vacation at some point in their career.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I have been a licensed realtor for four years. My company, Atlanta Home Enthusiasts currently consists of myself and my husband Mikell. Together, we specialize in assisting first time home buyers, veterans, relocation clients and of course sellers! Over the years, I have established a niche in assisting buyers looking to obtain financing through NACA, which is a non-profit organization that provides 100% financing to buyers, so I am known for my expertise in that area. We recently launched a new website, atl-ism.com which we define as a passion of all things ATLANTA.! We promote the beauty and the culture Atlanta has to offer by offering a platform where people can join a strong tribe of Atlanta residents who get weekly information on the best happy hours, comedy shows, concerts and other fun activities in and around Atlanta. Plus, the city’s best hiking, biking, health and wellness options, new hotspots and of course some real estate info sprinkled in. We strongly believe that as realtors, we are not just selling you brick and mortar. We wanted to provide a resource for residents and of course future homebuyers to really get an idea of the Atlanta lifestyle.

In 2017, I started Time Freedom TC, a contract to close company that assists local realtors with tedious and time-sensitive administrative tasks that are imperative to getting their clients to the closing table with ease. Through this endeavor, I have been apart of over 300 transactions (and counting). I have seen just about any scenario you could imagine; many close calls. I’ve learned from my agent clients, some of the best in Atlanta, how to handle these scenarios. This expertise is invaluable. When an agent retains the services of Time Freedom TC, they can be pretty hands-off with regard to paperwork. This totally sets us apart from most others.

I personally feel that if you are a real estate professional that understands contracts, you are worth your weight in gold. Many would be surprised at how many do not which can be a costly disservice to the clients we represent. At Time Freedom TC, we undergo extensive training on GA contracts yearly and stay abreast of all changes.

I am most proud of the fact that we have been able to sustain and grow our businesses mostly through word of mouth. The fact that after many clients have done business with us, they refer us to their loved ones and colleagues mean the world to me!

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
Oh absolutely! One book that has changed my business mindset is “The Cash Flow Quadrant” by Robert Kiosaki. In it, he talks about the difference between being an employee, self-employed, business owner and investor. I also love Tom Ferry & Mike Ferry podcasts.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
My advice to women would be to identify your why, visualize your new life, set SMART Goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely) and take action. Your why will wake you up in the morning and keep you up at night sometimes. Start good business habits early. Time blocking will help you organize your day and life. Set boundaries within your business. A piece of advice my grandmother passed to my mother and my mother to me that I live by is “Don’t start off how you are not going to continue.” So even though you may be new in your field, don’t be pressured to do just any old thing in your business. Establish systems early and stick to them. You will be respected by your clients and colleagues as a result. Finally, establish a routine of consistent self-care. You can not pour from an empty cup.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.atl-ism.com
• Phone: 678-871-9278
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instgram.com/atl_ism
• Facebook: facebook.com/atlism
• Twitter: twitter.com/atl_ism/

Image Credit:
Professional Photos by Mecca Gamble
Timeless Imaging

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.