Today we’d like to introduce you to Baxter Smith.
Baxter, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I bought my first condo at 24 years old. I just graduated from college and knew that I gained a new responsibility. Honestly, I did not realize the amount of freedom that responsibility gave until I left the city and moved to Atlanta and started renting the condo becoming a young black landlord. After being laid off from my job, the rental income allowed me the opportunity to take a risk and launch my own business. Afterwards, I did not ever want to be in a position where, again, where my financial fate or happiness was beyond my control. Once many of my friends started buying their first homes, I enjoyed helping them through the process. I am a huge advocate in real estate because it is a great way to build wealth. I decided to become a realtor because I am passionate about real estate and its benefits and I believe it is my opportunity to bring value through my experiences.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There’s a misconception that being a realtor is easy. Do I hit my goal every month? No! It’s a highly competitive industry with an 80% fail rate in the first year. You have to truly run your operation like a business. Realtors also have a high startup and recurring costs that many people are not aware of that are vital to staying in business. Your primary focus is your client but you also need a marketing and sales strategy to keep new customers in your funnel. I’ve done business development for large software and insurance companies and have also been a founding member of a few tech startups. I have leveraged these skill sets to close deals and grow my net-worth with home buyers, sellers, and renters.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Baxter Smith, Properties provides representation for anyone who is interested in purchasing, selling, or leasing a home. I’m really proud of the fact that my business not only helps my clients but also helps other entrepreneurs throughout the process by partnering with local inspectors, lenders, contractors, etc.
My company is predicated on thinking outside of the box. Every partner I work with must do the same or I will simply find someone else who thinks “where there is a deal, there is a way”. I’ve worked in the corporate world where there were times you just have to find a way to make a deal happen as long as it’s legal. That’s the mindset I have. I challenge myself to think outside of the box to deliver the best experience, and to most importantly, get the deal done. I embrace this challenge every day and it’s why I love what I do.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to expand into property management since the Atlanta rental market is in high demand and I have extensive relationships with contractors that can provide savings to my clients. Also, I’m not really a social media guy. But I do plan to share more behind the scenes content and video content with my followers. Having a digital footprint is important and will allow me to grow well beyond my sphere of influence.
Contact Info:
- Address: Village Realty
3423 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305 - Website: baxter.viewallmetroatlantahouses.com
- Phone: 864-630-7396
- Email: baxter.smith@vratl.com
- Instagram: @buywithbax
- Facebook: @buywithbax
Image Credit:
AU79 Photography
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