Today we’d like to introduce you to Ebony R. King.
Ebony, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After I graduated with a degree in public accounting from Georgia Southern University (GSU) in 1999, I was introduced to a new construction real estate company (as an Onsite Manager). I took a liking to the beautiful aspects of helping others obtain homeownership.
Shortly after graduating from GSU, I attended Keller Graduate Management School and obtained a Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in E-Commerce. Throughout this time, I worked as an accountant and billing analyst. Yes, you read that right. I worked in multiple jobs. I managed over $1 million a month within my accounting role and regulated agents/brokers in my other position. Ever since I could remember, I epitomized integrity, energy, hard work, and creative service in every role. These are some of the traits that play a tremendous role in my real estate transactions today.
I became a licensed real estate professional in 2006. During this time, I realized how much money rental properties were making from their tenants and decided to no longer rent. I purchased my first home at the age of 26. I broke through the generational curse of not being able to create a legacy for my family through homeownership.
Ironically in 2006-2007, right after obtaining my real estate license, the real estate bubble crashed, and the decline started to impact the housing market. In 2008, the Case-Shiller home price index reported its most significant price drop in history.
When the market started to pick back up, I became licensed as a real estate broker in 2014. Throughout these years, I launched several small businesses but have found myself building a successful real estate career due to my love for helping others see the dream of obtaining a home. I’ve worked in every aspect of the real estate industry, representing sellers, buyers, investors, and banks, in both the residential and commercial market.
Four years ago, I started full-time in the real estate business licensed through Virtual Properties Realty and became the principal owner of Ebony King Real Estate, a residential and commercial real estate company located in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
As of today, I’m best known for my work centered around making the home buying experience a seamless process. Many of my clients have big dreams but have no clue where to start when it comes to making one of the most considerable investments of their life. I have been described as a combination of Oliva Pope and Barbara Corcoran. I’m on a mission to dispel credit myths and help build generational wealth for families.
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?
There is no such thing as a smooth road in entrepreneurship, especially when you’re building your brand from the ground up. One of my struggles along the way was my year of 40. I lost my job! Before being displaced within my accounting career, I had big plans to celebrate my 40th with a bang at the beautiful Yancey House. I had no clue how I was going to make that happen when I wasn’t even working fulltime in real estate. I took this set back as an opportunity to launch my full-time real estate business. I had to make it work. I purchased my LLC, got two sponsors, and had a business launch/birthday bash event. I pitched the idea of inviting my past real estate clients, family, and friends to a potential sponsor he liked it so much that he doubled the sponsorship. During this event, I celebrated another year of life and the proclamation of me becoming the principal owner of Ebony King Real Estate. My problem-solving capabilities are one of the many traits my clients love about working with me. Even when the co-op agent is coming up with errors, I find a way to make any situation right. After only two years of taking on the industry full time, I was inducted into the Million Dollar Club of the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association Realtor Board.
Please tell us about your work.
The Ebony King, Real Estate brand, is set apart by our personal touch to the business. We serve the Metro Atlanta area with a diverse clientele and over 15 years of experience. My dedication to my clients and partners is evident in my diligence and generosity. This culture of inspired service defines Ebony King Real Estate as a brokerage firm that strengthens hope for homes, nurtures families, and builds a community. What sets the company apart from others is client interactions and branding.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Client Interactions
I make myself very accessible to my clients. Usually, after a transaction is complete, my clients become an extension of my family. Throughout the homebuying process, I surprise my clients with little notes or tokens associated with their progress to help celebrate this high achievement of buying a home. I also take pictures along the way and share those pictures with them, so that they can share with their family and friends. I personalize my closing gifts to reflect things that I have learned about them throughout the process. I continue my connection after the process is over, primarily because out of all of the real estate professionals they could choose in Atlanta, I am grateful that they chose me.
Some specific examples of delivering the most exceptional customer service to my clients include: for one of my closings, I was able to set the closing on my client’s birthday, and I added in her closing gift a homemade birthday cake. She was so excited, and I was unsure if she was more excited about the cake or the new house! Another level of customer service that I have provided is one of my clients was set to retire soon, so I submitted a request for her retirement to be recognized by The White House. It will be a great keepsake for her, something that she will cherish forever. It is the little unique details that you learn about your clients that go a long way with them when they realize you were listening to them all along.
Those types of bonds help to create something beyond the level of client and customer relationships. It allows me to foster new business and repeat business, which ultimately, in return, helps my business reach new heights.
Branding
I pride myself on being a dream-pusher and a joyful person. I try to bring cheer everywhere I go. I’m big on providing for people, and it trickles down into my business partnerships and my clients. I incorporated all those elements when I did my branding for my logo. I am very active in my sorority. Our colors are pink and green, and I think it’s an enjoyable, happy color scheme. Many people know how active I am, and we do many activities for the community; so, I played on those colors with my logo. And because my last name is “King,” which is a bold name, I incorporated that into the logo as well.
I bring balloons to every closing. They symbolize freedom and celebration. It’s freeing for my clients to know that the stressful process of home buying has come to a close, and they can now celebrate the joys of calling their place of residence their forever home.
My creative side into services sets me apart from the rest. It’s not just about the house they move into; it’s about how they feel during the process and on the day of closing. I’ve been where all my clients were, renting, feeling like it was impossible to buy a home. It’s a freeing and celebratory experience for myself as well to know that I can help them come to the other side, which is home ownership.
Contact Info:
- Address: 414 Pine Grove Ave, Grayson, GA 30017
- Phone: 404-808-8412
- Email: ebonykingrealestate@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebonykingrealestate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ebonykingrealestate/
- Other: http://ebonykingrealestate.com/
Image Credit:
Mecca Gamble-McConnell
Professional Photos by: MECCA GAMBLE of Mecca Gamble Photography
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