Today we’d like to introduce you to Raymona Person.
Hi Raymona, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Since the age of 12, I have always loved all things dealing with architecture that includes real estate, interior design, renovations/additions and of course HGTV. When I was a child, I loved visiting model homes. It was always my goal to be an architect and own my own firm someday. I also wanted to be a real estate agent since I was a teenager. One thing about me is that I always plan out the things I want to do in life and set a goal to make it happen. I read up on the process of how to become a real estate agent in Georgia but couldn’t take the course until I was 18 and graduated from high school. So, I planned to take it the summer before I started college in the Fall. When I got accepted into the architecture program for college, to my surprise the program required all architecture students to start college in the Summer. Therefore, I didn’t get any break in between, I dive right into college. So, I miss the opportunity to get my real estate license but every year after that, architecture and college life kept me busy. I graduated from Florida A & M University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and completely put my other dreams of being a real estate agent behind me. Once I graduated from college, I went on a few job interviews for architecture positions but never landed a job.
After about six months, I landed a job at a plumbing company, drafting and designing plumbing systems in healthcare for hospitals like Grady and I designed a portion of the Mercedes Benz Stadium. I should’ve been proud to be on huge projects like that. At the time, I was so embarrassed because I was supposed to be an architect. It felt like everyone around me was working in their field but me after college. But actually, what I didn’t know was that plumbing is a very lucrative business and that this would lead me to become a plumbing engineer. And to date, I’ve had the pleasure of being the plumbing designer/engineer for over 50 buildings across the US. You may be asking well how did you get back to real estate? Well during the beginning of the pandemic, construction slowed down and I was laid off. I always say speak on what you want and put it into the universe. That’s exactly what happened on a Friday, I said I wish I worked for myself and on Tuesday, I was laid off. I wasn’t mad or even in a panic. I took the time off to do all the things I’ve always wanted to do, that included real estate! I took the accelerated course in two weeks and pass the test. I was licensed within a month which is outstanding as the normal time is typically four to six months. It was the hardest test I ever took in my life and I’ve taken some hard tests! I studied the market and how to market myself and jumped in. I think what my clients love most about me is my construction background, that I am honest and teach them about what’s behind the walls.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Most people plan to be an entrepreneur and take their time saving and learning, marketing themselves, and getting study clientele. For me, I was managing everything all at once during a pandemic. You have to wake up hungry everyday or you don’t eat. I went through lots of ups and downs when I first entered the industry. Not only that, you will be surprised how everyone wants to have financial freedom but when it comes down to it. They don’t want to do the work. Or some people don’t support that you want to have a business and do the work. Or some people don’t support that you want to have a business and do the work. I mean just look at how the world kept calling the newly unemployed people lazy during the pandemic. I’m sure many of those people were becoming business owners and learning different trades. I was one of them. So it’s been a lot of obstacles surrounding following my dreams and dealing with naysayers. People don’t really trust or believe in you until you show social proof. That’s with anything, we all can be skeptical of new businesses, so that’s part of the journey. Social proof can be in the form of reviews, closing photos or creating videos of you in action. AND always promote your business because people will forget what you do! Trust me… At a time of inflation, I would encourage anyone to follow your dreams and generate multiple streams of income and ignore the naysayers. Times are changing and we all need to be prepared. I look at the pandemic as a full reset.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The thing that I’m most proud of is that I am building a business that helps people create generational wealth and I make dreams come true! The thing that sets me apart from others in the real estate industry is my construction knowledge. The thing that sets me apart from others personally is my ability to quickly adapt and turn lemons into lemonade! You can see that all throughout my story.
Contact Info:
- Email: raymona.person@exprealty.com or raymona.realtor@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Thatsmyatlrealtor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsmyatlrealtor/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatsmyatlrealtor
- Other: TikTok: @thatsmyatlrealtor
Image Credits
JLavii Photography https://www.jlavii.com/ Questions? Contact Jasmine@jlaviiphotography.com
