S2 EP34: Century 21 Results with Lisa Lewis

Join us for an enlightening chat with Lisa Lewis, an accomplished realtor with Century 21 Results, who transformed her career from a court reporter to a top-notch real estate professional. Discover how Lisa leverages her 20-year courtroom experience to navigate the challenges of the real estate market, especially for clients going through stressful times like divorce. She unravels the mystery between a realtor and a real estate agent, and why timing the market is nothing more than a myth. Lisa’s insights into the rigorous ethical standards and continuous education demanded of realtors offer invaluable guidance for anyone considering entering the housing market.

Lisa’s passion for real estate shines through as she shares her journey, the hurdles she’s overcome, and her dedication to client-focused service. It's not just about closing deals but about helping people, each transaction presenting unique challenges requiring innovative solutions. Outside her professional life, Lisa cherishes her time with her grandchild, enjoys water activities at Lake Lanier, and gives back to the community through Rotary service projects. Her commitment to her clients and community is both inspiring and motivating, making this episode a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in real estate or community service.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:02

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Stacey Poehler.

Speaker 2 0:15

Hey there everybody. I'm excited to be chatting with Lisa Lewis. She is a realtor with Century 21 Results. Welcome Lisa.

Speaker 3 0:24

Thank you, stacey, I appreciate being here with you.

Speaker 2 0:26

Yeah, we're excited to chat, so why don't you start off by telling us about your real estate business?

Speaker 3 0:32

Well, I've been in real estate for almost 10 years and just enjoy working with people. I do mostly residential, I don't do commercial and it's been very, very good for me. I've had a great business, I've been a top producer and I love what I do.

Speaker 2 0:50

Awesome, awesome. I know you've been doing this a long time, but can you talk a little bit about your journey and maybe what you were doing before and what led you into real estate? Sure.

Speaker 3 0:59

I was a court reporter for almost 20 years. I worked in freelance deposition work and then I worked in Fulton County Superior Court for 13 out of that 20 years. So I feel like that gave me a little bit of basis for what I do sometimes because I do work with a lot of couples sometimes getting divorced, which I was in divorce court for seven years of that. So it helps with people knowing people and helping people through the journey of what they need to know and do in real estate, which can be very stressful for people.

Speaker 2 1:29

Sure, sure. And are there any myths or misconceptions out there that you want to clear up about the real estate industry?

Speaker 3 1:38

There probably are, maybe more than I could go into today, but I think a couple of them are the difference between a realtor and a real estate agent. Some people think that's the same. A realtor is somebody who is a member of a board like National Association of Realtors, Atlanta Board of Realtors, and the biggest difference I feel like is we're held to a higher standard of ethics when we're a realtor. We have to take ethics classes. Most all agents, whether they're a realtor or not, are going to put the duties and the interests of their client first. But we just are held to a higher standard when we're a realtor, and we do have to have more continuing education. And so I think that some people don't realize there is a difference. And then I think a lot of people think too that there's such a thing as timing the market in real estate, and there's not. There's no way to time the market. The best time to buy or sell is whatever fits you and your family and your circumstances.

Speaker 2 2:36

That makes sense. Have you had any you know struggles or challenges since you became a realtor and, kind of, how have you worked through those?

Speaker 3 2:48

You know I myself have been very fortunate in the industry after almost 10 years. But I think some of the biggest challenges that I've faced and most realtors do is basically it's harder to get the business than to work the business if you're really passionate about it. I love helping people and most people think we're in the business because you can make a lot of money, but really it's about helping people. Each transaction is different. Even though everybody's buying or selling a house, every transaction has different things to work through and you have to kind of think outside the box a lot of times to help those clients through whatever they're going through on that transaction.

Speaker 2 3:26

Got it, got it, and it sounds like you love your job. But what do you do for fun when you're not working?

Speaker 3 3:33

Well, I have a grandbaby now. That's about a year and a half old, so I travel to Charlotte a lot for that, but I love to be on the water. I have a boat and love to be on the water. Lake Lanier is one of my favorite places to be actually do skating and I just like I do some community service. I'm in rotary, so a lot of service projects we do and things just giving back to the community and helping other people is one of my favorite things to do. And, like I said, and being on water, being around the water, yeah, that's always nice.

Speaker 2 4:02

Can you think of anything else about your business or being a realtor that you want to make sure our listeners know?

Speaker 3 4:10

I think a lot of times I'm told it looks so easy and I think when we can make it look easy for our clients, sometimes they don't quite realize how much we do behind the scenes. I know I had one client who told me when it was over and done with it they sold in John's Creek and they bought up in Dawsonville and he said you know, I had no idea. My realtor that I used years ago just put a sign up. He said I had no idea how much time and effort you guys put in behind the scenes. And so I think that's what we do a lot of times that people don't realize we. We put a lot of times that people don't realize we we put a lot of hours in on transaction when we care about the people. We want to be there for them.

Speaker 2 4:48

So it's not as easy as it looks on the outside sometimes and you feel like you put the same amount of time in whether you're working with a buyer or seller.

Speaker 3 4:58

Not necessarily. Buyers probably sometimes take a lot more hours because you're going to see more houses, you're going to do, you know, a lot of running between houses, depending on how many they need to look at to find the one that's right for them. I mean, during COVID it was kind of funny. People said, well, you're making a lot more money, like, no, we have to write 12 offers before we can win. So you weren't making more money. You're working a lot more hours for the same money, so it just. And so you weren't making more money. You're working a lot more hours for the same money, so it just. You know, I think it depends. Some buyers are easier because they do find the house quickly, and then some sellers take a long time to sell and they get frustrated and you've got to work and walk through a lot of different things with them. But usually buyers take a little more time than sellers normally Makes sense.

Speaker 2 5:42

Can you share your contact info if folks want to get in touch with you?

Speaker 3 5:53

where they can find you. Sure, I'd love to. My phone number is 404-909-9151. You can call or text anytime. My website is searchnorthatlantahomescom and my office is incoming on Ronald Reagan Boulevard, right close to the collection, so they could drop by and see us in the office or call or text me anytime, or go to my website and my email is lisalewis at youneedresultscom.

Speaker 2 6:13

Awesome. Well, thanks so much for joining us today, Lisa.

Speaker 3 6:15

Okay, thank you so much. I appreciate it yeah.

Speaker 1 6:19

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast Milton and More. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast Milton More. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpmiltoncom. That's gnpmiltoncom, or call 470-664-4930.