PRIORITIZING PEOPLE: IMPACTING LIVES THROUGH REAL ESTATE

Putting people first. That’s Kim Sweat’s priority. She learned early in life that caring for others is more important than business. With both parents working in the real estate industry, she saw first-hand how this career can impact lives. That’s what lured her into the field…the opportunity, or as she says, the privilege, to positively influence others. As a child, she witnessed how her mom and dad put clients’ needs first.

KIM’S CAREER PATH

Stemming from that same desire to help others, Kim began her career as an elementary educator. After her children were born, she moved on to serve as a planner and volunteer leader with Young Life, an international nonprofit Christian organization that supports middle school, high school, and college-aged adolescents. With three boys of her own to keep her busy, Kim wanted flexibility in addition to an extra income. By combining her people skills with her organizational skills, Kim became an entrepreneur and started Detailed Simplicity, a residential organizing business, which she successfully ran for eight years. Kim reflects, “What I noticed through that time is that I have a passion for people, especially helping people in their homes because home can be such a reflection of who we are and what’s important to us. That was a big part of discovering more about my gifts and personality and the way I cared for people, and I wanted to take it to a different level.” Real estate became a natural fit for Kim.

KELLER WILLIAMS AMERICAN PREMIER REALTY®

Choosing a real estate company with which to partner was a no-brainer for Kim. To say that she is glad to work for Keller Williams® would be an understatement. She is wholeheartedly dedicated to the corporation. It started with the success her parents had while working with Keller Williams® in the beginning stages of the company. “What drew them back then and draws me today is what sets Keller Williams® apart – their focus on building and caring for people in so many different ways.” Kim has no trouble listing the many ways the organization accomplishes this:

READING PEOPLE

Kim’s success as a real estate agent stems from life experience, a natural ability to read people, and a desire to positively impact the lives of others. She is motivated by helping people reach their goals. “For buyers, especially, it’s a discovery process. You don’t always know exactly what you want, but when you find that one house, that’s the ‘aha moment.’ I want to get you to a place where you’re discovering what home means to you. It’s such a privilege to be a part of that – to get people to where they want to be and to help their dreams come true.” To accomplish that, Kim is building a team of professionals with which to work and identifies the lender and title company as critical to her team. When it comes to a lender, Kim often refers her clients to Brian Atha of Ritter Mortgage Group (batha@rittermortgage.com). The title company she works with the most is Universal Title (www.universaltitle.com), which is located right in her office, making the entire process easier. She says, “We are all working together for the good of our client, and you can’t put a price on trust. I want the people that I’m putting on my team to share the same values I have, which is putting people first and caring for them. It’s important to have trusted professionals who could be a resource for people. They’re an extension of me.”

ADVICE FOR BUYERS & SELLERS

Kim advises sellers not to underestimate the value of staging their homes and provides each client a free consultation with a professional stager. The reason is that well-staged houses sell faster. Along with that, Kim encourages all sellers to hire a professional photographer and warns against trying to get away with using amateur photos. With most buyers searching for homes online, Kim says, “You want to have something that’s going to set your house apart. Sometimes staging and professional photos can determine whether a buyer even steps foot into your house.”

Her advice to buyers is to find an agent they can fully trust and with whom they are not afraid to ask questions. “Things are always changing and evolving. Just being able to ask questions is so important.”

A PERSONAL NOTE

Kim’s faith and family are top priorities in her life. She loves spending time with her husband and three boys, ages fifteen, twelve, and eight. She and her husband are involved in the boys’ sports, and Kim serves on the board and as volunteer coordinator of their swim club. The family is also involved in their church and have continued ties with Young Life. To fit in some fun and relaxation, they enjoy vacationing at the beach. Kim is thankful to have a career that she is passionate about that also offers flexibility to be available to her family. “Being healthy mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally is everything. It’s neat to be able to build a business around the things that are important to me and incorporate my values into my business.”

CALL KIM TODAY

If you’re considering a move and want a Realtor® you can trust to make your needs her first priority, contact Kim Sweat today at 410-458-3712 or kimsweat@kw.com.

Written by Dawn Wooden