I first met Kelly and her husband in the fall of 2003 when I had the opportunity to represent them in the purchase of their first home. We looked at more than 30 homes over the course of one weekend, and Kelly took detailed notes on nearly every one. At the end of the weekend, she admitted she didn't really like any of them. I'll never forget her saying, "The one I hated the least was..."
Kelly had a clear vision of what she wanted, but we simply couldn't find the right home within their budget and preferred area. Fortunately, just two days later, I received a call from a past client who was ready to list their home. I immediately thought it might be the perfect fit, and I was right. Kelly and her husband purchased the home that same week—and we even negotiated to include the lawn tractor! It turned out to be a great experience for everyone involved, with the sellers enjoying a smooth, stress-free sale and Kelly finding the home she had been searching for.
Not long afterward, Kelly earned her real estate license and joined the mentoring program at my office. Ironically, she often ended up calling me with questions because her assigned mentor wasn't returning her calls. Before long, it became obvious that we worked exceptionally well together, so we decided to become partners. We never called ourselves a team—just two agents who genuinely enjoyed working together and helping our clients.
As the years passed, Kelly and her husband welcomed their first daughter, followed by three more children. After the birth of her third child, Kelly decided to step away from real estate for a time. Looking back, the timing couldn't have been better, as it coincided with the recession. When she returned to the business several years later, we picked up right where we left off and began working together again.
It's hard to believe our professional relationship has now spanned 23 years. I've had the privilege of watching Kelly's children grow up while also watching her develop into an outstanding real estate professional. This is shaping up to be the best year of her career, and I couldn't be happier for her. It has been a true pleasure working alongside Kelly all these years, and I'm excited to see her continued success in the years ahead.
