Philadelphia Real Estate Agent Handles All Her Sales Herself
Story by Explore, submitted photos
We caught up with Nicole Carter to do a Q&A who is a rare species of realtor in Philadelphia – a true DIY maven. She uses a professional yet friendly approach, which help clients feel comfortable about a possibly stressful decision. Trust is hard to come by in today’s fiercely competitive real estate market, especially in the city.
“I am here to provide you with the professionalism and integrity needed to ensure that you feel secure in what can be one of the biggest decisions of your life,” said Carter.
Q: Please state your name, age, location and title.
A: My name is Nicole Carter. I’m 44 years old and a Philadelphia, Pa. realtor.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up about 15 minutes outside of the city in an area called Cheltenham.
Q: What was your childhood like?
A: I had a good childhood! I grew up with my mother as a single parent and I am an only child.
Q: Where did you go to college?
A: I went to Penn State and graduated with a Bachelor of Science.
Q: Did you always want to be a realtor?
A: Not always, my aunt was a real estate agent so real estate was in my family. As I got a bit older, the business definitely started to interest me.
Q: Why did you choose real estate in Philadelphia?
A: I grew up right outside and Philadelphia and have lived here now for over 19 years. Because I have lived and worked here for all of my life, this is where my connections are. I know the city very well and I also really enjoy what it has to offer. Philadelphia still amazes me! If you take a typical street in Philadelphia, most of the row homes looks the same. What fascinates me is what is behind each door. Every home is so different from the next depending on the layout, when it was last updated and the style of the person who updated it. It is always a surprise when you walk into a property. You never really know what you are going to see.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge? How did you overcome this challenge?
A: I think the biggest challenge of a real estate agent is getting used to your earnings being 100 percent commission based. This means if you don’t sell homes, then you do not make any money. This is always a challenge in an agent’s career but it is also the most motivating force. This career is not for the faint hearted nor is it for someone who is not willing to work long, hard and sometimes odd hours.
Q: What is it you can offer that others cannot?
A: I offer one-on-one boutique service. I am not part of a team, so you will not be passed off to another agent. You will always deal directly with me. A well-known agent may pass you off to a junior agent after you sign the contract. Ask me exactly who will be handling your phone calls, marketing your house and taking you to look at homes before you sign to ensure you get exactly what you’re paying for.
Q: What is a hot area of Philadelphia right now?
A: I would say that most of Center City is pretty hot right now. Average sales are up 20 percent from last year and inventory is still at an all-time low so most properties are flying off the market.
Q: How can a first time buyer afford a house in Philadelphia?
A: There are many programs out there for first time homebuyers with as little as 3 percent down. If anyone is interested in knowing more about these programs, they can contact me directly. I will be happy to connect them with a mortgage professional.
Q: With trends developing more into social media communications, how has your business adapted new ways to communicate with home buyers and sellers?
A: I actually hired an assistant whose main purpose is to market myself and my listings on social media. I am very active on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. I also have a very informative and user friendly website that buyers and sellers can use as a helpful tool.
Q: How can people reach you?
A: Please see below for my contact information. Feel free to contact me any time.
Cell: 267.975.7034
Email: ncarter@cbpref.com
Instagram: @NCARTERREALTOR
Facebook: – @NICOLEPHILLYREALTOR
LinkedIn: – Ncarter73
Website: – www.philly-real-estate.com
1401 Walnut St. 8th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 10102
*This is sponsored post from Nicole Carter for Explore.
