We’re proud of the team of agents we’ve assembled here at Nest Realty. We think they’re pretty awesome, and we think you will too. During our “Meet the Agent” series, we sit down with our agents to learn more about them, what makes them tick, and why they’re passionate about the real estate industry. In this installment, we chat with Abby Harris, a Broker with Nest Realty in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.
Nest Realty: Tell us a bit about yourself! What brought you to Carolina Beach?
Abby Harris: What is there not to love about this wonderful little slice of heaven we call Carolina Beach? It truly is such a special place, and I am so thankful my husband and I stumbled upon it a few years back. Carolina Beach was never on our radar, but we always dreamed of living on the coast. After making the move to Wilmington for my husband’s job, we soon discovered Carolina Beach, and like everyone says, “the rest is history!” Making the move was the easiest decision that we’ve ever made. We loved everything about this charming little beach town so much that we decided to grow some roots and start our family here.
NR: How did you get into real estate?
AH: Real estate was a constant part of my life before I ever decided to take it on as a full time job. My husband and I have bought and sold many properties over the years, and I honestly felt like I was already doing real estate full time before I got my license. For us, it started with investment properties and rentals. Then we started doing some flips and full on renovation projects. I have always loved the thrill of the hunt and envisioning what a property could look like once fixed up. Since moving to North Carolina, we decided it was time to take the plunge and just focus my full attention on helping others with their real estate dreams. It truly is a passion project for me. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do…getting to combine my love of real estate with my love of helping people is like the perfect dream job for me. I love every interaction with my clients, from beginning to end; it’s such an honor to get to help individuals and families with one of the most important decisions of their lives. By far, my favorite part of this job is developing relationships with people from all walks of life. Making new life-long friends is what makes my world go ’round!
NR: What was your previous career? How has that prepared you for real estate?
AH: For 10 years prior to switching over to real estate full time, I was in medical sales. I think we can all look back and wish we could change our past, but I honestly believe that my former career helped give me the tools I needed to be able to successfully transition into real estate. I was hired on by a respiratory company to grow business in a new territory; at the time, I was an eager, post college kid, hungry to take on a challenge. It didn’t happen overnight, but over time, I was able to grow that non-existent business into one of the largest respiratory providers in South Carolina. I like to think that my ability to grow and maintain relationships was at the core of what made the business a success. I still keep in touch with my former “family” and they are still growing and even more successful than when I left them to start my own journey. It makes me happy to see that I started something from nothing and it’s still getting better over time, and changing people’s lives for the better. I look back on those years and see how much influence that job has had on my real estate career. Relationships and trust aren’t built overnight, and if I learned anything from my past career, it’s to be a little more patient with myself, slow down, and enjoy the present. For me, it’s not a sprint to the finish line, it’s a marathon. The same love I developed for patient care and helping people are still at the core of every action that takes place in my real estate career.
NR: What led you to Nest Realty, as opposed to another brokerage?
AH: I think there are a lot of good agencies out there that are a perfect fit for their agents. I believe it’s our job as agents to know what we need in order to be successful. For me, I know that I need to feel a sense of community with who I surround myself with. That is one of my favorite things about Nest. I love how much the agents do together both in and out of the office. Whether it’s volunteer work or just having fun, they are always doing something to encourage that sense of community. I also really admire and respect a lot of my fellow agents, and I think it’s important to surround yourself with successful people who make you better at what you do. My absolute FAVORITE thing about Nest is that it’s not cookie cutter. I felt like when I joined Nest, I walked into a custom built home that was designed specifically for me versus a spec house designed for the mass crowds. In today’s world, you have to figure out how to stand out from the crowd, and I chose Nest for their cutting edge systems that are designed specifically to meet our individual needs as agents to make us better resources for our clients. So happy to be a NESTER, it feels like HOME!
NR: What is your favorite part of being an agent?
AH: Gaining new friendships. I know everyone says this, but it really isn’t about the transaction for me. I’ve worked with clients for months and then for some unforeseen circumstances, they have had to walk away from the deal. Life happens, things don’t always go as planned. But, if I made a new friend out of the deal, then I gained so much more than a transaction. I truly consider some of my clients family, and that is what makes my job so worth it.
NR: Do you have a specific area of expertise to offer clients?
AH: I love helping investors. Both my husband and I have been investing in real estate for more than 10 years and have a lot of experience between the two of us. We love sharing our knowledge to help out other investors looking to do the same thing. Of course I love working with sellers or anyone looking to buy, but I also think I am a great fit for anyone relocating to the area from out of town. I actually think it’s a benefit to buyers that I am not a homegrown “local” because I can truly connect with people who are new to the area and know exactly what they are going through since I experienced the same thing.
NR: What makes you different from other agents? What sets you apart?
AH: I’d like to think that I make the process fun. It can be super stressful buying or selling your home, and I try to make it a pleasant experience from beginning to end. I like to set expectations up front so there are not too many surprises along the way. I also think that my background doing flips and investing gives me a unique perspective to identify or create hidden value.
NR: What are five adjectives that describe you?
AH: Loyal, trustworthy, honest, friendly, and bubbly.
NR: Who would be your dream client?
AH: The Tiger King…I have so many questions…
NR: If you had one piece of advice for a first-time home buyer, what would it be?
AH: Don’t start shopping for homes until you get a pre-approval from a lender and know what you can afford. Also, on that same note, just because you are approved for a certain amount of money, doesn’t mean you need to spend it all. Don’t spend all the money on the house if you still want a boat!
NR: What is your favorite season in Carolina Beach?
AH: Off season. No, just kidding. I love every season, but probably the summer months are my favorite, because there’s live music at the Tiki Bar every Thursday followed by Fireworks all SUMMER long!!!
Abby is a Broker with Nest Realty Wilmington. Whether looking to buy, sell, invest, flip, or build, Abby has extensive knowledge and background to help you reach your real estate goals. To learn more about Abby, visit her agent page.