As a kid, I wanted to be a fashion designer. It was a weird twist of fate—and some clever nudging from my mother—that led me down a road of science, chemistry, and biology. How does a scientist become a real estate agent? It all started with a competition I had with my husband.
“You’re a chef! I’m a scientist!” I was in the middle of one of my competitive debates with my husband. A fairly casual conversation had escalated when he asserted that he was smarter than me, but I begged to differ. Did he have a science degree? No!
Granted, my path to that degree was an odd one. In my childhood, my cousin and I had wanted to be fashion designers. We even tried to start a fashion magazine—"La Mademoiselle”—when we were about 13. We would convince our siblings to “model” for us and we compiled all the snapshots into a binder.
My mother was less than enthused by my fascination with the fashion industry, but she was smart enough not to come right out and say that.
“You know,” she told me, looking ponderous, “You need a chemistry degree to be a fashion designer.” She responded to my look of skepticism by explaining that to understand colors, mixes, and patterns, you first needed to learn chemistry. So, in high school, I took all the chemistry classes they offered. I then took chemistry classes in college.
Of course, by this time I realized chemistry is not the path most fashion designers take. I wasn’t as committed to the idea of being a fashion designer as I was as a kid, and my heart was no longer interested in chemistry either. I tried various science courses, like pharmacology, and eventually settled on biology. That’s what I got my degree in. I went on to work in a lab for years.
With all of my formal education my husband had the audacity to tell me he was smarter! Well, we had to put that to the test. We decided that we’d both take the same college course, something neither of us had any familiarity with, and see who got the higher grade. We selected a real estate class at the local community college. It got intense. My husband refused to share supplies, so we had to have separate sets of books. We even drove ourselves to class. At the end of it all...we both got a B+. And we both failed the test to get our licenses. Most people fail the first time around, and my husband was happy to continue working as a chef. But I hated the idea of being a “failure” at something, so I kept taking the test until I earned my license.
By this time, I wanted a break from the lab, but I didn’t think that real estate could be a full-time career. This was likely for the best because I got some experience working in marketing. I became the marketing director for an assisted living facility and did some work in hospice, but all the while, I was fascinated with real estate.
It hadn’t been easy when I started. I had a trainer help me with my first listing and my first sale, but then I was on my own. I’d never worked for myself before, and that was eye-opening. I’d never had a sales job like it. But it was fun! I enjoyed the work I was doing more than any of my “real” jobs. It took me time to understand that real estate could be a real career.
When I decided to pursue real estate as a full-time job, it was a true leap of faith—faith that God would look after me and faith in myself and the expertise I had through my experience. I look forward to the opportunity of using that same expertise to guide you home!
“Stop chasing the money.” That was the best advice I ever got. It came from a broker of mine who recognized my anxiety during a slow sales month. I’ve had my fair share of the worrying ebbs in this business. However, when I heard that advice and began following it, everything clicked into place. It makes sense! If you concentrate on the work and helping clients, you aren't concerned about how much money you’re making or the time you’re taking. You just thrive.
When I first bought a home, the agent I worked with was clearly trying to rush through the transaction, so she could start working with the next client. What I realized after having experience in the sector myself was these relationships should last a lifetime. I’m patient with clients. My own lack of education during the buying process led me to becoming a trainer for first-time homebuyers.
First meetings are always the part of the job I like the best, and as a Virginia native, I’m always excited to share my knowledge of the area. I look forward to building a relationship with you!
Sincerely,
Carla Moore
REALTOR®
