We had the good fortune of connecting with Petrena Jones-Goldsby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Petrena, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I recently relocated to the area from Houston and my work life balance has changed drastically since becoming a full time realtor. I previously worked in the multi-family industry as a leasing consultant for an apartment community with set office hours. Most apartment seekers visit the property on the weekends when they are off for the work week but this began to pose a challenge for my family dynamic. I did hold my real estate license during my work tenure as a leasing consultant and at the end of 2020 decided to put in my notice to pursue real estate as a full time career.

The greatest impact its had is the availability it offers my work schedule since I am a single mother of a son with high functioning autism. As a realtor, I create my own daily schedule allowing me the opportunity to both drop off and pick my son up from school. Recently in the North Texas area, we were hit with a winter storm that had both businesses and schools closed for days. However, being in real estate afforded me the opportunity to still work from home (even for a short time with my son at home) without skipping a beat!

What should our readers know about your business?
What sets me apart me from others is the personal and hands on approach I take when servicing clients and prospects with their real estate needs. I am definitely client focused and results driven. I am extremely personable with my clients going beyond just the commission but treating them as if they are family.

I also do apartment locating and while some locators merely recommend a property just from an online review, I visit these apartment properties in person to get a real life visual of what it would be like to live there. After all, how can I suggest someone call this place home if I would not live there myself? This is why people hire realtors…for our knowledge & advice about the market!

It is definitely not easy in the real estate industry when there is so much competition out there. With majority of people home bound during the pandemic, many decided to pursue careers in real estate. As a result, the number of licensed realtors has increased. For example, in my hometown of Houston before I left included a total of 42,000 realtors in the local association alone!

One of the lessons I’ve learned along the way is that real estate is MY business and I’m a small business owner. That being said as a new realtor, you will get overwhelmed with others advice on what to do, what worked for them or how you should do it. This is completely subjective and you just have to find your niche. I do what works best for ME since I’m doing the labor and the hustling for the business. We as individuals are ever evolving and in this industry, things change in the market all the time.

With my brand, Ask Petrena | REALTOR®, I want people to know that I am here to help them with their real estate need whatever that may be. I do offer services if the client is looking to buy, sell, lease or invest. But it goes farther that that because not everyone can afford to purchase a home right now so this is why I offer free apartment locating as well because for some their dream home may not be in a 2 story home with a white picket fence but in an apartment or condo style setup.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being a recent transient to the Frisco area, if I had to take them anywhere, it would first and foremost be shopping in some of the local spots. I would definitely take them to the Stonebriar area which has a mix of high & low options for those of varying budgets. I would recommend a trip during Christmas time inviting them to the holiday festivities in “The Square” which is a local spot across from the soccer stadium. It has a mix of restaurants, coffee shops and local businesses plus it allows the locals the affordability to walk around the square. However, during the Christmas holiday, this entire area is decorated with lights offering a spectacular show plus an outdoor skating rink. Downtown Frisco is so quaint and still holds on to some of the character of the city so I would take them around and dine at one of the restaurants still located in some of the older homes that have a cottage feel and intimate atmosphere.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So I want to give a shoutout to my real estate agent in Houston who helped me find a house to lease after I sold my home that I’d owned for 12.5 years. She had a similar story to mine of being a stay-at-home mother for a number of years before getting divorced and now taking on the responsibility as the sole provider. She pursued real estate because she still wanted to be at home with her kids but needed an income to support them financially. She encouraged me to pursue real estate offering advice about the business and I enrolled in the program the very next month having completed the coursework in 4 weeks!

Website: www.askpetrena.realtor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askpetrena.realtor/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petrena-jones-goldsby-961223209/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskPetrenaRealtor-103113218980024

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-02tRvSvdJBwvGOGLaImWw

Image Credits
Pearl Woodlake Apartments

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