Designated Broker, Keri Means Leads Her Team With Experience & Knowledge of The Local Market.
Q: Can you share with us what made you decide to have a career in Real Estate?
A: The part that drew me to real estate is there are so many different aspects of real estate and always something new to learn. Either it is something that is changing in the market or choosing a different type of real estate (i.e., residential sales, property management, etc.) to learn about.
Q: How long have you been active in Real Estate?
A: I have been active in real estate for 19 years. I have been a broker/owner of my own company for 13 years and have been teach pre-licensing and continuing education for three years.
Q: Do you specialize in certain types of properties?
A: I specialize in residential resales in the Phoenix Metro area. I work with both buyer and sellers. I have an exceptionally large family, since my business is based on referrals I have chosen to sell across the valley versus focusing on a specific area.
Q: Can you share with our audience what Buyers & Sellers can expect when they work with you?
A: When a new client works with me, they can expect support in the process from beginning to end and beyond. It is not just about finding the right house or the paperwork for me, it is also helping to navigate the changes happening in their life and the challenges happening in the transaction. I am proactive in these challenges and make it as easy as possible for all involved.
Q: If we interviewed all your past clients … what is one common word that comes up when they describe working with you?
A: The word that would come up the most often is solid. They know I am committed to them, and they can rely on me for support with all aspects of the transaction and more. The knowledge I bring to the transaction shows so that they are able to be confident and comfortable.
Q: What's the greatest fear you've had to overcome to get where you are today?
A: The greatest fear I have faced is whether I can support myself with my real estate career. I lost my husband seven years ago and had to face being the sole income provider. After making the decision that this was the career I wanted, I made the commitment to focus and succeed in my career.
Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?
A: The strongest lesson I have learned in real estate is not to make it personal when or a friend or family member chooses to work with another agent. It has helped to look at it from their perspective and be open to different opinions.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?
A: The advice I would give to the young women who wants to succeed in real estate is to be yourself and follow your intuition. For example, so many women get into this as a career and they get started prospecting however their boss tells them, instead of looking at what fits for them, and they are comfortable with doing. This as in any career, just because success works for one person in a specific way, doesn’t mean it is a fit for another. Do what works for you, there are many ways to get to the end goals and you should be comfortable and enjoy it.
Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?
A: It is a challenge sometimes to manage my work life balance. I have learned a couple of things to help. Set aside time for myself, mark it on the calendar and schedule my clients around this. I have also learned when I have a break in my schedule not to be frantic and worry about where the next client is coming from and enjoy the time. Not every minute in my day has to be scheduled.
Five Things About Keri Means
1. Tell me about the best vacation you’ve ever taken.
The most amazing vacation I have been on is a Safari in Kenya, Africa. To see the animals in their natural habitat was breathtaking.
2. Do you read reviews, or just go with your gut?
I go on my gut. I have for several years taken classes from an education center called Intuitive Development. This has helped me learn to listen and trust my intuition.
3. If you could go back in time to change one thing, what would it be?
To find the balance with home life sooner. It took my husband passing away to realize there is not always a tomorrow to do it.
4. Would you rather cook or order in?
I would rather cook. I love trying new recipes, especially with food that I grow in my garden.
5. Cake or pie?
Cake every single time, especially vanilla cake with butter cream frosting.