Today we’d like to introduce you to Florence Zimmerman
Florence, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, I was always very familiar with the real estate industry, as my parents have both been in the industry for over 25 years. My mom would always tell me that one day, I’d end up doing the same thing as them. I saw all the high’s and low’s that their career brought; I was too traumatized by the low’s that I saw, that I decided that I would go get the most stable job I could get. I went to college and got my bachelor’s and master’s in accounting.
For several summers, I went to intern for Ernst & Young, a public accounting firm, and ultimately, I received a full time offer from them. I started working in their San Francisco office in August of 2017. Less than 2 months later, I decided I was not cut out for it, so I joined my parents full time. I found a love for real estate I didn’t know I would find, and never looked back.
My husband and I got married the following summer of 2018, and shortly after, we decided that we wanted to leave California. We did not have a rhyme nor reason for picking Orlando, but 6 months after, we drove cross country with our 6-month old pup, and moved to Altamonte Springs in January of 2019.
Starting my real estate career in an entirely new place, with no friends nor family was incredibly challenging. Especially in a career where word of mouth is everything. I tried a lot of things, and one day, decided that I was going to go all in with my Instagram account. 18 months went by with nothing from it, until the first day where I received a message from someone who needed to buy a home. One person turned into dozens, and before I knew it, social media was accounting for over half of my business.
Fast forward, during my time here, I have sold over $45M worth of real estate. I have won the coveted National Association of Realtors (NAR) 30 under 30, Orlando Real Producers 35 under 35, and Property Spark’s Top 100 Florida Realtors on social media. I can attribute a lot of my success, one to God, and two, to always doing my best to do right by people. My clients are extremely important to me, and my goal is to show them the value a good realtor can bring, whether they’re buying a new home, relocating, selling their childhood home, or looking for their dream home.
I don’t think there is anything better than helping others achieve their dreams, all while building a dream life for myself.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not, and some of it I touched on earlier. In the beginning of my career, it was extremely hard to build a book of business, and steady income. I would sometimes go months at a time without a closing, so that was a challenge in of itself.
I always say that as you reach new milestones, your challenges also grow. Sometimes you run into people who make you doubt yourself, opportunities that are shut down before your eyes, hard transactions, but ultimately, those hard moments are where we grow the most.
We’ve been impressed with Florence Zimmerman at Compass, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a local realtor, with over 7 years of experience.
While I can service anyone looking to purchase residential real estate, I specialize in first time buyers, sellers, relocation and new construction. What sets me apart from others are my communication skills, and my attention to detail. I always answer my phone, which is a running joke that realtors do not, and I always like for my clients to know how important they are to me.
I pay a lot of attention to detail when it comes to all parts of the buying and selling process. I like to be 10 steps ahead of my clients, and help foresee any potential issues, and address them early on. I also love to provide them with a truly white glove experience, and make an often stressful experience a pleasant and memorable one.
What matters most to you?
Helping others fulfill their goals matters to me. I love waking up every day and knowing that I am making a difference in the life of someone else. Real estate is an incredibly challenging career, so much that 88% of realtors quit before their 2 year mark. It’s the job satisfaction, however, that keeps me going, even on the hard days.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://florencezimmerman.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/soldbyflo/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/soldbyflo/
- Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88e77bc5a74f188f:0x620e22f34c0d473c?source=g.page.m.we._
Image Credits
Shay Walker Photo
