Today we’d like to introduce you to Karuna Singhvi.
Hi Karuna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My husband and I immigrated to the USA from India back in 2000 as students. After finishing our studies in Michigan, we moved to Florida in 2003 and have been here since then. With a desire to go back to work after my third child was born, I earned an associate degree in Interior Design. However, because of the slump in the housing market at that time, jobs were few and far between. I would help my husband at his pharmacy, but it was not working out for me personally and professionally since I was not able to spend much time with my kids and a conventional 9-5 job was not a good fit for me as I wanted some flexibility with my time, given it was just my husband and me raising the kids.
Around that time, my husband was investing in the real estate market and I decided to give it a try as well. I got my license in 2013 and since then, I have been a realtor. I love and enjoy being a real estate agent to my core. I love the excitement that comes with showing prospective homes to first time buyers, their expressions when they see the house of their dreams, and the glow on their faces when the house is closed upon when they hold the keys to their new abode and they know it’s theirs… it’s just amazing!
There is immense satisfaction and pride in owning a home of one’s own and as a realtor, my job is to find a home that perfectly matches the requirements of the buyer. When I achieve that, the satisfaction of helping people find their dream home is why I chose to become a realtor.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was definitely not a smooth road. I have struggled a lot. I had a home, three kids and a business to take care of and it was overwhelming at times. My third one was very little when I started the business, and there were times when I would have to bring him along with me for hours in the car to show homes to the clients. Friends and family are usually skeptical and are the last ones to give you business and I found it to be true to some extent. I had to spend a lot of money to get leads from different sources, but now that I have been in the business for so many years, I get referrals from my previous clients. The real estate business is said to be based on trust, and if you are not in constant touch with your clients, they are likely to take their business elsewhere. Because of a busy schedule at the home front with school-going kids, I have lost a few clients, but I do not dwell upon it. I do feel bad sometimes but kids and family have always been my priority, from when the kids were younger to now when they are growing up so fast and heading toward high school and college.
Nowadays, there is a lot of competition in the field of real estate and new agents are ready to do anything and everything to earn clients’ business. I found myself falling down that rabbit hole a couple of years ago but now I feel that it’s not worth it. It is far more important to build a loyal customer base and goodwill. Word-of-mouth matters most in this business. I like to stay in touch with my trustworthy clients and am always open to meeting new clients. I feel that I have achieved a balance between my professional and personal lives, and the struggles along the way have been completely worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think I’m creative (LOL). Since childhood, I have loved to paint and dance. My career has, of course, put me on a totally different route. I’m a real estate agent, but the good part of this field is that coupled with my Interior Design degree, the aesthetic sense that I honed while painting and dancing as a child has given me a creative eye when it comes to things like staging a house, maximizing the potential of empty space, location scouting, ideas for multi-purpose usage of rooms, etc. Each and every house is so different, they all have different stories to tell, different nooks and crannies waiting to be utilized. And I can confidently say that when I have a home to sell, I put my creative side there, and it has served me very well over the years. I specialize in single-family homes, new construction, and first-time buyers.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Being consistent is the key to this business. In any business, clients appreciate personal attention and loyalty and I try to give them as much of my time as possible. I am very approachable and love to work with my clients in a way that prioritizes their vision and their needs. I feel that attention to detail, willingness to hear the clients, availability and a genial disposition are keys to succeeding in this field.
Contact Info:
- Email: karunasellsflorida@gmail.com
- Website: www.karuna.realtor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karunasellsflorida1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karunasellsflorida
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/karunasellsfl
