our biz: PROFESSIONAL WISDOM
Talk
with the
Business Titans
BY MISTY BROWNING
Terri Stokes —
Real Estate Broker, Founder of Terin Realty
PCT: What do you do in your day to day?
TS: Every day is different - it’s one of the things I love about this
business, but it’s very different than many people think. In addition
to showing or listing properties, I spend a lot of time on contracts
and making sure all aspects are going smoothly from the loan to the
appraisal. I do a good deal of marketing for my listings to sell quickly
at the highest price. I don’t believe in just putting a sign in the yard
and hoping it sells. I believe marketing, knowledge and negotiation
set an agent apart, so I’ve worked at honing those skills. I regularly
take time to increase my knowledge, so that’s part of my day-to-day as
well. Since starting TERIN Realty, I’m spending more and more time
assisting our agents with their needs, training agents and handling
the brokerage end of things. Because I am out and about and taking
phone calls throughout the day, I often stay up until 2:00 am or later,
working on paperwork or things I need undisturbed time for. I work
many more hours than most people realize. I wouldn’t trade the crazy
hours, though, because I love the flexibility. I also believe in being
involved in the community and volunteering. I don’t ever get bored!
PCT: How did you get into this business?
TS: I was always interested in real estate and still have books I read on
real estate before I was 20 years old. I always loved old houses and
ranches and little cottages. However, I don’t come from a family that
was involved in real estate, building, or ranching - any of the ways
that have given some an “in” in this business, so I didn’t know much
about real estate as a career except that you didn’t get a paycheck! I
began supporting myself at 17 while putting myself through college,
so I needed a regular paycheck. I had worked for an airline and
as a lighting director for everything from Garth Brooks and Willie
Nelson, to Lipizzaner Horse shows. I bought and remodeled several
homes for myself over the years and continued to learn. An injury
led me to refocus, and I realized it was time. I began my real estate
career appraising houses, not selling them. While doing my appraiser
apprenticeship, I had people that would ask me to help them buy a
home, because of the knowledge so, I got my sales license and did
both. I then changed firms and became both a realtor and the Fort
Worth office manager for a large real estate company. From there,
I got my broker’s license and started TERIN Realty, along with my
partner, Justin Collins and our Director of Operations, Janet McReyn-
olds. We wanted to offer the utmost in friendly, professional service
along with current technology to make things easier for our clients,
and a great working environment and better overall package for our
46
agents than other firms were offering.
PCT: What is your back up job if you weren’t
in this business?
TS: It’s hard to imagine something not real
estate related, such as investment properties
or appraising. But if I were to do something
entirely different, I’d probably like to write
non-fiction. I’ve had both my writing and
photographs published, but I tend to be such
a perfectionist about that type of thing, I might
make myself crazy.
PCT: What is your favorite thing about your
job?
TS: The relationships I’ve formed. I have
become good friends with many clients. I’ve
helped several families sell or buy on 6-7
different transactions with various family