Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, Clarksville, Tennessee.
How and when did you get started in real estate?
I always liked home styles and my husband and I had built two homes. It seemed like a natural fit. I entered the business in 1980 just as my daughter was entering first grade. What attracted me was being able to flex my work time so I could be available for her busy after-school activities. I quickly learned that it wasn’t as flexible as I had originally imagined. I had to employ “mom car-pooling” and her dad’s help to make it all come together.
What do you like the most about being a REALTOR®?
Every day is different and I literally can make business happen just when I need it. When you love what you do, the energy oozes onto others and they get excited, too.
What do you like about being a CRS?
The education is the best in the real estate industry. It is like taking master-level classes and reaching into a deep knowledge and understanding of professionalism. After I earned the designation, I felt extremely well-equipped to raise my business to the next level of service for my clients.
What do you like about Clarksville? What makes serving this community unique?
I like that Clarksville is a big, little town. It has grown extensively over the last 10 years and is now almost a bedroom community to Nashville. People are friendly in the South. Clarksville is home to Fort Campbell and a huge military population, and it is a joy to help these military families, get them settled quickly and show them how glad we are they are part of our community.
Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do in your spare time?
I love to read, garden and cook when I’m at home. I have a small kitchen garden and grow herbs and vegetables. It gives me great satisfaction to create dinner using fresh pickings from my backyard. I love to travel. Part of the travel aspect is exploring and learning more about our country’s history. My husband and I are on a mission to visit all the presidential home places and museums across the country. We are 60 percent complete.
What kind of trends are transforming real estate businesses for agents and how do you stay on top of such a changing field?
Buyers are becoming more and more sophisticated and coming to the transaction knowing what they can and can’t do. They don’t want to be rushed. This is challenging because they don’t want agent interaction early on. On my website, I provide plenty of information such as community and neighborhood details, home-selling tips and an easy search tool to help them get the data they need. My goal is to be there as the person with the answers when they are finally ready to take action.
You are a prolific ActiveRain user. How do you suggest people use the platform?
It is the largest real estate blogging site anywhere because the membership provides real-life experiences and tips on how to be more professional and proficient in the real estate industry. The network also serves as a marketing platform to broadcast listing and selling information. I get tremendous SEO value from blogging about my areas of expertise and the communities I serve. It all comes from my ActiveRain blogs. This translates to more clients and sales.
You also do a lot of blogging on the platform. How do you come up with ideas to blog about that will also help your SEO value?
I want to be known as the real estate expert in my community. I share what is happening in my town, the real estate market and the neighborhoods I serve. I regularly answer the questions my customers and clients ask. I also share situations that come up that can serve as a good learning experience for my readers. Keyword choice is important, and choosing good titles.
We gotta ask—do you think your name has helped your career? Do you have fun with the connection to the late actress?
That is a question I get asked a lot. It hasn’t hurt, for sure. What it does more than anything is give a familiarity to me. People think they know me or have previously met me because of the name. It tends to stick. I love it when I have someone who remembers the Debbie Reynolds movies and asks me if I sing and dance. I tell them I will be glad to sing and dance for them after the closing.
Debbie Reynolds, CRS, achieved her CRS Designation in 1999. She can be reached at 931-503-8000, ext. 730, or dreynoldsrealestate@gmail.com.
