We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kate Fulford. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kate below.
Hi Kate, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Optimism is one of my defining traits. From an early age, I decided to always look “on the bright side”. I’m not sure exactly when this idea was planted into my brain – but likely just a very supportive family unit. Growing up, I was infused with the energy that I could succeed at anything I put my mind to.
As I grew up, I encountered challenges with difficult outcomes. For example, I was once laid off of a job right after I had just leased a new apartment. After the initial shock, I knew I needed to find a way to experience this as a positive. As a result, I decided to pivot my entire career and fulfill a dream I had of opening a women’s clothing boutique. The “bright side” was that I was in a position to redefine myself – something I may not have done if I had not been forced out of my job.
Now, with clients and projects, I constantly remind myself that “the right thing” will come along, even when I lose out on an opportunity to buy a fixer, or when my clients get outbid on a home. I exude confidence in my optimism – which turns experiences that could result in disappointment into either a stepping stone, learning opportunity or just happenstance. This attitude helps me enjoy a positive outlook on life and my business. I know my clients, friends and family always appreciate this sunny energy.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Growing up, my dad was a real estate agent and I loved emulating him during my play time by setting up a little office in my closet. I liked that he helped people to buy and sell homes and enjoyed a flexible schedule. I often worked for him and others in his office and ended up with a BS in Business with a concentration in Real Estate Finance.
However, when I graduated, I stumbled upon a job in marketing and for the next decade, I delved deep into various types of marketing (field, direct, branding, packaging, naming, promotional) before managing large internet/software projects. When I was laid off, I became an entrepreneur – opening a women’s clothing boutique in San Francisco. When we moved to Portland, I eventually opened a small gift/stationary store. When that didn’t work out as planned, I decided it was time to get into real estate. I was fresh off of selling + buying a home for our family – and I really enjoyed the process.
I’ve been working with Think Real Estate, a small boutique firm in Portland, now for over a decade. I love to embed my marketing and management experience into my role – and working with people on such an emotional and important purchase truly ignites me.
Several years ago, when showing some flipped homes, I found myself wondering why they were all so boring and cookie-cutter? I could not understand why they wouldn’t inject personality into these renovations. A couple of serendipitous ads prompted me to delve into this world. A natural risk-taker, I decided to take the leap into home renovation. My first project was a great success and I quickly realized how much I absolutely LOVE transforming tired, old homes in a state of disrepair into beautiful, stylish + functional places for people to enjoy life. I’ve now renovated 13 homes and already can’t wait to find my next fixer! I call my flips “kate-ovations” because they are definitely not typical flips. My projects pay homage to the era of the home and often keep cherished vintage features (where some may just demo and start new). I also enjoy adding wallpaper and color for flair and excitement.
Now that I feel confident in this work, I love to help other women who want to explore this realm. Mentoring others who also abhor the mediocrity of most flips is a great way to ensure there are more unique and lovely homes available for Portland buyers.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three qualities that have made the most impact on my journey in real estate and home renovation projects are confidence, multi-tasking, and style.
When you decide to make expensive real estate purchases, confidence is key. I need to feel that I know my numbers, I have the knowledge and/or team to attack the problems in a timely manner, and that I have a vision I’m confident will sell the home. Of course I often question myself when things don’t go as planned – so I aim to remind myself that I’m great at what I do, I’m offering something special to the community and that in my heart, I know everything will work out (the optimism helps too!).
I’ve recently discovered Human Design and learned I am a Manifesting Generator. Apparently, we are the queens of multi-tasking and in fact, enjoy having a multitude of projects going on at any one time. This explains why I’ve always been a fantastic project manager and why I love careers that have multi-faceted teams, timelines and layers. Juggling many balls comes naturally to me and I love the excitement of doing many things at the same time. I’m efficient – so multi-tasking is not only easy for me, it’s where I thrive.
Finally, style is something I’ve always been drawn to. My family loves dressing up and my mom adored interior design. I used to paint my bedroom wall a new color with the seasons – I wanted to embody a fresh, new look on a frequent basis. Owning a successful boutique was a dream come true! The buying trips, playing with trends + color – all music to my soul. Home renovation is where I play now – and It really is the most fun for me. Making decisions about paint colors, cabinetry, light fixtures – all bring me incredible joy.
For renovation projects in particular, I think these traits are essential. Your personal style will dictate what sort of project you put out into the world. If you’ve ever renovated any part of your own home, you know it’s a dance that requires choreography in terms of who does what (and when) to ensure that you meet your timeline goals.
As for confidence, I think it’s an important trait in life – but especially for us entrepreneurs! Practice reminding yourself that you are amazing and that you CAN do whatever you set your mind to. Once you see results, you’ll know it’s true.
How would you describe your ideal client?
For my real estate business, my ideal client is someone who puts great value on the role aesthetics play in their world. Because I have such a strong relationship with style, I really think of a home as a place that can impact your joy. The people who come to me that care deeply about what their home space looks and feels like are the most interesting and fulfilling to work with. Largely, because we share the same values – but also it’s just more fun! And I love to embark on the quest for this dream home; when it’s found it’s a new level of satisfaction. I’m not a transactional agent, I really enjoy getting to know my clients and being a part of their journey. I choose to only work with select clients so I can offer the highest level of service – and keep time to do my own renovation projects as well. So for those who cherish living in their version of the most fabulous home (I do not discriminate on architectural style!), I’m your gal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katefulford.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katefulford/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateloganfulford/
Image Credits
HomebodyPNW
Stacks Photo
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