Meet Sunny Sutherland-Depaz

 

We were lucky to catch up with Sunny Sutherland-Depaz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sunny, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I believe my work ethic comes from my mother. As a first-generation American from a Belizean family, I know first hand how challenging it was for her to establish a fruitful life here in America. I witnessed her work multiple jobs at once to support our family. She was also single parent who worked tirelessly to achieve her US citizenship, earn a college degree, and ultimately purchase a home. Today, as a married mother of two I am grateful for the sacrifices she made. She’s never accepted mediocrity in how she showed up to work, her grades or performance as an employee. Her hard work and integrity is proof that doing your job well will always serve your best interest.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a Real Estate agent serving communities in and surrounding Austin, TX. After relocating here in 2017 from Los Angeles, CA my curiosity for discovering friends and community led me to a career that would allow me to explore Austin and be a full time mother. What I didn’t count on, was how much I would enjoy the work I do and how much it would allow me to grow personally. Real Estate can be complicated and scary- but its also fun and allows me to help individuals navigate often times the biggest decisions and investments a person will ever make.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Skills that have been most impactful in my journey are communication, a natural desire to learn more by independent research and taking pride in my work.

We live in a fast paced world where connections can happen anywhere- online, the gas station, standing in line at the local market. Organic conversations and personal relationships have led me to many of my clients. People have to trust you and and know that you care- that don’t see them as a transaction. Once engaged with a potential client, I establish clear goals,
assess risk and prepare them for the best and worst possible outcomes. Honesty, which goes hand in hand with communication is vital when having these discussions. My approach when supporting buyers and sellers is easy, I’m always available to answer their questions and address their concerns outside of the few hours per day that I intentionally set to spend with my young family-most people respect that boundary because they too have busy lives and families to support.

I truly believe that there is something to learn from each and every transaction, even for seasoned Realtors. Whether it’s scrubbing data, or keeping abreast of the latest trends in design and marketing, this industry is ever-changing and one cannot expect to be successful without educating themselves regularly. Most Real Estate agents are independent contractors, there is no manager pushing you to learn more or use the latest apps to work more efficiently, your success will be determined by how willing you are to seek those things for yourself and how you can apply them to your role. Recent changes in laws pertaining to Real Estate have changed the landscape of our industry, being proficient and well versed with these changes protects both myself and clients from the risk of litigation.

Lastly, Pride.

In a world where everyone does things faster, I am focused on producing quality results for the people I serve. I attend most if not all inspections, I attend every photo shoot, I host my own open-houses. I outsource tasks only to trusted professionals for whom I have developed deep trust and respect. When my name and company logo appear on a listing, trust that I am proud of the work I have done paying attention to every detail. When appearing in rooms and spaces that others have achieved higher success or production, I hold my head high knowing that I have earned the right to be there and that I have to the potential to sit in those seats by consistently producing quality results and treating others fairly and professionally.

For those who are early in their journey, I implore you to ask questions and simply SHOW UP! Whether you are an entrepreneur or employee, people will take notice if you dare to dream and believe in yourself.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I take a moment for myself by taking a walk or simply stepping away from the chaos. I pray, and then I ask myself one simple question, “Is this something I can control or choose the outcome of?” If it isn’t, I give it my best effort and make peace with it. If the answer is yes, then I search for plans for solutions and execute. I haven’t always used this method, but having a demanding career and family will quickly cause you to burn out if you don’t establish boundaries to protect yourself and mental health.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Felecia Reed Photography
Carla Taylor Photography

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