Meet Shawanda Robinson

We were lucky to catch up with Shawanda Robinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I appreciate the opportunity to tell my story! I’m Shawanda Robinson, a DC native & DMV foodie. I grew up in the Petworth neighborhood in Washington DC, attended private schools, DC public schools and local colleges. I worked in the federal government for several years at different agencies before settling in at NASA Headquarters. In hindsight, I believe that I was always meant to be an entrepreneur; a 9 to 5 just wasn’t my thing. Everyone has to find their own path and what works for them. Life is for the living and I enjoy doing a variety of things. I will usually try anything at least once so I can form a true opinion about it. I enjoy dining throughout the DMV, going to lounges, seeing local go-go bands, supporting small and black owned businesses and interactive activies like mini golf, axe throwing etc. I strive to treat people the way that I want to be treated and just overall love to have fun with the people that I love.

I am a REALTOR® in Washington, DC and Virginia and an Associate Broker in Maryland. I have been with my current brokerage, Village Premier Collection (VPC) Maryland for about a year and a half. . VPC has been great and I have met so many wonderful people. October 2023, will be my 8th year as a REALTOR®. I plan to become an Associate Broker in DC & VA in 2024, and will open my own brokerage when the time is right for me. My journey into real estate started while I was working at NASA Headquarters. I felt like I was wasting my life away and had to dig really deep to find what made me happy in life. I thought about becoming a REALTOR® for many years and didn’t pursue it. I decided to bet on myself and it has been one of my best decisions to date. It is a very fulfilling yet sometimes challenging profession. You wear many hats, you’re an independent business owner and have to run your business and staff, you have clients and customers that you’re working with, you have vendors to connect with, you have social media to manage, you have continuing education and changes to procedures and forms to keep up with; these are just a few things. It definitely keeps you on your toes and I love it!
Real estate has connected me to so many people, I have clients for life, new friends & framily), business associates and strong network. I wouldn’t trade being a REALTOR® for anything in the world.
I assist my clients with every expert knowledge about the home buying, selling or renting process in DC, MD & VA. This can be some or all of these: finding the right lender and title company, the right property, I am happy to have helped hundreds of people/families these past eight years. I truly cannot imagine my life without real estate. I provide free education about Real Estate and help people buy, rent, rent to own, and sell homes throughout the DMV. I work with first time and repeat buyers and sellers, investors, and renters.
Real Estate is a thrilling career because every day is different, every client is different, every transaction is different. It allows me the opportunity to help my clients with some of the biggest decisions and most memorable moments in their lives. I am committed to educating my community about the benefits of real estate. Purchasing a home is not for everyone however, a lot of people don’t quite understand all the pros and cons. It is important to me to advise and provide information so informed decisions can be made.
I have been blessed with some of the best clients EVER! It brings me joy to really help people’s goals and dreams come true. I am involved in major milestones in people’s lives and I don’t take that for granted. I am proud to provide my clients a no-pressure experience’; it is always best when they want to make a move on their own and I am just there to make their move happen.
Education about real estate is truly needed because there are so many misconceptions out there. I offer free consultations and workshops to spread information about buying and selling real estate. Workshops are in a group setting and consultations 1-on-1 and personalized based on your specific needs and/or goals. I normally have a workshop every other month (this can vary). My social meda pages provide a wealth of information about buying or selling.
Everyone is not always completely ready to get started; another service I provide is assisting with a plan to purchase or sell a home. Buying or selling is truly a personal experience and I want to ensure you can reach your specific goals. That sometimes means planning for a later date and taking varied steps during that time frame. I use my social media to spread accurate information about buying and selling too. There is so much false information out there and I am working to change that.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Reading – A majority of things can be solved with just fully reading. Back in the day, we used to use the term RIF = reading is fundamental. I stand on RIF and not just reading; comprehension and clarity is key! I read everything several times to make sure I understand. I still love reading actual books and visiting libraries, although I love my Kindle Scribe too. Reading and attention to detail are very important in real estate transactions. Read all the time and often it makes things so much easier!

Interpersonal Skills – I know that is not just one skill however having all of these is necessary to be an awesome REALTOR®.
Communication.
Empathy.
Emotional intelligence.
Conflict resolution.
Negotiation.
Listening.
Positive attitude.
Teamwork.

Listening – to my customers and clients is imperative. Listening to understand and not to respond is the key. Buying or selling a home is a pretty big deal and it can be overwhelming to some folks. Me having a full understanding of what their desired outcome is the key to success. My clients knowing that I have heard, understand and respect their concerns and goals makes them trust that I will advocate for them. It makes them trust that they can rely on my guidance and puts them at ease. Everyone wants to be heard and I make sure my clients know I hear them.

My advice to anyone starting out as a REALTOR® is take your time to research and learn as much as you can from other professionals. Only be a subject matter expert in Real Estate and leave all other areas to trusted professionals. Find a brokerage that aligns with your goals; a place that your Broker will provide adequate guidance. Mentors and coaches are also influential in going down the right path. Be a sponge and take everything in; never stop learning, be someone that people can relate to and feel comfortable with. Never think you know it all, or stop being teachable and coachable. If you have any questions about starting your real estate career, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to share anything that I can.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
My clients depend on me to connect them with trusted vendors in almost every capacity, not just home related. Having a strong referral network is important to me; I want to ensure that I give my clients the best recommendations. I am always in search of reliable and reputable service providers that operate in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. Here are some of the service professionals that I want to partner and collaborate with:
– Attorneys: probate, estate planning, divorce, family, real estate, landlord/tenant issues etc.
– Financial & wealth planners
– Mortgage Lenders/Brokers
– Insurance Agents: auto, home, life etc.
– Settlement/title companies
– General contractors, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, architects, h/vac, carpenters, painters, mold remediators,
handymen etc. Anyone that can provide a service that needs to happen in a house.
– Home Inspectors
– Appraisers: residential and commercial
– Cleaning companies
– Event planners
– Caterers
– Beauty professionals

If you provide a service not listed above that you feel would be beneficial to my clients, please still reach out to me. I am sure I accidentally left someone/something out.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Brandi Page Susan Josesph

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