Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Smith.
Elizabeth, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
According to my mother, I was born to educate. And my memories of playing school in my makeshift classroom with dolls, siblings, and stuffed animals as students are strong. That early practice led me to a 35-year love affair with teaching- first in Gallatin, TN and then at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet in downtown Nashville. The relationships with students in the context of reading and writing are what I really loved, and I can honestly say I have hundreds of “favorites”.
I landed in Nashville when it was time to go to college because my father was transferred here in 1978. Vanderbilt University called my name and those years on West End with plenty of visits to local places like Rotier’s convinced me that Music City would be my hometown for a lifetime.
Love, marriage, and babies took me to Sumner County after graduation where I rooted out a place for myself as a transplant from Atlanta. Gallatin is where I bought my first house- at auction no less. We set up housekeeping on Christmas Eve in only a few rooms since the 4400 SF 50-year-old home had been empty for some time, and critters big (think very large snake) and small had taken over the second floor. That property was my first chance to make a home for myself and my family and the process of building my nest fostered a deep love of home design.
Life brings changes and mine is no exception. A divorce and a few years later a second marriage, precipitated a move from Gallatin to Nashville. My new husband and I spent hours on many Sunday afternoons driving all over town looking for the right neighborhood for us. We went to countless open houses, and at one of them, met a REALTOR® who would become a dear friend who then helped us buy our current home in Lockeland Springs- over a year after we started searching. Thankfully she still loves us even after all that looking!
Lockeland Springs is where I refined my love of “home”. I joined the neighborhood association board, and for over 15 years worked on the annual home tour, only briefly deterred by a global pandemic. Knocking on doors to meet neighbors and ask them to open their homes was not a chore for me. Being told no did not stop me, and those who said “yes” spurred me on to the next one. Getting to walk through with them and discuss what they might do for the tour was good practice for helping sellers get ready for the market even though I didn’t know it at the time.
My love of teaching and learning and relationships continues today at RE/MAX Choice Properties. Helping clients navigate the process of buying and selling homes and pursuing additional real estate designations taps into my skills as a professional educator. I take care to know the market well and meticulously research pricing for both sellers and buyers. I keep going to class and have earned the e-Pro certification to help me master technology as part of my business, SRES which equipped me to serve my senior clients, the ABR gave me an advanced education in working with my buyer-clients, and the GRI designation which demonstrates my graduation from an advanced program of the REALTOR® Institutes. I still volunteer as Vice-President of the Lockeland Springs Neighborhood Association and as chair of the home tour committee. I keep one foot in the education world by volunteering as a member of the board for the YMCA Center for Civic Engagement, as a reading mentor at our neighborhood school, Warner Elementary, and as a member of the Greater Nashville Realtors Public Education Committee.
I’m not sure I would have believed the story of where my life would be during this era had it been predicted for me years ago. My passion for building relationships was born in the classroom and is flourishing in real estate. Helping young people, especially young women, build wealth through property ownership has been an unexpected joy. I invite you to join me on this journey! Let’s work together to help you find “home”, too.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any new endeavor has its bumps in the road, but I have been blessed with a tremendous mentor in my colleague, John Brackeen. He has answered every question and guided me through the difficult transactions. When helping people with what is likely the largest financial investment they ever make, the pressure to do the best job possible for them is great. There have been a few sleepless nights, but with John to advise me, my clients have prevailed.
As you know, we’re big fans of RE/MAX Choice Properties. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am an independent agent at RE/MAX Choice Properties. The RE/MAX brand is known worldwide for professional, successful agents, and the global reach sets it apart from others. I chose this specific brokerage because I have known the owners for over 25 years and feel confident in the integrity of their firm. My core values include honesty, trustworthiness, and care for others above myself. Knowing that RE/MAX Choice Properties shares these makes it a perfect fit for me. I am proud that my clients feel safe with me on the home buying or selling journey, which sometimes occurs in times of crisis. Helping families sort out where they will live after divorce and comforting children who feel unsure are unexpected specialties that give me great satisfaction. I have also loved helping young women realize the goal of owning a home on their own.
What makes you happy?
I am happiest when I am surrounded by my family. My husband, children, and grandson are the lights of my life, and I was blessed to be the caretaker for both of my parents at the end of their lives. That may seem the opposite of happy, but those last days with them were gifts that I will treasure forever. My business gives me the flexibility to be there when one of my children calls. Recently, my daughter needed help with daycare unexpectedly. It was a joy for me to be able to say yes to a day with my favorite 3 year old. He went on a listing appointment with me, and I got to share one of his mom’s favorite movies from her childhood with him. It was a great day!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.elizabethsellsnashville.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth_smith_realtor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleAreaProperties
Image Credits
Mario Charles Productions
