Meet April Kelley

Today we’d like to introduce you to April Kelley.

Hi April, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I made a decision when I was in 8th grade that I was going to be an accountant, and from that moment on, I never waivered from that decision.  I received my accounting degree from CMSU (now UCM) and began a 20+ year career in accounting and finance.   The company I was working for about six years ago was going through a reorganization of management and I was uncertain about my continued role with the company, and this was the first time since I was 13 years old that I questioned if I was in the right field or not.  This was also when home buying reality shows started to become popular and I have always been interested in real estate,  so I decided to study and take the exam and a backup plan. After taking an on-line class and becoming licensed, my intent was to transition out of the corporate world and into a full-time real estate agent. As life would have it, that didn’t work out as planned and I have spent six years as a dual career agent, with my best year of real estate being during the pandemic in 2020. I became a Launch coach for Keller Williams Key Partners in February 2021 and currently coach and train approximately 15 new agents. Being a real estate coach has not only sparked the flame of my own real estate career, it has helped me sharpen my own tool and made me a better negotiator and more educated agent. I am excited to say that as of December 3, I have left the corporate world and am now 100% dedicated to my real estate business and supporting my brokerage.

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?
It has definitely not been smooth. There have been many times over the past six years that I considered getting out of real estate due to personal reasons. In January of 2017, my spouse was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I considered transitioning to full-time real estate at that time, but unfortunately that did not work out. I continued to work both jobs in order to have company paid benefits and retirement. In early 2020, my husband and I separated right at the beginning of the pandemic. I moved with my teenage daughter into my mother’s basement and poured my energy into both my jobs. As it would turn out, 2020 would end up being my best year in real estate. As my personal life sorted itself out, I focused my efforts in 2021 on coaching new agents and sharing the knowledge I had gained over the past five years as a dual career agent. I remarried in 2021 and have a new outlook on not only my personal future but on my continued success in real estate. I am so incredibly grateful I did not give up my real estate career, as it is my true passion.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Helping clients with the sale or purchase of their home is only one aspect of my job.  I like to think that I am in the business of building relationships with people.  This includes the new agents that I coach, and the other agents I work with.  I strive to be a great communicator so that my clients and other agents always know exactly where we are in a transaction and what to expect next.  While not every transaction is going to be perfect or go smoothly, I will ensure that my clients have the right tools and knowledge to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Will real estate agents become a thing of the past? This is a question that many people have talked about for years, especially as it has become possible to purchase nearly everything online, including new and used cars. In my honest opinion, the answer is no. Purchasing a home is one of the biggest transactions you will make in your life, whether it is for your personal home or an investment. While some parts of the home buying and home selling process may become streamlined, there is still no substitute for having that connection with someone you know, trust, and love to guide you through the process and to be thereafter the transaction closes. I want to be the person my family, friends, or clients call when they need something fixed around the house, want to know the best person for lawn maintenance or snow removal, or even where to take their pet for daycare or grooming. I want to be there to celebrate graduations, marriages, babies, new jobs, retirements, and all the milestones along the way. I believe the agents that focus on these relationship and connections not only with their clients but also with other agents will continue to be successful. Our roles may change some along the way, but I believe the value of a great real estate agent will never decrease.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: aprilsellskc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsellskc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aprilkelleyrealestate