Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelee Brim.
Hi Shelee, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ll just start from the beginning and you can use or lose…
So many times when people find out I am from Kansas, they have seen the Wizard of Oz and immediately ask about tornadoes. I can answer their questions from first-hand experience. On June 8, 1966 at 7:04 PM tornado sirens sounded and at 7:15 PM the tornado destroyed our home! You don’t realize how important and special a home is until you don’t have one.
I grew up in Topeka and received my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Kansas State University and went on to earn my Master of Arts in Education from MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Upon graduation, my first teaching job was in Pomona, KS. I absolutely loved the small town vibe and still today, I am connected with the teachers, students, and their families. USD 287 offered me the opportunity to coach the Pomona High School volleyball team and throughout our years, we dominated the court.
In 1998, we moved to Shawnee, KS. My husband had been working at the Shawnee Police Department since he graduated from Kansas State University and we felt that it was time to be closer to his work. Upon our move, I spent two years teaching and coaching in the Basehor-Linwood School District before moving to the De Soto School District where I worked until I retired from teaching in 2016. During my time in USD 287, I was selected as Teacher of the Year and was named as the FOX 4 Crystal Apple Teacher.
Shawnee is such an amazing community. The motto of Shawnee is “Hometown With Heart.” This is absolutely true…people know each other, help when needed, and support our community.
Growing up, my father was a dual career real estate agent. Back in the day, I helped my dad by filling his three-ring binder with the new listing sheets and pulling out the sheets of homes that had sold. He would give me descriptions of his clients’ needs and I would go through the potential homes and select the ones that I felt were the right fit.
In 2007, I decided to become a dual career real estate agent too! My goal was to create a business that I could move into upon my retirement from teaching.
DETOUR: In May of 2016, I received a call asking if I would consider representing western Shawnee and run for the Kansas House of Representatives. I was dumbfounded because I had been in a classroom for 50 straight years (I started kindergarten at 4.) and had not even been on Student Council. Long story short, I ended being chosen to represent Shawnee over two incumbents. I really didn’t have time to campaign, but my husband said, “You have been campaigning since we moved to Shawnee. The way you treat people, volunteer in the community, and your leadership is your campaign.” I agreed to serve one term.
In 2019, I was finally able to become a full-time real estate agent. My entire career has been with Keller Williams. In this industry, it is rare to see an agent stay with one company. I have created a team of amazing agents with huge hearts for helping others and giving back to their communities.
From the time I was born, I have always had a dog. There is just something about a dog that makes life better. Throughout the years, we have rescued numerous dogs and made them a part of our family. Combining my love for dogs with real estate was a goal of mine and that is how KC Homes and Hounds was born. With each transaction, I make a donation to sponsor a rescue dog in a local animal rescue organization. I have helped with Always & Furever in Spring Hill, KS and served as the Intake Coordinator for Imagine Furever Ranch in Shawnee, KS.
On a personal note….I am married to my high school sweetheart Mitch Brim. We will celebrate 40 years together on our next anniversary! Our son Colby and his wife Melanie live in Roeland Park, KS and also have a rescue dog. Our daughter Kourtney and her husband Steve live in Sneads Ferry, NC with their EIGHT children! Yes, I am a frequent flier and spend lots of time in North Carolina with our grandchildren.
Life is about giving and serving others. The most important gift you can give is your time.
My Dream: Move to the country and create a senior dog sanctuary where “imperfect” dogs live out their years in a “perfect” setting.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I can honestly say that I have been truly blessed and have so many amazing people in my life that have been supportive of everything I do!
Obstacles:
When our daughter was only a year old, I had strep throat and was experiencing symptoms that weren’t “normal.” At that time, I was diagnosed with poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. The strep infection had attacked both of my kidneys and I was told that they were functioning as an 80 year old person and I would most likely need to go on dialysis and need a transplant. As a new mother, this was definitely not the news I wanted to hear! Thankfully, I had amazing doctors and great care and to this day monitor my levels and have not had to go on dialysis or have a transplant!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Legacy Partners, I have built a team of like-minded agents that truly have a heart of service. Each one of us has a focus on helping others. Each year, Keller Williams gives out a Big Heart Award and I have been honored to receive this award two times.
Shelee Brim – Dog Rescue Volunteer
Michelle Bloomer – Special Olympics Volunteer
Tonya Coup – School Community Volunteer
Debbie Ronning – Military Family and Volunteer
Winnie the Pooh said it best, “It isn’t much good having anything exciting, if you can’t share it with somebody.” Celebrating with my community and giving back is important to me. Here are a few ways our team gives back to our community:
1. Sponsor of the Mill Valley High School Boys Soccer Team
2. Annual Senior Scholarship
3. Salvation Army Bell Ringer
4. Red Day – We close down our office on the second Thursday in May and volunteer in our community.
5. We pick up trash along Shawnee Mission Parkway four times a year.
6. Salvation Army Toy Drive
7. Student and Staff Recognition
8. Pancakes and Ponies Sponsor – Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy
9. Grace Iz Forever Annual Dog Walk Sponsor
10.Veterans Community Project Volunteer
11. Special Olympics Volunteer
12. Mill Valley High School Cheerleading Sponsor
13, Shawnee Rotary
14. Shawnee Chamber of Commerce
Getting to know our clients on a personal level allows us to build lasting relationships that continue far beyond the closing table. As a former teacher, I love it when I have clients that include children or grandchildren in the process. It allows the children to feel like a valued participant. If I am selling a home, each of the children have a Listing Agreement that they sign with me and they agree to keep their room clean, make their bed, put away toys. Parents love this because they just have to remind their children about the Listing Agreement when they need help getting ready for a showing! At closing, each child gets to pick a gift card at closing. I have also created a Kid’s Buyer Agreement and each child gets a Kid Kit that they bring along to showings. It keeps them busy and makes showings much easier!
We also like to hold Community Events which allow us to interact and have fun with our community and clients. Here are few of the events we have held in the past.
1. Annual Thanksgiving Pie Party
2. Egg My Yard – Easter
3. Client Photo Shoot
4. May Day Flower Drop Off
5. Trunk or Treat
6. Parade of Homes Bus Tour
Real estate is a lot like teaching because both are all about guiding people through something new, sometimes overwhelming, and helping them feel confident along the way. Just like in the classroom, I break down complex steps, answer a million questions, and make sure people feel seen, heard, and supported. Communication, patience, and trust are key in both roles.
I specialize in helping first-time homebuyers, growing families, and folks who are looking to downsize or “right-size” into a home that’s easier to manage. A big part of my focus is working with people who are in the same stage of life I’m in—ready for a home that fits this next chapter a little better. I truly understand the emotions and needs that come with that kind of move, because I’m living it too. Whether it’s navigating buying and selling at the same time or figuring out what “right-sizing” looks like, I love walking clients through every step and helping them make confident, informed decisions.
Check out our logo! My daughter-in-law, Melanie, created it for my team. The dog in the logo is Chevy. We adopted Chevy from Always & Furever in Spring Hill. He was that one special dog….he only had one eye and he was blind. Chevy was so resilient and could teach us a lot from the way he lived life. He saw this his heart, not his eyes. Unfortunately, we lost him this last November….he made a lasting impression on everyone he met.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
That’s a great question!
I absolutely loved playing softball! It all started when I made a call to find out how to start a softball team. One of our friends had two brothers that agreed to coach out team. That’s how it all started. When I was in high school, softball became more competitive and I tried out for a team called the Hit & Runs. At that time, they hadn’t let anyone on the team except for the girls from Shawnee Heights and I attended Topeka West. I made the team and became the new girl on third base. The memories I have from all of our years playing softball are some of the very best. I even ended up being named All-State Third Base!
I continued to play on past college and just a few years ago, I took the field at the home of the Kansas City Monarchs for the annual American Dream Auction and “League of R Own” softball game and helped raise $87,770 for the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sheleesellskc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheleesellskc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheleesellskc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheleesellskc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sheleesellskc
- Other: https://www.kchomesandhounds.com/
