Life & Work with Paula Voss

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paula Voss.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was on a growing real estate team 2011 and left them in 2016 to start my own team. It was a horrible transition, and that team whom I had known since high school made my life very difficult during that time. They said I would also never make it on my own. In 2016, Paula Voss & Company was born, and in 2017 I had the worst year of my life (my dad passed and I had a botched hysterectomy and became septic and almost passed away myself). That month, we had the biggest month in sales so far that year. It was amazing what can happen when you work hard, then something tragic happens. We just kept moving along. Things came into perspective for me due to that year for sure. It changed my life. Who I do business with, what really matters, integrity, and true relationships.

Since 2016, we have grown over 25% each year and hit close to the 20M mark in 2020 during a global pandemic, which just two full-time agents and an assistant. We have done all this WITHOUT BUYING LEADS. We are 100% referral-based business. We call this relational real estate!

Each month we do a really nice monthly giveaway via text to our VIP clients. They respond, and they are put into a randomizer and winners announced on the first of the month. I believe this program has put us in front of our people each month and starts conversations. It allows us to contact the winners but also the people that entered. This business is all about relationships. The giveaway really doesn’t matter, it’s about the conversations that we have.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Biggest struggle is not only running a team but how we handle everything else in life. Family, free time, etc.

My team has remained in tact – we are not a revolving door like others. Jill has been with me since 2013. And, my assistant is my best friend since 8th grade. Business can be ran with people that you love and admire. Don’t hire friends they say – it was the best decision I made other than the one in 2016 when I left the team.

But my biggest change I have seen in myself is living day by day with the fact that we have one life to live. We need to live it to the fullest. Also, do something you enjoy. I enjoy photography. I am such an amateur!!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One thing that 2017 taught me was that LIFE IS SHORT. When you almost pass away and you lose a parent the same time, your perspective is different. During this time, I switched brokerages because I was no longer finding joy. Joy is a choice, and I had to make one, and that I do not have to lose that joy again.

One thing that can rob your joy is difficult people. Another thing that is different for us is that we do not have to work with everyone. It’s our choice. When we get a referral, we do a consultation, and they are not only interviewing us, but we are them. We have told some people that they need to interview another agent, and we are moving on. How many agents do that? Most take what they can get. When red flags are flying, we halt.

Another thing about us that is different is this is our full-time career. We are not part-time agents doing this in the evenings or helping family and friends. This is our life, not joking. We make each transaction a personal one – they say not to get emotional. True, but we do actually become friends with most of our clients. We are in this for the long haul, not just one paycheck. We send birthday cards, new baby gifts, graduation presents, sympathy gifts. I had one client recently that told me he has never had a real estate agent keep in touch with them after they purchased a home. WHAT? How does that happen. They call me to this day when they need a contractor or have a simple question about the area. That is who we are!

The last and final thing is that what do you as a career is great, but what you do with your life makes all the difference. How you live day to day is the key. Money is not everything, but how you walk in this thing called life is what truly matters.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Being a new agent in this post-pandemic era is so hard. Nobody is getting trained, and they go by the seat of their pants through a transaction. Since we are a team, we actually all help each other. We do have a newer agent on our team, and we spend a lot of time walking through everything on a daily basis. My best advice for a new agent is to join a team or a good brokerage that actually trains you. The fall-out rate for new agents is higher than 85% mostly due to lack of training.

Networking with our clients for our team is again, relationship. We have a few annual client appreciation events that are free to our clients. Our favorite one is renting out a movie theatre where they can bring their family,

My biggest advice is to get a COACH. A business coach/life coach, it has made all the difference in the world for me personally and professionally.

Contact Info:

• Email: paula@pvcorealestate.com
• Website: www.pvcorealestate.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulavosskcrealtor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulavossrealestate
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulavosskc
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavosskcrealtor

Image Credits
Paula Voss, pvphotography