Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Ballou.
Austin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I attended Northwest Missouri State University where I majored in Business Marketing. Fresh out of college in 2009, the job market was rather stagnant. Throughout college, I worked at a restaurant so when I could not find a career to utilize my degree, I went back to bartending and serving tables. After the restaurant closed, I got an inside sales position for a company. Four years went by and after a few promotions, I realized this company and job was not ultimately what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I got my start in Real Estate after my longtime friend and former high school football teammate (Mike Gunselman) convinced me to give it a shot. I had grown tired of the service industry & corporate world. I was seeking a sales career where I could continue to provide customer service and communication to my clients and Real Estate offered that potential. Helping friends, family, and even strangers with their home sale and/or purchase is something I take great pride in. Their trust in me to assist them with their most important asset means the world to me and my family.
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?
I have had a great experience in my 6+ years with Keller Williams Northland as a member of The Gunselman Real Estate Team. This journey has been made possible with continued training from my brokerage and on my team. The training offered has included trips to conferences from Austin, TX to Las Vegas, NV, and has bought industry knowledge from an international standpoint from some of the best agents in the world! The systems and tools offered to me has not only made me a better Realtor, but they have allowed me to provide better service, communication, and experiences for my clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My passion is providing excellent customer service, industry knowledge & expertise, and communication to make the home buying and selling process as easy as possible for you! I pride myself with these standards for my clients with the goal of building long-lasting friendships.
Whether it’s getting your home ready to get it sold for the best price possible, to discussing the process from start to finish, or answering your questions, your priorities are ALWAYS at the top of my list!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
The biggest risk I took was jumping into a career that is 100% commission-based without any experience or, to be perfectly honest, not a clue what I was doing. Fortunately, I was in a position where I could ease my way into obtaining my real estate license, gathering some experience, and begin my career as a realtor. Nerve-wracking? Absolutely! Excited to be doing something new I could take pride in? You bet! The risk of getting into the Real Estate game was by the biggest and best decision I took from a career perspective. I could not be happier I made the jump!
Contact Info:
- Email: austin@thegunselmanteam.com
- Website: www.austin.thegunselmanteam.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinballou.realtor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajb0511
Image Credits
The Gunselman Real Estate Team
