From Factory Floors to Fixer-Uppers: My Real Estate Story (So Far)
If you saw my recent Instagram Reel announcing that I switched brokerages, and caught the bloopers, accidental tongue-twisters, bright-red face moments, and way too much laughing, you already know one thing about me:
I’m not very good at pretending to be polished all the time.
And honestly? I don’t really want to be.
That video did well because it was real. No scripts pretending I glide through my career in perfectly tailored blazers. Just me, trying to say “real estate” without turning it into “weal estate,” and laughing at myself along the way.
So I figured… maybe it’s time to tell the longer version of that story.
Here’s how I got into real estate, what I’ve learned so far, and why this recent brokerage change means so much to me.
How a Family Dinner Changed My Career
My real estate career technically started at a family dinner.
My (then-boyfriend, now-fiancé) Derek, his sister, and I were doing what everyone does after family dinner (right??), talking about business. Derek had just started his own company and was getting interested in flipping houses. Somewhere in that conversation, the idea came up that he should have a realtor “resource.”
Originally… he wanted a friend of ours to do that.
Cue my competitive streak.
I was working a typical 9-to-5 at a local manufacturing company. It was fine. I was grateful for it. I was comfortable because so many members of my family had worked there. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t pushing myself the way I wanted to.
So instead of quietly nodding along, I thought:
Why can’t that realtor be me?
Two weeks later, I enrolled in real estate classes.
Sometimes big life changes start with spreadsheets and coffee.
Sometimes they start with stubbornness and a lightbulb moment over dinner.
Becoming an Agent While Still Working Full-Time
I officially became an agent in April of 2025 with Sunset Creek Realty, while still working full-time as a Production Planner at Moroso Performance Products.
Those months were… a lot.
Every break at work 10 minutes, 45 minutes, didn’t matter, I was answering emails, researching listings, watching training videos, making calls. Nights and weekends were dedicated to learning contracts, neighborhoods, and how to sound confident when I absolutely did not feel confident yet.
I felt like a tiny fish in a very large ocean of wildly impressive professionals.
But I kept swimming anyway. * cue Dory from Finding Nemo *
What Most People Don’t See About Real Estate
Before I got licensed, I think I, like many people (even you, reader), thought being an agent was mostly unlocking doors and pointing at kitchens.
Let me tell you… that is a very small fraction of the job.
Behind every transaction is:
Prospecting calls
Database building
Vendor relationships
Research
Contract negotiations
Local knowledge
Community connections
A thousand emails you send into the void and hope come back
It’s part strategist, part counselor, part detective, part logistics coordinator.
And I weirdly love that.
My First Deal Was… Intense
My first transaction did not involve a cute starter home and a smooth escrow.
It involved a 1697 saltbox house in South Windsor.
At 11:30 p.m. on a Sunday night, a friend called me. His dad, who restores antique homes as a hobby, was interested in a property about an hour from where I live. I went alone the next day to take photos and videos.
Which… in hindsight… was not my best idea. (Don’t worry it won’t happen again!)
The roof had caved in. The home was a hoarding situation. Vines covered the exterior so thickly that barely any light came through the windows. The yard was full of abandoned cars and boats and so overgrown you could hardly see the house.
Luckily my fiancé was able to met me back there later that same day with gloves, masks, and flashlights. Very glamorous.
I was fully expecting my client to say, “Absolutely not.”
Instead, he said:
“Wow. That’s a challenge… but I’m up for it.”
After another showing and a careful stumble-through, he decided he wanted it.
So I wrote the offer.
Then we waited.
And waited.
No response.
At that point I had a gut feeling: the seller didn’t just want the highest price, she wanted someone who would respect the home’s history.
So I went full research-mode.
I dug through newspaper articles, historic society records, interviews, testimonials literally anything that showed how serious my client was about restoring antique homes properly. I put it all together into an email and sent it to the listing agent to pass along to the seller.
A few days later?
Offer accepted.
After probate was settled, my client closed, and renovations are already underway.
I don’t think I slept for that entire month.
The Moment I Knew I Was in the Right Career
When I got the message that the South Windsor deal had officially closed, I just sat there staring at my laptop.
That transaction had me second-guessing every email, every comma in every contract, every follow-up message.
But I did it.
Maybe not perfectly.
But I got my client to the finish line.
And I remember thinking: This is it. This is how I want to help people.
My Not-So-Secret Agent Habits
If you work with me, here are a few things you should know:
I write everything down.
I bring a notebook to every meeting.
I take a lot of photos so I can mentally walk through a property later.
I pride myself on either having answers, or knowing exactly where to find them.
Organization is my love language.
Why I Switched Brokerages
This part matters to me.
Before I ever signed with my first brokerage, I had actually been approached by someone from The Whiteman Team at William Raveis. At the time, the stars just didn’t align. I chose to go somewhere else so I could start learning and gaining experience.
And I’m incredibly grateful for that chapter.
Sunset Creek Realty helped launch my career, and I will always appreciate the people there.
Toward the end of 2025, after leaving my 9-to-5 in October and going full-time in real estate, I did some honest reflecting. The kind that isn’t very comfortable.
I wasn’t hitting my goals.
Not because anyone failed me… but because I needed more structure and accountability than I was giving myself.
After a lot of conversations (and an intense pro vs. con list) with Derek, I realized I needed to put myself in an environment that challenged me to level up.
That’s what brought me back to The Whiteman Team.
What excites me most is the chance to shadow experienced agents, learn from strong mentors, and be surrounded by professionals who are deeply respected in this community.
It feels like the right next step.
About That Reel…
Filming that announcement Reel was much harder than I expected.
I turn bright red when I’m flustered.
I kept saying “weal estate.”
It took… several takes.
At first I was mortified watching it back.
Then I realized: this is just me.
And if people connected with that, I think it’s because they could tell I genuinely care about what I do, even when it makes me uncomfortable to put myself out there.
The Agent I’m Trying to Be
I don’t want to be high-and-mighty.
I want to be approachable. Easy to talk to. The kind of agent who can help someone buying a waterfront estate or renting an apartment in the city, and make both feel equally understood.
Buying or selling is a huge decision. You deserve someone who explains things clearly, listens closely, and doesn’t make the process feel intimidating.
That’s the lane I’m staying in.
What Keeps Me Going
Building a business is hard.
Finding clients takes time. Some people already own their forever homes. Others aren’t quite ready to make a move yet and that’s okay.
On slower weeks, I lean on my goals and my routines. I keep showing up. I keep reaching out. I keep doing the uncomfortable things.
Consistency wins. Even when it doesn’t feel glamorous.
Two Years Ago… I Wouldn’t Have Believed This
If you told me two years ago that I’d be a full-time real estate agent who left her corporate job?
I probably would’ve laughed.
Then I would’ve been really proud.
And not surprised at all that Derek was the one nudging me forward, he always has.
If you made it this far, thank you for being part of my story.
And if you’re thinking about buying, selling, or just quietly wondering what your next move could be… I’m always happy to talk it through.
No pressure.
Just honest conversations.
— Kaiti
