Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Bennett.
Hi Carla, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from college 16 years ago from Azusa Pacific University with a B.A. in Physical Education and went on to get my teaching credential. At the time where I lived teaching jobs were actually hard to find so I decided to go with a career of being an Activity Director for Senior Citizens for eight years. This career taught me about customer service, marketing, event planning and much more. During that time, I had an obsession with houses, decorating and buying homes. My husband and I were able to get a condo in 2010 which helped get our foot in the door. After several years I decided to start my own staging business in CA. During that time, my husband and I had been talking about moving to Texas. We moved our family to Texas in 2017 and never looked back. I knew I wanted to be involved in the Real Estate industry but just didn’t have enough confidence to be a Realtor yet. I started a photography business in 2018 for families as well as for Realtors. Working with realtors really exposed me to the business more and gave me more confidence. Being an extrovert and loving people and homes, I knew during the pandemic, it was time to let go of fear and become an agent like I had always dreamed. I received my license in May 2021 and have helped 11 families so far in my first year and hope to help several more. I serve all of Central Texas. We lived in Killeen for two years and then moved to Hutto in 2019. I have really gotten to know all the counties very well. I feel very confident in helping my clients, especially since my husband and I have bought four homes ourselves. I know what my clients are going through including the emotional side of buying a home. My husband and I have renovated every home we have lived in so that also is something I enjoy. I see the potential in every home. I would like to say I am a one stop shop. I can stage/decorate a home, photograph it and sell it. I also am very passionate about Texas and letting the world know why it is so amazing and the perks of living here. I am defiantly a cow/ green pastures kind of girl. Something I have learned is that every job you have had can lead you to your future job and you can use those experiences to excel.
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?
It has definitely not been smooth road. My faith and family is really important to me and has helped carry me through the ups and downs. Being an extrovert, I am constantly talking about my business. However not everyone is going to choose me. I have defiantly felt rejection but I am working on not taking that personal and using it to grow. There is always going to be competition. Choosing to support others in the business and not getting easy offend is very important. I am defiantly goal-oriented as well and I think it’s important to set realistic goals and give yourself grace if you do not accomplish them. I hope to be a role model to my kids and use my challenges to encourage them to work hard as well. My goals are always to have a healthy balance of work-life and family life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a Realtor for Rustic Oak Real Estate. You can find me on social media under Carla’s Central Texas homes. My photography business is Homes of the Brave Photography. I am a one stop shop. I market, do Real Estate Photography, staging consultant and Sell and Buy homes. I service all of Central Texas. I am working on Videographer as well doing reels and making marketing videos. In the Austin area, I really enjoy doing tours of new homes and marketing them to the public on my social media pages. I have a passion for my community and love posting about events and good things happening in Texas.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Being so busy with life, I only have time for the Bible, Realtor magazines and local news. I am constantly reading about news and keeping up with the economy, trends, taxes you name it. As far as one of my favorite books, I highly recommend to new Realtors reading Sell it like Serhant. This book really inspired me and talked about some of the highs and lows of being a Realtor.
Contact Info:
- Email: carlashomes@outlook.com
- Instagram: https:www.instagram.com/Carlascentraltexashomes
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlabennettrealtor
