By Shelley Low, Franchisee of EXIT Realty Home & Ranch, CO
I would take my girls with me to my open houses since they were little. You could say they grew up in real estate. As they got older and went off to school, they all went in their own directions but one. When my daughter, Jessica Low, graduated college, she decided that real estate would be her direction, and she can be very determined. She got licensed and began working with me, side-by-side, learning our industry and the EXIT system.
We went to EXIT’s Annual Convention and had the opportunity to sit with Founder and Chairman, Steve Morris. What an amazing man and so inspiring. He took a moment to spend time with us and answered many of our questions. He has a way of making you feel so welcome, like family. We also had an opportunity to spend time with another someone we have much respect for, Director of Leadership, Bob McKinnon. He took time with not only me, but more importantly with Jessica. He asked if she would ever be interested in owning her own brokerage with me. Next thing I know we had purchased the Durango, CO franchise.
It was a rough start, as no one knew the EXIT brand there and we were up against some heavy hitters. We wanted to grow this with the right agents but that was truly a learning curve. We made it through, little by little, growing from just the two of us to a couple of agents. Fast forward to today, and together we’ve created a fabulous team of real estate professionals who work together and truly help each other like family – we love it.
More opportunities continue to open for us, and we now also own Pagosa Springs, in addition to our most recent purchase of Farmington/Aztec, NM. Now 52 agents strong and growing, we’ve learned to surround ourselves with great people, to not sweat the small stuff, and to train our agents when nobody is looking.
Our Regional Owners, Margaret and Kevin Hamilton, have been incredibly supportive. THANK YOU! We’ve been able to help so many of our agents fulfill their dreams, including one who just opened her own office in South Fork, CO. We’re spreading the teal and the love for EXIT, taking over the southwest corridor.
Our philosophy is that the more we help others, the more everyone grows. Jessica’s Fiancé, Nick Johnson is now a fabulous part of our ownership, and the two of them have created an incredible management team to include our traveling trainer, Jessie Gregg, and so many other incredible members of our management.
Steve Morris told us during that meeting, “Never give up, do your affirmations, and be clear with your intentions,” and here we are rocking southwest Colorado. We’re truly blessed and have created a legacy for my family. Thank you EXIT. As a single mom raising my girls, you gave us the opportunities that we would never have had elsewhere. With hard work and an incredible residual program, you helped my entire family reach heights that most could only dream of. That’s the power of homegrown, and the true power of EXIT.
Read this and other stories in the EXIT Achiever.
