Chattanooga Spotlight: Realtor Designer Rachel Bettis

 

1. How did you get started in your industry?

My husband and I bought our first house in Knoxville in 2009. We were in the middle of the housing crisis and we had found a home that was being sold as a short sale. Our realtor was the mom of one of my best friends and she held our hands and helped us through the very LONG (as in we didn’t close for over 6 months) process.

Before moving in we did a mini renovation and painted the house updated the master bathroom and put shiplap (yes, shiplap…and this was long before the days of Joanna Gaines) on the cathedral ceiling in the living room to cover the popcorn. After we were all moved in and I was literally breaking down the last box, my husband let me know he wanted to move back to Chattanooga. I didn’t want to leave my new house but I really wanted to come back to Chattanooga.

So after being in the house for only a few months I called our realtor back and let her know we wanted to sell. We were still in the middle of the housing crisis and inventory wasn’t moving quickly. I had our home perfectly staged and ready for market and we were so fortunate to be able to sell quickly without loosing money on the home.

We moved to Chattanooga and I continued to work in Marketing and Sales for several more years, however I officially had the house bug. Our realtor kept telling me that I was going to go into real estate someday and about 4 years later I called her to let her know she was right and I was finally making the leap. I went to real estate school, left my full time job and haven’t looked back since.

2. What is your speciality & who do you serve?

I worked in Marketing for 8 years before going into Real Estate and it is still one of my favorite parts of what I do now. I understand the importance of marketing your home in a way that is appealing to buyers. Because of that, I stage all of my listings before going on the market. Staging can mean a lot of different things depending on the home, but ultimately we want the photos to stand out on the internet so that we get people in and once they are inside we need enough visual space for them to be able to imagine themselves there. There are lots of different ways to accomplish this and each house brings its own challenges but that is what makes it fun!

3. What is your favorite part of your job? 

I love working with people. It can be exciting, fun, stressful and emotional through the process but I love getting to walk people through it and the relationships that are formed.

4. How do you distinguish yourself from others in your industry?

When we started 35 South, we intentionally included the design component because we believe it is an essential, but often overlooked, element in delivering results to our clients.

When helping buyers,  I help them maximize their budget by seeing homes not only for what they are, but what they could be. When working with sellers, I combine our design services with my marketing background to maximize the appeal of each listing.  Together we can adapt a home to accommodate current buyer trends and then amplify the reach through digital marketing to get it in front of as many potential buyers as possible.

As realtors, the framework of our product is largely constrained by the tools we use.  I am proud to offer a deeper service by not only guiding clients through the transaction, but also providing the intangible skills and vision needed to sell your current investment for top dollar allowing you to move that equity into your next home.

5. What is one thing that most people enjoy finding out about you?

I am originally from Memphis, TN. I moved to Chattanooga in 2003 to attend UTC with the plan that I would stay for a year and then transfer somewhere else, however once I was here I was hooked! Chattanooga is my forever home by choice and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

6. What’s the best business advice that you’ve ever received?

Find a job that you love! That is not to say that everyday is rainbows and unicorns but if you truly feel passionate about what you are doing it is so much easier to take the bad days as they come in between all of the good.

7. What is your favorite drink? 

I love a Starbucks Chai Latte, especially when it is cold outside.

8. We want to pull the curtain back on local Chattanooga and share hidden gems with our readers, what is your favorite spot for a date night in town?

Anyone that knows me well, knows my love for Taqueria Jalisco. From the time they were in a tiny space with only a few tables and everything was cooked in the food truck to now in their beautiful new space on Rossville Blvd. I love the food and the atmosphere is now so fun as well!

To work with Rachel, you can visit her website & follow her on Instagram @HomeSweetChatt.

Want to read more in our Chattanooga Spotlight series? Check out our interviews with tech business owner Jamey Elrod and realtor Linda Brock.