Welcome back to our Realtor Spotlight! In this series of blog posts, we highlight some of our incredible realtor partners, both personally and professionally, to discover a little bit more about them and showcase their agencies!
In this spotlight, we meet Deborah Matthews from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Fine Living!
Deborah Matthews
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Fine Living
1. Tell us about yourself (background/education/experience).
I was born and raised in Lakeland, FL. I retired from Publix with 35 years of service and the last 20 years of it was driving a truck and delivering groceries to the stores. Most of my family at one time has worked for Publix. I grew up loving animals. I was in 4-H and FFA. I showed steers and dairy heifers from 9 years old until I graduated from high school. I rode horses and competed in rodeos and ropings. My favorite sport was Team Roping where I won belt buckles and a saddle.
2. How long have you been a realtor?
4 and a half years
3. What do you like most about living and selling real estate in Florida?
I was born and raised in Lakeland, FL and could not imagine living anywhere else. As a real estate agent, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is meeting new people and helping them transition into a new phase of their life.
4. What advice do you have for anyone looking to buy or sell right now?
If you are selling, have a game plan on where you will be going when your home sells.
If you are buying, check out the interest rates, your finances, and find an agent that you feel comfortable with that is honest and has your best interest in mind.
5. What three traits define you?
My Personality
Good Listener
Helping people
6. What would you be doing if you weren’t in real estate?
Not sure, at this stage in my life, whatever hits me when I wake up.
7. What is the most challenging and/or gratifying aspect of what you do?
Challenging is you only get paid when you make the sale.
Gratifying part of what I do is seeing the smile on the buyers/sellers face at the closing table when you hand the buyers a key to their new home.
8. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Mmmm! Not sure
9. What are your favorite indoor or outdoor activities?
I have 6 cows 2 calves, 25 chickens and 1 dog. Every afternoon I load up some of my grandchildren that live close to me on my Polaris and we go out and feed the animals, that is my outdoor activity.
10. If you wrote an autobiography about your life, what would you title it?
A Country Girl At Heart
11. In your opinion, what is the coolest design trend you are seeing in homes today?
Shiplap walls
12. Where is your favorite place in the world to be?
At home
13. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
Elvis Presley
14. Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life and why?
Reese Witherspoon. She is one of my favorite actresses and she plays the parts very well in other autobiographies I have seen.
15. What are your top 5 favorite TV shows or movies in no particular order?
Yellowstone
Tombstone
Empire
Lonesome Dove
Cat Ballou
16. What are your top 5 favorite bands/artists or podcasts to listen to?
George Strait
Alan Jackson
Laney Wilson
Eric Church
Dave Ramsey
17. Where is your favorite place to eat?
Longhorn's Steakhouse
18. What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?
An old 1900’s 2-story house
19. What is the most unusual thing you’ve encountered while working in real estate?
I really can’t recall anything unusual.
20. Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
As a new agent first starting out in real estate, I joined Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Fine Living and from day one the staff and the agents were willing to help me with getting set up with our Greenhouse, social media, etc., and if I had any questions at any time everyone was so helpful.
Thank you, Deborah, for giving us a glimpse into your life and career. We always love to see our agents in a different light and learn how they became the successful person we see around the office.
Interested in being highlighted in an upcoming Realtor Spotlight? Reach out to our team for more information!