I’ve always been passionate about helping people and educating them. As a nurse, I got to do that on a daily basis. Those same skills carry over to my real estate career. I’m constantly educating my clients and sharing new information as I learn it, because real estate is always changing and every transaction is unique.

I grew up in Ohio in a typical middle-class family. My dad owned a glass business with my uncle and watching how hard he worked instilled in me a really strong work ethic, which has stayed with me throughout my life. My dad also spent a lot of time helping others in the neighborhood with whatever needed to get done. When we would go camping, we’d always lose him because he’d be out splitting wood for somebody or helping them with their tent.

Growing up, my father used to tell me that throughout life, there will be people who will try to rob you of many things, but your education will not be one of them. As a kid, I really loved the sciences, and decided to pursue a career in nursing. I worked as a registered nurse for most of my life. I’ve always been passionate about helping people and educating them and I got to do that on a daily basis. I would inform patients about different health conditions and answer their questions and teach them how to take care of themselves. That sense of caring and wanting to help others is something I share with my dad.

My husband and I moved to Texas in 2000, due to a job transfer. It was a turning point in my life and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back to nursing or try something different. The realtor who sold us our house said to me, “Have you ever thought of selling homes?” My husband and I always liked to look at open houses, and we did a lot of moving because of his job relocations. So I knew what it took to get a house ready to sell, but I hadn’t thought of it as a career option. This agent inspired me to get my license.

I completed 180 hours of real estate courses to obtain my license. At the time, I was only required to take 90 hours due to my past college degree, but I felt the additional education was important for me to provide the best service to my clients. Throughout my real estate career, I have been committed to taking more than the required hours to strive for a solid knowledge base to guide my clients through one of the most important financial decisions in their lives. I achieved my Graduate Real Estate Institute (GRI) Designation in 2014 and I’m currently in the process of taking courses to achieve my Broker Associate license.

The skills I developed in nursing really carried over to my real estate career. As an agent, I’m constantly educating my clients about the process and sharing new information as I learn it, because real estate is ever-changing and every transaction is unique. I love first-time homebuyers because they're so excited about the prospect of owning a home, but they're also very green about the whole process. So I get to guide them and give them the best possible options as they make their decisions.

A lot of my clients have become friends because we’ve kept in communication through the years. I’ve sold multiple homes over the course of their lives to some of them, and I’ve also sold homes to their children. And some of my younger clients actually refer their parents to me, so I have a strong referral base and lots of repeat clients.

I still get excited for my clients when they find that perfect home and accomplish their goal. I get great satisfaction in witnessing their joy and appreciation. It means so much to me.

I have three children of my own, and real estate has enabled me to be there for them in many ways. I helped my son buy his first home. And I’ve been able to travel to Australia where my daughter and son-in-law live. I’ve been there for the deliveries of both their children, which has been a highlight of my life, to be able to witness that. My nurse’s intuition was at work in both cases, since I was there twelve hours before the birth of one, and two hours before the birth of the other.

I also really believe in health and fitness, and I think that comes from my nursing background, too. I’m very proactive about eating right and working out, and I’m always looking for ways to improve and grow. It’s a big part of my life, and I apply that same sense of discipline and focus to my clients every day. I want them to have the best experience possible when it comes to buying or selling a home.

Sincerely,

Tami Heitzwebel
REALTOR^®, GRI