Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Simmons.
Hi Ashley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I am a southern girl through and through, I was raised in Lithonia, GA by way of Alabama and I attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) on a full track & field scholarship. While at ULM I majored in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. I went into the police academy immediately following graduation and worked graveyard shift (7 pm-7 am) as a patrol officer in the City of Carrollton for 5 years. I then moved on to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office as a Senior Sergeant Investigator II, there I spent 3 years working felony child abuse cases. I left law enforcement in 2017 to oversee security operations for Toyota Motor North America.
During my law enforcement career, I obtained my real estate license and worked in both professions with no gaps in employment. In January 2021, I started my own Real Estate Brokerage, Presidential Realty.
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?
I have definitely had my fair share of challenges. Prior to starting my own real estate brokerage, my entire career has been in male-dominated professions. Being a double minority (female and black), I have experienced lower pay, I have been told that my job was for men, I have been called derogatory names, I have had my promotions called into question, I have been spit on (yes, actually spit on), you name it! But I am a strong believer that adversity builds giants.
I am a bit of a nerd and my own worst critic; I want to be the best in everything I do. I graduated college with honors, I actually only missed the Dean’s list one semester. I was the Salutatorian and Vice-President of my police academy class. My professional history in its entirety has been rooted in leadership & follow-through. It’s in my blood, I am a tough chick, not easily broken.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Presidential Realty is the premier residential real estate company in the DFW metroplex. We have been a boutique firm since our founding and we have agents with expertise in each area of the metroplex. It is so important to have agents that know the market they work. We pride ourselves on providing white-glove service to our clients and we work together to ensure our clients receive the best person for their individual needs. At Presidential Realty our agents know one another, communicate frequently & strategize together; you don’t get that with the big companies, just a bunch of realtors under a big brand name.
Another attribute that sets us apart from other companies is we give money back to our clients. Let’s be honest, when making what is likely the largest investment of your life, you don’t care for flowers or champagne on your closing day… YOU WANT MONEY!
Presidential Realty has a HEROES program in which where we honor our military, law enforcement, firefighters, medical professionals, and educators with a 20% rebate; a small thank you for your service. I come from a military family and started this firm with realtors who are either active duty or the immediate family of service members.
First-time clients receive a 10% customer appreciation rebate and return clients receive a 20% customer appreciation rebate.
(Rebates are based on 3% commission and cannot be combined).
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I would advise new agents and those considering pursuing real estate to research the costs and talk to an experienced realtor. This will aid you in outlining a realistic path to being successful in this industry. Shop around the different broker packages; a lot of new agents get drawn into the “100% commission” tagline and get robbed in transaction, admin, and monthly fees. So shop around and then come join us at Presidential Realty!
Pricing:
- 20% Law Enforcement Rebate
- 10% New Client Rebate
- 20% Military Rebate
- 20% Educator Rebate
- 20% Medical Professional Rebate
Contact Info:
- Email: info@TXPresidential.com
- Website: TXPresidential.com
- Instagram: iselldallas
Image Credits
Mallory Green Photography
J Walk Photography
