Today we’d like to introduce you to Derryl Kinnell.
Hi Derryl, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’m originally from Birmingham, AL and went to Mississippi State University to pursue a bachelor’s in psychology. Midway through my last year at State, my parents found out their jobs were relocating from Birmingham to Dallas and I knew immediately that I would head to Dallas with them after graduation. During my last semester, I enrolled in real estate courses at Collin College that I was able to transfer back to my university as general elective credits and that began my journey to real estate. I knew that I had an interest in real estate during high school when my mom and I would spend weekends touring the Parade of Homes and visiting open houses and figured that the next step would be to get my real estate license. I also had an interest in psychology and mental health, so being able to explore both during undergrad was both exciting and fulfilling. About four months after graduating, I joined a high-producing real estate team in Plano and got to learn just about everything there is to know about residential real estate and the DFW market from seasoned agents. While I loved everything about real estate, I reached a point of burnout working nonstop, seven days a week, prospecting for clients which was a challenge considering I was starting from scratch with no connections in Dallas yet. I moved into roles as a transaction coordinator with real estate startups where I worked with other agents to manage their contracts and get to closing as smoothly as possible. This wasn’t the route I saw for myself; however, I learned more about the title and lending industries which in turn has made me a more well-rounded agent. I also was blessed that these startups paid well and allowed me to save up to purchase my first home and gain financial stability. I was recently laid off from a real estate startup and had the realization that I’m capable of creating a career and wealth for myself that doesn’t fall in line with a typical job or career path. I’ve taken up an independent contractor role as a transaction coordinator for realtors in Arizona and have gotten back into selling real estate here in north Dallas. I also plan to start flipping homes this year with the intentions of using that income to invest in long-term rental properties. While I was building my real estate career, I was also completing my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I’m at the end of my program and will begin seeing counseling clients part-time. I knew that I needed flexible work hours, but didn’t want to settle for one income stream. My ultimate goal is to retire off of passive real estate income and spend my time as a mental health advocate, providing resources, education, and counseling services to communities that don’t have access to mental health wellness.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There have been so many challenges throughout this process. The first obstacle I ran into was reaching burnout as a new real estate agent. I was at point where I had no productivity and had an abrupt stop in income. This was my first time living alone, so I definitely made bad financial decisions out of ignorance and assuming that my the income I had throughout the year would be somewhat consistent. I thankfully signed a short-term lease and was pretty much drained financially and moved back in with my parents. I took a job at a bank that paid $15/hr., but I saved enough money to move back out four months later into my own apartment again. This time I searched for apartments that had 8 weeks free and were under budget. About seven months later, I got back into real estate in operational roles and back on track to reach my financial goals.
We’ve been impressed with Kinnell & Company, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started Kinnell & Company to begin flipping homes and have a professional brand. This is my first business, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to control growth and build something that is a reflection of myself. I also am a realtor with Rogers Healy & Associates (RHA), which similarly promotes building my personal brand while housed under the brokerage. RHA provides a ton of support for agents, which in turn creates a culture of agents supporting each other. I’ve experienced great success within my first six months with the brokerage and look forward to continue working with buyers, sellers, investors, and renters.
What sets me apart is that I have the openness and diligence to explore new developments around Dallas and have experience working a high volume of contract to close transactions. For example, I’ve noticed that many agents that work in Frisco may be completely turned off by working with clients in Lower Greenville, vice versa, whereas I’ve learned both markets like the back of my hand and can work with clients in both areas. Also, with my experience working contract to close, I know what to look out for as the transaction develops to make sure we close on time, or early, and create the best experience for everyone involved in the transaction.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The characteristic I’ve learned has been the most beneficial to my success has been my introversion. I’ve been told so many times that it was something that I need to work on or will cause me to be “stuck” in my career and it has been quite the opposite. I’m direct, analytical, and informative which has been respected by past leaders and clients. In what I call my “first round” as a realtor, I tried hard to be this extroverted character which really led to the burnout. This time around, I’ve stuck to who I am and work to provide the most value possible to my clients when I’m showing properties, writing contracts, and even posting on social media. I’ve spent less time prospecting than I did during my first round and have had more clients. I’ve also noticed that my clients are more similar to me and it feels like I’m working with friends. I feel that the conversations are genuine and they know that they’ve made the best decision before moving into their home.
Pricing:
- Free services for buyers and tenants
Contact Info:
- Email: derryl@rogershealy.com
- Website: https://www.derrylsellsdallas.com/contact
- Instagram: derrylsellsdallas
