Nicole Serviss

I never planned to become a realtor. I was happily a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of 4 little kids, living the Pioneer Woman dream on my little 2.5 acres on Whidbey Island.

One day that world ended. I had no choice but to leave for me and for my kids. How would I do it? How could I support my kids? I had no job experience since teaching music lessons in high school. What would I even put on a resume? “Makes a mean meatloaf and can multitask like a boss.”

I walked out that day because it was what I needed to do, but I had no idea how on earth I was going to support myself. A few months prior I was at a barbecue with a new group of friends. The wife was a real estate agent and her husband was a home inspector. It was one of the early summer nights where you really appreciate the end of the cold season. We ate lamb burgers and sat by the fire.

She pulled me aside and told me she thought I’d make a good realtor. I kind of laughed and thanked her for the compliment.

Fast forward to the newly single mom life, I called her up and told her what I had done. “I did it. I left. Now, what am I going to do?” She hired me on the spot. She said she didn’t even need an assistant, but if I needed a job, I got one.

I put my kids in school the next day and started on my new path, real estate assistant. It opened me up to this whole new world. I found that I actually liked going to work. I decided to take my real estate course so I could help take on some more responsibilities. Ironically, the day I passed my real estate license exam was the same day I went on my first date with my now-husband. Who knew that day was so pivotal in my life?

I hopped around at my office helping where I could. Everyone I worked for took the time to teach what they knew.

I got an incredible behind-the-scenes look at what a busy real estate agent’s life was like. They inspired me.

The day came to leave the security of Whidbey Island and move to my new adventure in Snohomish. I had two choices. I could stay the employee. It was a secure paycheck after all. Or I could see if this real estate thing was something I could do on my own. I saw the passion these other agents had. I decided to take that chance and become a realtor.

Leaving my first home I bought was an emotional day. I bought that home at 24 years old, and it was there for me when I became that single mom. That home then became an investment property for me when I moved to Snohomish and turned it into a rental.

I know how powerful a home can be in someone’s life. It’s your safe haven. It’s where your kids take their first steps. It’s where you grew in your relationships with friends and family. It should be a place where you feel at peace.

I’m now many houses down the line from that first house. When I married Rob, it was the 6 of us in 1000 square feet. Packed in like little sardines, we'd always be moving piles from one place to the next. It was chaotic. Not what a home should be. We were able to sell that house and move up to our bigger house. Now we have 5 kids, and now I run a team of agents! That experience gave me renewed empathy for my clients. Moving can be hard, but when you have the help you need, you can do it!

I get to help other families get to the place they want to be. My clients always feel comfortable around me because I’m real with them. Education is important to me. I want my clients to have the tools they need to make those important decisions for their families. We all have a story, and I am always honored when a family lets me be a part of theirs.