Meet Kelsey Dudley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Dudley.

Kelsey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Visalia, California, which is a small agricultural hub in the Central Valley. As a busy body, I always dreamt of moving to LA where things were always happening. I saw college as my opportunity, so I moved down and went to Cal State Long Beach. I knew one person down here but fell in love with the culture and lifestyle. I decided to stay put in Long Beach since it was a pretty central location to everything I wanted to do. I quickly got an internship at an e-commerce fashion brand, where I steamed clothes and packed up samples for 8 hours a day. Despite being on my feet all day, I refused to wear anything other than heels because I wanted to show how tough I was (and that’s when I learned that no one cared). I worked my way up to a buyer at a couple of different fashion brands, but I became drained and felt myself losing my love of fashion. I wanted to connect more with people and was resentful of the fact that I worked countless hours to support someone else’s dream, so I decided to pursue real estate. Everything about it sounded appealing to me – meeting people, making my own schedule, viewing homes, everything. Between the schooling, the exam, and the process of starting a new career, I’ve had a few humbling moments, but I know I made the right decision and haven’t looked back. I learn something new every day, I meet so many people, and I get to help people find their forever homes. I love the path I’m on and am excited to see my future unfold.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road moving away from my family and living in a city by myself. It’s been a process of learning how to navigate my time, my relationships, and my finances. When starting real estate, I don’t know if people realize unless you don’t make any money unless you sell a home. It’s purely commission-based, so if you pursue it full time getting started it a big expense. You have to pay for your schooling, your exam, your fingerprints, your license – the list goes on, then it takes time to actually get clients and enter into a transaction. There were times I had $35 in my bank account, but I knew it would be worth devoting all my time into learning the business, as opposed to getting a part-time job. I got creative on how to get enough funds to pay my bills, and I’m fortunate to have a generous family who helped keep my lights on. I’ve had a lot of breakdowns and moments of questioning if I’m on the right path, but ultimately I knew I would be rewarded for taking a chance.

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?
My goal in real estate is to genuinely help clients get into their dream homes. I want clients to feel taken care of, but also like they’re working with a friend. While I maintain professionalism, I try to keep things lighthearted and make the seemingly scary process of buying or selling a lot more enjoyable. I love connecting with clients and always make sure there’s an open line of communication whenever they need me. First-time buyers especially have a lot of questions during the process, rightfully so, and my goal is that they’re always comfortable to reach out to me.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I urge everyone to take charge of their life. If you’re working at a job you don’t love, quit. If you’re in a relationship that’s not serving you, leave. Putting yourself first is the best thing you can do for yourself, and even when it’s hard and scary, just keep one foot in front of the other. Taking a chance is always rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: kelseydudley.thinkboutiq.com
• Instagram: @kelseydudleyrealtor
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kelseydudleyrealtor