9 minute read
Danielle White
Sold By Danielle
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Danielle White
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Are you looking to buy or sell a home? Danielle White is here to help you. Danielle is a Realtor with HERITAGE REALTY CO. in Greensboro, NC. She is also a North Carolina native and NC A&T State University Alumni.
She understands that buying or selling a home is more than just a transaction, it’s a life-changing experience. She is highly knowledgeable with over 20 years experience, and is dedicated to providing an exceptional and personalized service for all of her clients. “I take great pride in the relationships I build. I work relentlessly on my client’s behalf to help them achieve their real estate goals,” she says.
Danielle provides a trusted resource that guides buyers and sellers through the complex world of real estate. She works with state and local agencies to get buyers approved for programs that will help get them into their new home, with the least amount of out of pocket money. Oftentimes there is no down payment required. North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and SECU are two programs that she works with that offer great programs for homebuyers. She is qualified to guide clients with selling their home. “I believe in using my skills in finance, contracts, negotiation,
and marketing to the sellers best advantage,” she says. “People trust me with their most-valuable asset. It’s a responsibility I take very seriously.”
To learn more about the products and services that Danielle has available, please contact her directly at 336-558-3317.
Please visit her website at www.heritagerealtyco.com
Nothing could be finer than to live in Carolina
336.558.3317
Broker | Realtor® CSP, HUD Broker
Knotts Allstate Agency
By Dr. Marrrissa Dick Photos by JLG Photography
In a time of health crisis and financial uncertainty a lot of people have been forced to adopt an entrepreneurial spirit. One up and coming path has been the insurance industry. Selling insurance can be a lucrative proposition with relatively high-paying commissions and a high degree of autonomy with flexible work hours. However, selling insurance is not an easy job. You can expect a high rate of customer rejection, stress, and attrition.
Still Allstate Insurance agents press past uncertainty and work toward offering their new and existing clients a secure future during these uncertain times.
Meet First Lady Byrdzetta Knotts; affectionally known to many as “Byrdie,” founder and CEO of Knotts Allstate Insurance Agency. She understands the necessity of possessing insurance which is why she decided to become the owner of her own Allstate Agency. Byrdie shares, “I was a stay at home mom for years supporting my husband in ministry and raising our children. I referred to myself a “Mompreneur.” During that time, I founded Savvy Planning Solutions, an event planning business, worked as Director of HR at our church, collected payments for a marketing business, and I occasionally booked travel. Seeing my husband being the go-getter and entrepreneur and witnessing his entrepreneurial spirit inspired me to launch my own business. He never let anything stop him from following his passions and I refused the same! That along with the desire to be my own boss ignited the fire to start a full-service insurance agency.”
Since c. 52 B.C. to the 21st century the proverbial statement, “Experience is the best teacher” has been a
proponent for wisdom and first-hand knowledge. Unfortunately, Byrdie is far too familiar with this statement. She shares, “My father passed away without life insurance and I saw the ramifications of that. From that day forward I understood the importance of having an insurance policy. After that experience I made sure that my family and those close to me had life insurance too if they would listen. In retrospect, that was the catalyst for my passion with the insurance industry. You want to make certain those you love and care for are covered in the event something happens to you because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Talking about death is a hard conversation to have but please do it. Nobody wants to think about transitioning or losing a loved one, but the truth is that people leave this earth every day and it’s up to us to make sure that those left behind are secure. Truthfully, being in this industry has helped me align my personal goals with my passion for helping others.”
Losing a loved one is never easy, and we also know that such a loss can significantly impact a family emotionally and financially. Though having life insurance cannot bring your loved one back it can lessen the financial stress on the family. By protecting your family’s financial well-being with life insurance, you can potentially replace a lifetime of your loved one’s lost earnings. We should all consider protecting the ones we love by having life insurance.
So how did she become a part of the insurance industry? Byrdie shares, “I didn’t find insurance, but insurance found me.” She explains, “I have been married since I was 18-years old, more than half of my life, supported the upstart of numerous endeavors, and was fortunate enough to have the flexibility to do all I was doing and still be able to be there for my kids through high school. While I enjoyed the traditional role of a stay-at-home mom, now that my kids are old enough it was now time to do something for myself. With no formal college education and minimal work history, it took me a year and a half to find someone to give me an opportunity which turned out to be with a health insurance company. During my interview he told me if I acquired my license, he would hire me. I used the money from my event business to get my license and so the journey began. I’ve been in the industry for almost four years now. I was approached about opening an Allstate office. I needed additional licensing to make it happen. After much thought, prayer, and questioning others in the field, I decided to go through the process of agency ownership. It took me almost two years to acquire the capital I needed to open my business.” After vigorous training and doing everything needed to start, she was finally able to open the doors of her business on April 1, 2020 in Burlington, NC during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This has been a life changing experience for me because I had to tell myself that I really could do this. It was all my previous experience managing staffs, quoting trips and presenting them to potential buyers,
countless hours on the phone cold calling while selling health insurance and putting together package plans that were tailored to my clients needs that prepares me for what I was getting ready to embark upon. When you put all that together I realized that I had just the right skillsets needed to be successful as an agency owner and selling insurance.”
Let First Lady Knotts’ living testimony serve as an example for others. Don’t take anything you do for granted because it can be the gateway into purpose.
For those who may be interested in expanding your skillset into the insurance industry you can receive some take-aways from Byrdie’s short time in her agency:
She shares, “I was fortunate enough to move into a space that was owned by a previous Allstate agent, so I have inherited some clients and since have gained some new ones as well. I could not take for granted that some of those clients I was fortunate enough to inherit would remain with me or not so I had to be different in my approach. My staff and I seek to maintain the highest level of professionalism. We greet everyone who come through our doors with a smile. We put the needs of our clients first. An agent who is only out to earn a commission, regardless of the needs of the client, is not likely to last long in this business. Agents who listen carefully to what their clients’ needs are will be able to earn their trust as a trusted advisor does. One of the things I pride myself on is making sure we always provide personalized service because people don’t like to feel like a number. Before you attempt to sell someone insurance you should first be concerned about what’s happening in their life because that ensures them that you truly care about them and their well-being. Yes, the sale is good, but that’s not what we go for first. We find common ground. Our personalized approach has led to quickly getting to know our customers and that helps us to use our products and services to meet their needs. We are not just a sales organization; we are in the business of people. When you make people happy and meet their needs, profit will come. We educate consumers about what they are getting and make sure that they understand how to use it no matter which product they purchase from us.” It is those things that reassure her clients that the slogan is true, and they really are “in good hands” when The Knotts Agency is their insurance provider.
Knotts Allstate Insurance Agency, LLC not only offers premium customer service but they also offer a comprehensive selection of products and services including but not limited to: homeowners, auto, renters, condo, landlord, boat, motorcycle, universal and whole life insurance policies. They also offer specialty products: commercial auto, RV, mobile food trucks, restaurants, real estate and any industry that needs general liability or BOP policies. Don’t see your industry listed? Don’t hesitate to ask! We will soon be able to assist with investments and managing your retirement portfolio. Unfortunately, no one can predict what is ahead, but having the right insurance coverage and the right agency representing you will help to cushion tomorrow. h
