Lisa D. Smith & Associates

Unlocking The Keys To Your Future

By Dr. Marrissa R. Dick

Photos Provided by Annie Wagar Photography

When most people think of real estate agents, they simply think of someone who helps buy and sell homes. In reality, a “premier real estate agent” does much more. Lisa Smith joined the real estate profession to be a premier agent,” not just buy or sell homes for her clients. What is a “premier agent” you might ask? Lisa developed the “premier agent” mindset as she moved her family nine times around the country and around the world while her husband served as a U.S. Marine. With each of those nine moves, she grew to understand more and more the importance of proximity to peace-bringing and life-giving places—for example, family, grocery stores, church, favorite restaurants and parks, to name a few. Lisa didn’t learn this by listening to someone else; she lived it. So today, she adopts her clients, almost like family, and works on their behalf during negotiation to ensure they get the best price. Lisa also works to ensure her clients get the best home to bring them joy and enhance their life, far beyond the four-walls and roof you can see.

In 2013, she gave birth to Lisa D. Smith & Associates--a real estate team that wholeheartedly believes that “investing in a home is one of the most important decisions a person can make.” This team believes that “purchasing a home is so much more than having a roof over your head.” They understand that your home is “where life unfolds and memories are made, all while building a financial foundation for your future.” According to the team’s founder, Lisa D. Smith, “Our philosophy is simple - - clients come first. We pledge to constantly communicate with our clients, keeping them fully informed throughout the buying or selling process. We believe that if you’re not left with an amazing experience that brings you peace and joy, we have not done our job. We don’t measure success through achievements, awards, or commission, but through our client’s satisfaction.”

Real-life experience matters when choosing a real estate agent. As mentioned, Mrs. Smith acquired firsthand experience through multiple moves as she sought homes for her family to support her husband’s military career. She shares, “My husband, Keith, was really the impetus for my becoming a real estate agent. He retired from the Marines Corps after we had moved nine times. The wife and mother in me created this urgency to find the right home for our family, which meant it had to be in the right neighborhood, close to the right schools for my family, and located in the right community. We were fortunate to have caring and professional agents along the way, but I realized the experience could have been better. My desire to make it better was what drove me to start my own real estate team.

When we bought our first house in Dallas in our twenties, I knew real estate was what I wanted to do. I knew I could help people making the biggest purchasing decision of their lives in a ways that would really mean something to them and me. My background in business, coupled with the experience from all of my own moves, made me better suited for this work than most. However, I also knew that I needed to sit at the table and learn the inner workings of real estate. Fortunately, while my husband was stationed with the Marines in San Diego, I met a woman who was originally from the Midwest, who took me under her wing and taught me the ins and outs of the business. I helped with open-houses, sat in on important meetings, performed office duties, and helped in any way I could. She appreciated my help and I learned a ton. Through this experience, I learned the entire process of buying and selling from a client seeing their dream home all the way to them being handed the keys to it. I also learned the ins and outs of commercial real estate. At the time, I had no idea that I would end up selling commercial property, but when the opportunity presented itself, I was prepared. I am grateful for that experience and the mentoring that I received at the hands of one of my first real estate mentors.

After San Diego, my husband received another assignment, which meant we had to move again. I was even more excited about this move because we were moving back home to Kansas City. When I told her that we were moving back home, she told me to get licensed and start helping people. She loved her work and knew I would feel the same. So, I followed her advice and got licensed in both Kansas and Missouri and I’ve never looked back. Today, I’ve helped countless clients all over the KC metro area and even further. Many of them stay in touch and update me on children or grandchildren being born, retirements, and other major life events. They also call me when things have changed to the point when they want to sell or purchase again because they know the ladies, and I will take care of them.

The ladies to which Lisa referred are her team. Just like the Kansas City Chiefs, Lisa has a team of professionals who work together to make their clients dreams become a reality. Lisa has enjoyed being the owner of her own business for the past nine years. Within that time, her business grew to the point where she needed help in order to keep providing the high-quality service that was so important to her. Lisa hired a transaction coordinator whose role is to help her handle documents and closing contracts. She also eventually brought on social media experts and other agents. But, it doesn’t end there. Lisa has built a strong network of professionals who take providing a memorable experience as seriously as she does—this network includes mortgage brokers, contractors, inspectors, and others. Lisa says, “It’s been beautiful seeing my clients so happy because of our efforts. Also, my business has grown, and I’ve helped grow the businesses of like-minded professionals. Teamwork really does make the dream work. ” Lisa appreciates that her staff and network all have aspirations of fulfilling their personal goals to help others. “I encourage my teammates to go after their goals and go beyond what they’re doing here on the real estate team. I’m all about seeing people, especially black women, achieve their goals. It’s such a blessing knowing that I have played a part in their success, as so many people have contributed to mine.”

Lisa attributes her giving heart, passion for helping others, and tremendous business acumen to her parents--Bishop Ervin Sims and Mary Sims. Lisa’s parents pastored and led community redevelopment efforts in Wyandotte County for almost 40 years. Mt. Carmel Church was their primary place of service. She shares, “I learned to serve the community from my parents. My father and other caring people worked hard to get grants that allowed them to build a 60-unit senior living facility and collaborate with the Boys and Girls Club to build a neighborhood community center, and fair-priced housing that has changed the face of the community. They also built several single-family homes that allowed many first-time homebuyers to acquire brand-new homes. Helping my community and others is in my DNA”.

Lisa D. Smith & Associates offers more services than just buying and selling homes. They support their community and clients in other ways, too. For instance, annually, the team selects a single mom during Christmas to help her buy gifts and provide a meal for her children. Next year, they will collaborate with Habitat Homes for Humanity in Wyandotte County, and they will award scholarships to two African American women who would like to attend real estate school. They also support their community and clients by bringing in professionals who offer seminars such as down payment assistance programs and ways to improve your credit. Next year she plans to incorporate an investment seminar so the clients she serves can learn how to increase capital as well as focus on generational wealth. Lisa shares, “This is a big part of why I do what I do. I am blessed to be able to bring knowledge and awareness to people that can change their lives--one seminar at a time.” Lisa’s team echoes her sentiments; they are equally passionate and committed to the communities and clients they serve. According to Rachelle Graves, Director of Operations, “I enjoy being a part of Lisa D Smith & Associates! It is a new adventure every day and keeps me on my toes. Every day brings new and interesting challenges, from explaining paperwork to clients, overseeing office processes, and supporting our agents. However, I would not change it. I count it a blessing to work with such a great group of women, and I look forward to continued success for our team!”

Twanna Green, Associate Agent shares, “I am passionate about serving others and providing for my family. Real estate allows me to do both. It’s my honor to help families with one of the biggest transactions they will make.” Likewise, Claudia Anderson, Associate Agent says, “I believe everyone deserves a place they can call their own. Moreover, with real estate I can do just that. There are people that don’t understand the market or where to start, but I can be that person to help answer those questions.”

When you work with Lisa D. Smith & Associates, you work with trained agents that have the backing one of the world’s largest real estate companies--Keller Williams. That means working with Lisa and her team puts your real estate interests into the largest network and gives them the furthest reach.

In case you’re wondering what’s ahead for Lisa and her team, she sees her team growing to include more and more agents. “I encourage people to go after their dreams because there’s nothing like waking up every morning and doing the thing you love the most. Since the first home Keith and I bought in our twenties, I’ve wanted to help as many people as I could in this way. We all have different dreams; I’m blessed to be living mine.” Lisa gives all credit to God, her supportive husband, and her children Kasey (24), Donavan (23), and Kristian (22). In addition to being a licensed real estate agent in both Kansas and Missouri, Lisa is a member of the National Association of Realtors, (NAR) and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas. She also holds an masters in business administration from the University of Phoenix that she earned while her husband was deployed to Iraq and she was the business manager for a preschool in Okinawa, Japan. The same way Lisa has worked hard to take care of her family and other clients, she’ll put her team to work for you.