Meet Trailblazer Claire Konkos

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Konkos.

Claire, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have a professional background as an educator and had worked for many years in the public school classroom as a kindergarten teacher. After my youngest child, age four had begun preschool, I was ready to get back into the workforce. Unfortunately, my husband and I took a hard look at numbers and teacher pay in Arizona just wasn’t commiserate with the reality of our family’s needs. Meanwhile, we had been struggling over the years with the historic home we had purchased and the task of sourcing labor, repairs and design had been in essence a part-time job for me. My pleasure in the restoration of our historic home led me to the idea of pursuing a degree in Interior Design, yet this would involve four years of education…

I credit my husband with the brilliant idea of getting my Real Estate License, two months and about a thousand bucks later and I was in business! I consider myself a life long learner and feel incredibly grateful to have landed in my office with Long Realty the Fox Group. My Broker Lloyd Fox provides extensive training for our team and I am building a career while collaborating with other Agents who are passionate about service. I happen to be a third generation Arizonian and it’s amazing how my personal love and knowledge of the Valley has helped me to grow my business.

The most satisfying element to my role as Realtor has been the realization that my previous education and life experiences have provided me with a wealth of marketable skills. Teachers must be patient, empathetic problem solvers and this is a critical function of interacting with Real Estate clientele. My undergraduate study included Theater and Creative Writing and I’ve dove into my Social Media accounts with a utility of expression honed in these past studies. Now, in my second year as a Realtor, I’ve added Home Stylist to my credentials along with the discovery that often the best strategy is to simply get out and work with a passion!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For me, the struggle was in finding a career that best fit my skill set and personal disposition. After I had left my full-time career as a teacher to parent full time, it was very difficult to re-enter the workforce. Teaching is absolutely my calling but it is so regimented and for me, highly stressful, as I chose to work in at-risk, Title 1 public schools. I substitute taught while my youngest was a toddler and kept my credentials current with the idea that I might find a great fit in a school community. Although I had some wonderful days in the classroom; I often left thinking, “how can I ever go back to these long days and still parent my own children?” During this same period, I was finding creative joy in helping friends organize and decorate their homes, and in particular, helping one close friend with her real estate search and home renovation. I felt stalled in how to take these hobbies from a pastime to a paying career.

What I have discovered now is that I don’t have to stop being a teacher. I can educate my clients during the stressful and exciting period when they are buying, selling or leasing properties. I can cultivate my marketing skills through Social Media while sharing daily exploits: viewers seem to relish my unique mishmash of real estate storytelling, Phoenix community insights, gardening tips, and home styling insights. Most of all, I value being an independent contractor. As a mother and wife having the power to control my schedule is paramount. Yet, it took a few years of disequilibrium to emerge as a Realtor. I would advise others to keep trying to find that balance: what feels challenging, yet also inspires them, and what type of work schedule is most appealing. I am happy to work weekends if it means that I can pick my daughters up from school most days. In other words, I am finding satisfaction in working hard as I can flex this work around what is most important.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I specialize in Residential Real Estate. I am a buyer and seller’s agent and am also happy to handle lease transactions. In particular, I have a wealth of knowledge of Central and Downtown Phoenix, and the schools, restaurants and unique community offerings these enclaves have to offer. I pride myself on providing a high level of customer service, listening carefully to clients while offering education on the current, local market in the Valley while utilizing the amazing technological and industry-specific tools from the Long Realty and Fox Group arsenal.

I view my Home Styling skills as an extra enticement for my Real Estate clientele. When showing properties, I support my client in identifying their unique style and assess design attributes with this in mind. Recently, I helped the seller stage her home. We did a massive declutter and redesigned each room using only her choice furnishings. I then swooped through with key accessories and added live plants from my cache of potted succulents, unique vessels, and trendy textiles. This is a service I offer free of charge to my clients when I’m representing them as their Realtor. For me, it is a form of creative expression, and from a business standpoint, it helps buyers to identify their preferred property and sellers to put their home on the market looking its absolute best.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I am a voracious reader. I rely on my updates from Houzz online to keep abreast of trends and indulge in gorgeous design imagery. My magazine subscriptions include Phoenix Home and Garden, Better Homes and Gardens, and Architectural Digest. I particularly rely on the monthly garden checklist in Phoenix Home and Garden to keep on top of plant life and citrus trees. I subscribe to the Arizona Republic on Wednesdays for the Food section which always prompts me to get out and devour our local food scene, and then the Sunday Real Estate section keeps me current on local news within the industry. I’m an online subscriber to the New York Times as their Home and Style sections are simply perfection.

I refer Clients to Street Scout, AZ Central’s amazing database on Valley neighborhoods and schools. Again, my local office at Long Realty the Fox Group is my bread and butter for building expertise. We have monthly sales meetings and weekly training on every facet of the industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: clairekonkos.com
• Phone: 650-380-9290
• Email: clairekonkos@longrealty.com
• Instagram: @clairekonkosrealestatestyles
• Facebook: @clairekonkosrealestate

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