Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilli Schipper.
Lilli, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a native South Floridian, I have always appreciated being able to grow up in such a beautiful and vibrant area. My parents moved from the Northeast to Hollywood Lakes in the late 70’s so that my father could open up an oral surgery practice. Growing up, my father always worked to instill in me the principle that hard work and good intentions will make you successful in whatever you do. These concepts are what pushed me to appreciate taking the path of an entrepreneur and striving to own my own business. After graduating from the University of Florida in 2002 with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and minors in Mass Communication and Economics, I moved right back to Hollywood to begin my business pursuits. I started by owning a lifestyle magazine, which I then followed with owning a landscaping company.
Even though I had run those two businesses by the age of 24, I didn’t feel very fulfilled. Those experiences made me realize that I needed to find something that I was truly passionate about. Since I am very outgoing and I love to meet new people, I wanted a career where I would always be working on new things. Being involved in the community is also important to me, and I wanted a profession where I could make a difference in people’s lives. Real estate sales seemed like a perfect fit. It had elements of entrepreneurship, I could have my own unique style, and I could work within the communities that I love. But most importantly, I would be working for people to help them achieve their homeownership goals and dreams. Real estate seemed like something that I could be passionate about and could see myself excelling at.
In order to be the real estate agent that I wanted to be, I knew that I had to put a lot of time into learning, development, and training. I took as many classes as I could, getting certifications and designations for Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), e-PRO, GREEN, Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), and Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certification (SFR). I learned from the bottom up, where I didn’t want to join a team or get a mentor, because then I would be learning their way. I wanted to make my own path. As much as it was the harder path to take, I am very thankful for the lessons that I learned along the way. I started with a corporate real estate brand who offered excellent training and then moved to a smaller boutique real estate firm, who I was happily with for 12 years.
Starting out, it wasn’t an easy journey. In my first year in real estate, I closed a handful of smaller deals, but they were not consistent and not enough to make a living on. The worst type of real estate agent is a desperate one who puts their own financial needs before their clients. It was a great lesson to learn early on, how to budget and run my business effectively and efficiently so that I would always have a steady income stream, and always be able to put my client’s needs and timeline, first. Anything that is easy is never appreciated, and the challenging times are what make you better and stronger. So whenever something challenging or difficult comes your way, look at it as an opportunity to learn something new, to grow, and to improve.
At the smaller boutique real estate firm, I was lucky to work with two excellent brokers, who helped me grow and excel as an agent. Real estate is a perfect fit for me, and because I enjoy it so much, I tend to not think of it as work and love doing real estate 7 days a week! Being that accessible allows my clients to feel the support and care that they need during the process. In addition, real estate is a constantly evolving profession, and I always am looking for ways to improve myself and my service to my clients. So this year, I made a move to Douglas Elliman Real Estate and was named the Senior Director of Luxury Sales.
An unexpected benefit and joy that I found with being a Realtor is just how much you get to know the people and businesses within a community. I believe that being a good real estate agent is more than just buying and selling homes in a community, it is also about working to make those communities a better place. So I am very involved in the community in multiple ways. For real estate, I am a member of the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors MLS Committee (served as 2019 Vice-Chair of the Committee) and a member of the MLS Compliance Sub-Committee. For the city and the arts, I am a member of the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Dania Beach Chamber of Commerce, serve on the Creative Arts Council Advisory Board for the City of Dania Beach, and I am also a member of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Ghost Light Society. For music and animals, I am a member of the Sofar Sounds Fort Lauderdale team and I am actively involved with the Humane Society of Broward County (a member of the Legacy Club and Diamond Club), where I donate a portion of each sale to the organization. Being connected in so many ways to a community that I have always called home is one of the numerous ways that help me be a better agent for my clients.
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?
I would not change anything! Mistakes, along with success, are all part of life, and they are what you make you stronger and better. With the mistakes that I made, there were hard lessons that I learned. I wouldn’t be who I am now if it wasn’t for those lessons and experiences. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. If I had done something differently, I would not be in the same place that I am today. In business and in life, you need to have a balance of good and bad situations to become a better professional. Sure, I could have done things differently, but that may have led me down a different path that I might not have been as happy with as I am today. I am thankful for the path I have taken, the person it has made me, and the life that I have.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I have been a residential realtor since 2004, and I am currently a Broker Associate and Senior Director of Luxury Sales with Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Fort Lauderdale. I focus on the communities of Hollywood, Dania Beach and Fort Lauderdale, and also work often in Hallandale Beach, Plantation, Davie, Cooper City, and Pompano Beach. I specialize in primary and second homes, as well as relocations. In my 16 years of working in Real Estate, I have personally completed over 200 transactions and closed over $80 million in sales volume. I consider myself a successful real estate agent because, over the years, I have gotten to work with so many wonderful people to help them with the major life decision of buying or selling a property. I feel so honored that they have chosen to work with me as their real estate agent, and I make sure that all of my clients, regardless of price, feel like they are my number one priority. I treat all of my clients as if they are my dearest friends, where I act as more of a consultant than a salesperson.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am very thankful that I get to work in a profession that I enjoy. It has been a great 16 years, and I can’t wait for another 16 more!
Contact Info:
- Address: 450 E Las Olas Blvd #140
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 - Website: www.RealEstateByLilli.com
- Phone: 954.347.7402
- Email: Lilli@RealEstatebyLilli.com
- Instagram: lillischipper
- Facebook: lillischipperpa
- Twitter: lillischipper
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