Many people become real estate agents because they are attracted to the flexibility the business offers. For Jody Huffmaster and her husband, Andy, that reason was important as well. The couple has three children, one of whom has special needs.
But while flexibility is attractive, it must also be accompanied by superior skills and accountability. Many agents do not have those qualities. But Jody Huffmaster does. She has not only succeeded but excelled, despite what she calls her “imposter syndrome” and the challenges of the past few years. Her success is due, she said, in great part to Buffini & Company and in particular, her coach, Scott.
Early Introduction to Buffini
It was actually her husband who first got his license, with Jody following a year later.
Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to Buffini & Company when her brokerage sponsored a Peak Producers course. Jody quickly realized this was a model she wanted to use for her business and signed up for One2One Coaching.
Value of Coaching
From her early days as a new agent to her current role as a successful broker/owner, Jody has faced moments of self-doubt. Working with her coach has helped her navigate those challenges, she said.
“Scott always takes whatever crazy thing I throw at him and helps me piece out exactly what the new goals are and break them down into obtainable, smaller goals,” she said. “With my goal now to spend more family time but still maintain the business, Scott helped me find the right agent to assist with buyers and become a partner in my business.”
Her coach has also helped her move forward on her goal of owning investment property.
“We live in a heavily military area, so we have a lot of owners who have to rent their homes out once they receive orders, until they have enough equity to sell,” she explained. “That gave us insider knowledge of homes coming to the market that would make good rentals or already had tenants.”
“We started purchasing one to two homes a year. During this time we also purchased 45 acres of our dream property to build our forever home,” she noted. “Scott was there helping every step of the way either with my business, my personal investments, and other big decisions we had to make in our lives.”
In 2019, the couple bought the RE/MAX Real Estate Connection franchise in Cabot, Arkansas. It was a challenging time, Jody admitted. A number of agents left to join other firms and COVID soon hit. Their property management firm was also impacted, losing 35% of the homes they managed.
With the support of her coach, as well as their Buffini community, the couple persevered, purchasing a building that would also incorporate rental space.
Jody has since successfully recruited and doubled the number of agents on her team. They all follow, she noted, the Buffini model of striving for competence, professionalism, and growth.
“I want to focus on being a bright light for them in a market that is struggling,” she said of her goals for her team. “A place they know they are loved and supported — and a place for powerhouse agents in Cabot to come and know they’re in the best place to grow in all circles of their lives.”
Their property management business has also rebounded, with over 400 doors, three fulltime agents and an in-house accountant.
Jody’s Good Life
For Jody and her family, working with Buffini has changed their lives in many ways. The financial stability has allowed them to build their dream home, invest in properties, and travel. They were also able to fully pay for their daughter’s college education without incurring debt.
For the agent who once felt like an imposter, life is now full of happiness, goals met — and gratitude.
