Shelby Childs (The Real Brokerage)

Shelby Childs is a realtor for The Real Brokerage. 

From Farmington, Childs has since lived in almost every city in Dakota County. 

It’s a list that includes notable Twin Cities suburbs like Eagan, Lakeville, and Hastings.

As a result, Childs understands that part of the Twin Cities well, including which schools are ideal for prospective homebuyers in the area. 

“I wasn’t a cheerleader back in high school,” Childs says, adding some context, and humor, to the proceedings. 

“No one wanted to be the mascot, so I did it.”

After Childs graduated from Farmington, she attended Northdale Community College for a couple years before graduating from Concordia-St. Paul with a degree in business. 

A wife and mother of two, Childs first learned about real estate when she began selling marketing to realtors and wealth managers. 

“Then when I became a licensed real estate agent, I already understood the business,” she says.

“I ultimately became an agent because I love sales, I have a good network, and I wanted to do something that was more flexible for when we had kids.”

Five years into her career as a real estate professional, Childs has leaned into her relationships, her kind and friendly disposition at the forefront of all her entrepreneurial endeavors. 

“The way I get clients is through relationships,” she points out. 

“Simply put, I find that people want to work with me if they know, like, and trust me.”

Not that making inroads as a real estate agent has been seamless for Childs. 

Early on, she felt pressure to be omniscient, to know all the nuances of every home and its inner workings. 

That is until she learned that the vast majority of her clients weren’t looking to be represented by someone who knew everything. 

Rather, her clients mainly wanted to know she was competent, and that she prioritized their wants and needs. 

“That alleviated a lot of pressure, understanding that I didn’t have to be an expert on every type of water heater, furnace, or home design,” Childs says. 

“It was more a matter of being there for my clients, and being a resource, and if there was ever anything that I didn’t know, then working diligently to get that information.”

At present, Childs’s clients are predominantly first and second-time homebuyers in Dakota County, although she will work with any type of buyer, regardless of where they are at in life. 

“I love working with empty-nesters too,” she says.  

“It’s interesting because 90% of the time those types of clients want to downsize, but then they end up getting more square footage, less bedrooms, and one-level living.” 

In a Twin Cities market where there is no shortage of realtors, Childs and her team are constantly looking for ways to stand out to prospective clients, beyond the requisite display of care and professionalism for each client. 

One way her brokerage does that is by donating a portion of their profits to charity. 

“20% of the team’s profits go toward a nonprofit,” Childs says.  

“And when the deal closes, the client gets to choose which nonprofit that money will go to.”

Adds Childs: 

“I’ve found that clients like this because then they’re not just paying me to facilitate a transaction. They’re also supporting a nonprofit simply by buying or selling a home.”

For context, clients don’t pay more for the brokerage’s goodwill.

Instead, it’s just their way of helping out those in need. 

Looking ahead, Childs is committed to serving as many clients as her demanding schedule allows, but she also emphasizes that assisting her current clients is as essential to her long-term outlook as any client acquisition strategy she may employ. 

“Taking on more clients and being more intentional about attracting clients, those are two areas I would like to improve upon,” she says. 

“But I also try to do a really good job with the clients I already have, and so like any real estate agent, I would love to work with more people, but every day my focus is on giving the clients I’m partnering with an amazing experience.” QS

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