Rising Stars: Meet Aika Kendrick

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aika Kendrick.

Hi Aika, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Finding a calling has been a very interesting journey for me, to say the least. Ever since I could remember, I have been very versatile with my pursuits. I found a lot of enjoyment in visual media, from custom apparel to photography. I think what drew me the most was the satisfaction of developing and capturing identity and getting it out there for the world to see.

As such, I majored in Marketing at Michigan State. A more creative line of work also came naturally to me. It is in my blood – as the daughter of Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations, I absolutely come from an artist background. The spirit of my father drives me. His energy still moves and motivates me in the toughest of times.

What drew me to real estate was almost the opposite. It wasn’t my past, but the possibilities of the future. It’s consistent. The housing market is always evolving and there is always going to be a demand for reliable experts in the field. For example, technology has made its way into the industry with the integration of smart homes. This opens the door for real estate professionals with a background in technology. People who are passionate about their work and care about making connections can thrive in a field like this.

In a way, the changing nature of the economy makes real estate a consistent profession, and there are plenty of opportunities to expand and branch out as an entrepreneur. I spent two decades preparing to build my career in real estate management by establishing myself and building a solid foundation. As of August, I am a certified agent under Coldwell Banker Advantage.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is normal for someone to facilitate the sale of a house and brand themselves a real estate professional but learning and growing into the real deal takes a lot of time. I can’t say I ever had doubts about my end goal, though I can say it took a lot of research and dedication to reach this point. I knew going in that a lot of my business was going to involve my ability to make clients feel safe from the very start.

It required me to be transparent in who I am as a person first and a realtor second. It meant that I had to be willing to put my client’s needs over the sale, purchase, or investment. That only really happens after that first conversation when they know you’re educated on the topic and flexible when it comes to problem-solving. Those are the things that give people security, and it doesn’t happen overnight. I’m very thankful that I was able to learn that going in.

A lot of people have misconceptions about how housing conditions affect the viability of breaking into the market, so I would say uncertainty was also one of those obstacles. However, I knew that if I took the time to make a full transformation, I would stand out. That’s not an ego-based aspiration – standing out is the part that a lot of people miss. You must include transparency and vulnerability as a part of the equation. You must do more than dip your toes in if you want to excel in any competitive field.

You have to allow your why’s to lead you in the moments that you may not necessarily “feel” like it. You must remember that people are counting on you to play your position and do it to the best of your abilities. I think that that’s one of the most important things that I carried with me, from the time that I played basketball as a child to becoming a mother.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Strengthening my portfolio is an important part of taking my career to the next level. I have been networking with clients and developing professional partnerships, as well. As I said before, standing out requires a very active, intentional approach. It requires a consistent commitment to do my part in building communities by building relationships with people one at a time.

These days, I focus my energy on my family and my job. Now that I have established credibility as a real estate professional, my sights are set on creating a more interactive platform that will change the way that people buy and list their homes as well as interact within their communities. My goal is to help everyone find their place in their respective communities. I want to make real estate synonymous with community, home, and family.

Raleigh’s community is alive with good, caring people, and I believe helping those people connect and help one another will work wonders not only for the people here but also for those looking to start new lives here. That goes deeper than a typical real estate brokerage.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Raleigh is a beautiful place and it’s growing. This city was made for the outdoors. As a photographer, that’s a hard one to beat for me. There is just so much to love about the atmosphere. That also has a huge influence on how I feel managing real estate here – you don’t have to sell Raleigh; it speaks for itself.

As such, springtime is a challenge most years because the air gets thick with pollen. The trees are more active here than in any other city I’ve lived in, so I have to take extra measures to stay ahead of my allergies. Fortunately, the other three seasons of the year are worth the effort!

Contact Info:

• Email: aikakendrick@cbadvantage.com
• Website: AikaKendrickRealEstate.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/aikakendricktherealtor
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/aikakendricktherealtor
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/aikakendrick
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aika-kendrick-coldwell-banker-wake-forest