Feature in SC Voyager
[Article originally published in SC Voyager in April 2022]
Exploring Life & Business with Thomas Davis of Abode Real Estate Group
Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Davis.
Hi Thomas, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve lived in Charleston since 1997 and I’m a proud alumni of the College of Charleston. I’m a father, husband, uncle and active community member. I was born in the upstate of SC and moved around the Southeast as a kid. I was introduced to real estate by my cousin in 2009. I was in the commercial lending space, our industry’s crash was just beginning, and folks at the bank had started pointing fingers. My cousin pointed out that more than half of the agents in town had quit. This led me to think that rather than going down with a sinking ship in commercial lending I could jump over to real estate sales and it would be all uphill since the market was at the very bottom (so I’d hoped anyway). I made the move in September of 2009 with my firstborn 6-month-old at home. I spent 3 years cutting my teeth in general brokerage in the area before getting what I thought would be my dream job at Kiawah Island Real Estate. 7 years on and a ton of experience, knowledge, and maturation later I decided that it was time to step out completely on my own and open my brokerage. Abode Real Estate Group is the culmination of those moves and all the personal home moving experience I have (which is extensive). Prior to going out on my own, I’d only worked for corporations that were hamstrung by overhead and too many cooks in the kitchen. I chose the hummingbird as my logo because it is light and fast and can change direction at a moment’s notice…exactly how Abode reacts to whatever is in the best interest of our clients. The colors for the hummingbird were chosen while sitting on Sullivan’s Island watching the sunset.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been smooth and I’m not certain I would love my job the way I do if it had been. The ups and downs are what make this a fun ride. In the early days there was a steep learning curve and I still sometimes struggle with it now. But the unknown is what drives me. The next call I make could be a great client that I have a lifelong relationship with. Starting with a 6-month-old baby in this kind of industry was tough. But in the first year of real estate, I doubled my salary from banking and have not looked back since. I often think of that choice and the struggles that it could have led to if I’d not made it. Living on a bank salary while working 9-5 would have been a far greater obstacle than anything I’ve faced since. The choice to attack the mountain, in many ways, has led to a smoother road.
In my first two companies in real estate, before starting Abode, everything was laid out for me. All I had to do was show up, make calls and turn in paperwork. Focus on the client was easy, and that’s why they are very successful companies. With Abode, I am the CEO, CFO, COO, the trainer for new agents, the trainer for admin, the keeper of the culture. It’s too many hats somedays. My beautiful wife is, fortunately, a marketing wiz so at least I don’t have to take on that role. It has led to a lot of sleepless nights and wondering how other firms have done this. How did they leap from 1 agent and 10MM in volume to 20 agents and 250MM in volume all while keeping the focus entirely on the client? Customer-first, white-glove service, ethics driven, and a boutique, local, experience is what Abode is all about. The struggle of figuring all of that out, on the fly, while also keeping food on the table is something I think most entrepreneurs can empathize with.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Abode is a boutique real estate firm specializing in luxury properties in the Charleston area. We concentrate on waterfront and historic homes. It seems cliche these days to say we are known for building relationships rather than being transaction-focused. However, to us that is who we are as people, it is not a business model. I’ve moved around a ton, 32 times to be exact. Some of those were just a month on a couch while looking for a place in my youth, but when picking up all your belongings and having a new front door doesn’t mean “moving” let me know. With that comes an enormous amount of empathy for the moving process and the stress and joy that it brings. I’m here to take all the stress away so that you only see and feel the joy. We are a full-service brokerage that can help you buy, sell or rent your property. We have partners in all aspects of homeownership for the things we do not specialize in such as short-term rentals, tax advice, cutting down large trees, renovating the dog house…etc. We won’t pretend to be something we aren’t and we don’t offer bogus guarantees up on billboards with asterisks. We proudly call ourselves the “no asterisks” company.
What makes you happy?
Personally:
When my wife and children succeed and are happy.
When I find a huge shark tooth while hunting on one of the local rivers.
When I can tell that I’ve made anyone of my family or friends proud.
When I can give an irresponsible amount of money away to charity.
Professionally:
When I get a call from a security service that a battery is low in a smoke detector for a client that I helped buy a home 12 years ago…that’s a relationship and that is trust.
Sitting at closing with a client and knowing that whatever it took to get there was worth it bc they are about to walk into their new home and I know how good that feels.
Helping folks move to one of the most special places on earth.
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