Inspiring Conversations with David Smith of CincinnatiModern and Keller Williams Advisors Realty

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Smith.

Hi David, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Houses, architecture and design have always been a passion for me since a young age. Over the course of my life, through changes of plans and circumstances, this passion hasn’t changed. In school, I always planned to study architecture and become a preservation architecture though I always have had an abiding love of all things of modern design. I guess you could say I love good design in general.

In architecture school, I found I liked working at a smaller scale so I changed my major and school. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the nation’s best program in the field at the University of Cincinnati School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) in the midst of a deep recession in 1991. Like nearly 80% of my class, I was unable to find a job after graduation.

While doing freelance design work I found myself buying and selling mid-century modern furniture and objects to offset my collecting but I soon found myself a full time dealer in the nascent modern collecting movement in the mid 90s.

After nearly 20 years as a specialist dealer I grew both restless and frustrated with changes in the business.

So looking back to my original passions plus a lifelong interest in real estate I joined the CincinnatiModern Team, one of the earliest specialty real estate businesses in the country focusing on modern homes. With my background and knowledge, it was a great fit. I’ve never looked back.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like many new agents in real estate, I found the first couple of years or so can be lean. I made a conscious decision to choose long term approach of staying in touch with, and growing, my sphere of influence. Being there for people, providing value and staying top of mind is an essential way of building a long term referral-based business. So those first couple of years were challenging and at times tough. Coming from a business where most clients came to me, it was difficult to put myself out there and find my own clients. Selling real estate isn’t like it’s portrayed on television. Selling real estate is simple but it’s not easy! There are many systems and methods you can use but you have to put in the long, hard work. More than the work, I owe a great deal of my success in building, having and maintaining a positive, optimistic mindset.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about CincinnatiModern and Keller Williams Advisors Realty?
I’m a Modern and Architectural Specialist Associate Agent with the CincinnatiModern.com Team specializing, but not limited to, the marketing and sales of Mid-Century Modern, Contemporary and architecturally-significant residences and assisting buyers for such properties.

Hands down with the sale or purchase of an MCM or Modern home there is no one other than me and the CincinnnatiModern Team that you such consider. Our knowledge, expertise, client base and proven results speak for themselves.

One thing I want you to remember is that I do help clients with ALL types of houses. My architectural history and design background are a great benefit. My education and my 20+ years buying/selling have allowed me to serve clients seeking to downsize or those needing to settle an estate both efficiently and while maximizing the return when selling.

I take great satisfaction in being able to serve my clients and achieve happy outcomes. Buying and selling homes is a major event/purchase for people and being their advisor is a responsibility I take very seriously.

While it’s impossible to guarantee a listing will go viral or sell for over asking price, I’ve done well at knowing where and how to market a house, when to list and how to solicit offers from agents to increase the likelihood of it happening. I’ve had both viral listings and ones that have for sold for as much $250k+ over asking price.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Spending Sunday afternoons at my grandmother’s small farm with my brothers and cousins in Central Kentucky… She was the best. Climbing trees or inside the barn, putting Sears catalogues on the front seat of our uncle’s 1956 Buick so we drive it as kids, driving the tractor, picking strawberries, riding the horse, playing croquet and more. We were creatively rambunctious kids.

Contact Info:

• Email: david@cincinnatimodern.com
• Website: www.cincinnatimodern.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidsmithmodernrealestate
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidsmithmodernrealestate
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/david_cincymod