Before entering the real estate world, Darren James worked for Louisiana State Police, putting people behind bars instead of in their dream homes. But after being reassigned to the agency’s investigations division, his ability to earn overtime became limited, forcing him to take on additional jobs to supplement his income to support his wife and new baby.
Exhausted by the demanding schedule, James turned to real estate for a new career path. In his first year, working part-time, he sold 10 houses.
“My life shifted. Everything I could think of, everything I could talk about was real-estate related,” James tells Business Report in its latest Entrepreneur feature.
After leaving law enforcement in 2006, James found success managing and growing two Coldwell Banker offices. In 2008, he moved to Keller Williams, where he became its top producer. With his sights set on building an unbeatable brand and reputation in the greater Baton Rouge market, he opened Darren James Real Estate Experts in 2011.
With his customer focus, streamlined systems and innovative technology, Darren James Real Estate Experts was ranked No. 51 on The Wall Street Journal’s 2015 Real Trends list of the top 1,000 Realtors in the U.S., and the firm was included on the 2016 Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies.
“I got into law enforcement because I love helping people. Today, that is what I do. I’m in the business of growing people,” James says.
The agent attributes his success to his tight-knit team and its laser focus on their clients. It’s not about going the extra mile, but rather going so far that others can’t help but take notice, he says.
“You either have to be the first or you have to be different in the market—and I’m always trying to be different,” he says.
He’s also a self-proclaimed “tech nerd,” investing in the latest technology to keep his company ahead of the pack. He has utilized online 3-D tours of homes for sale, and he is working on a proprietary software system to manage his customers’ experience from listing to closing.
He is also partnering with a national franchise to further expand in East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Tammany parishes, and he plans to launch a luxury division of the company.
“I want a family-run business where I know everyone by name,” he says. “Our customers’ problems become our problems and we help one another through them, and that’s a win for everybody involved.”
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