donna calamia: putting the needs of clients first
“Each interaction with someone, however small, can make a difference,” says RedKey Realty Leaders agent Donna Calamia. It’s a business philosophy she carries over from her 16 years as owner of Persimmon Woods Golf Club, one of the most successful private golf courses in St. Louis, and the only one with a female majority owner.
Specializing in luxury listings, Calamia treats all of her real estate clients as if they are members of a private club. “In that industry, members’ customer service expectations are very high,” Calamia says. “I brought the same mindset to the real estate realm.” It’s a practice that has led her to be ranked in the top 5% of all St. Louis metro realtors, with more than $8 million in sales last year from happy client referrals.
Calamia got her start in the world of real estate in 2014 by rehabbing houses. “It was something I always wanted to do, and I just jumped in and bought my first house and figured it out as I went,” she says. She’s since rehabbed 16 homes, getting her real estate license along the way. “As soon as I did, someone asked me to help them sell their home, and that started a fire in me to focus on real estate,” Calamia says.
She made it her full-time job and hasn’t looked back. Joining the RedKey team was a no-brainer once Calamia met owner Jill Butler and learned the company’s motto of ‘Love, Service and Fun,’ which, she says, aligns perfectly with her own life philosophy. As a business owner herself, she also appreciates being part of another woman-led company.
“Everyone is into helping people achieve their life goals outside of the business,” she says of staff at the boutique agency. “It’s about building relationships, not selling houses.” Giving back to the community she serves is also a key part of Calamia’s business. She donates 10 percent of her real estate income to local charities, predominantly to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, of which she serves on the board. One of her two daughters has Down syndrome, so it’s a cause that is near and dear to her heart.
Calamia’s favorite part of the job? “My clients,” she says. “I love working with all of my clients; each one brings a unique experience. Handing a first-time buyer their keys is just as exciting as a SOLD sign in the yard of a $2 million home.”
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