Back in 1995, real-estate broker Karen Derr became the first Houston Realtor to market homes on the Internet after she launched her real-estate site on July 4 of that year. Hoping to connect directly with coveted relocation buyers, she and husband Robert shared photos of her listings, details of the neighborhoods in which she specialized, and served up content to waiting prospects. “This was before HAR.com and Realtor.com,” Derr recalls. “I was surprised how confident my early Internet clients were in their choice to use me before they ever met me face-to-face.”
Derr believes a higher level of trust is created when you stake your name on your business—that’s why she is at the helm of a boutique firm called Karen Derr Realtors. Located at 1005 Heights Boulevard, the unassuming location is headquarters for a small group of agents providing service from Houston’s inner loop to The Woodlands, Galveston, and all the way to Austin. Derr explains, “I want to focus on investing in top-notch professionals who I can work with shoulder-to-shoulder, providing keen negotiating skills and up-to-the-minute industry knowledge so our clients can make sound choices.” Derr describes the Realtors who work with her as real-estate junkies, serial renovators, and owners of multiple homes. “We’re all real-estate busybodies,” she laughs, “but that has helped us hone skills that our clients value.” Info: KarenDerr.com | 713-875-7050.
