Carol Waites

“When you want something, you have to go get it. When you don’t have the answer, go find it. You have to work hard to accomplish what you need. Go the extra mile.”

(Excerpt from an interview with Les Waites, Realtor & Owner of the Waites Group Philanthropist and Proud family man)
Florida, USA

I grew up in the real estate business. My mom has been a realtor in Alabama for the past 45 years and still active as a realtor today. I grew up watching her help one family after another, 7 days a week. While doing that she managed to create a beautiful home life, raise 2 kids, travel as a family and all the time being so giving of herself, going above and beyond in service of others.

My mom was a demonstration of these principles she taught me, and I have embraced this guidance in my professional and personal life. As a result I can sincerely say I’ve created a beautiful life and a rewarding career in South Florida. I got married here, and we now have a 5 year old and 2 Australian shepherds.

I pride myself on having a great career helping people find a new home or relocate to South Florida and assist them create a new life here. I’ve been in the business for the last 20 years and now have a team. We help an average of 60 - 70 families a year. I estimate we’ve helped over 500 families. We don’t focus on the size of the property or the commission, we focus on the client’s needs and the support we can provide to ease whatever process they’re going through as it relates to the sale or purchase of a property.

In 2014, I was lucky to win a National Customer Service award for helping a family in a tough situation. Three sisters lost their father and there was an estate sale, we went above and beyond assisting them in the probate process, cleaning up and selling an unkept property, and provide emotional support to the family. It was very rewarding emotionally and spiritually to have been able to do that.

But my mom’s influence on my life goes back a lot further than my real estate career. I was born with a very large birthmark on the left side of my face, and there was a threat of it being cancerous. Back in the 80s such cosmetic surgeries or procedures were not common yet but my mom was relentless in finding cutting edge surgeons to perform procedures to remove the birthmark so I wasn’t at risk for cancer. I had 17 surgeries on my face even before I graduated high school. That experience shaped my confidence level. My family was very supportive and especially my mom who was hands on, available for me every step of the way cheering me on, always looking for the best surgeons and care for me. That was the first memory where I saw my mom demonstrate that “when you want something, you gotta go get it and work hard to accomplish it”.

• Les Waites

  Realtor & Owner of the Waites Group
  Philanthropist and family man