Meet Re’Nauta Bell | Commercial Real Estate Advisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Re’Nauta Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Re’Nauta, what do you want people to remember about you?
What I want the world to remember about me is that I absolutely love what I do. Helping the great state of Georgia attract and retain businesses is my goal, and I always put my client first. On a day-to-day basis, I literally get to find businesses a place to call home. I have a big heart and I am passionate about business but, more importantly, I am passionate about helping minorities learn about and enter the commercial real estate industry.

I work as a commercial real estate broker but I am also the President of the Atlanta chapter of African American Real Estate Professionals. The nonprofit allows me to help minorities with an interest in commercial real estate by providing opportunities to increase diversity and inclusion whilst providing a platform that facilitates current minority commercial real estate leaders to be there for the next generation of minority commercial real estate leaders.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a commercial real estate advisor specializing in brokerage, I help facilitate the leasing transaction between a tenant and landlord. I work to negotiate the best terms that fit their business needs and goals. I have a specialized focus on office and flex assets.

What sets me apart from others is that I am a closer. I confidently exercise my ability to translate the business needs of my clients into a successful lease or purchase while eliminating surprises, and providing continual value throughout the negotiation process.

What I am most proud of thus far in my career is making it into the Million Dollar Club. When I first entered the industry, the transaction minimum was $1M. As time passed, the minimum jumped to $5M. It seemed like it would be impossible for me to ever qualify. Despite that fact, I spent my entire career dreaming of the day that I would be inducted into the club. I finally became a member in March of this year.

I got to where I am today through an entrepreneurial journey of establishing businesses in talent management, mortgages, beauty, and photography. I built these businesses from the ground up, added value and then took an exit from each. I quickly learned the stages of the business lifecycle and became a laser focused, disciplined expert in sales and marketing.

I also made pit stop along the way and became a stay-at-home mom for several years, which presented a business problem. I had to develop a strategy to reenter the workforce and produce a compelling narrative to explain the gap in my professional experience. The strategy came to me after I learned about the tenant representation side of commercial brokerage through a book. I realized the skillsets that I had developed as an entrepreneur aligned with the role of a commercial real estate broker. That identification was easy however, breaking into the commercial real estate industry was not.

Real estate generally is an enormous industry, and commercial real estate is multi-faceted with no one direct path to gaining access. Opportunities in brokerage are not always advertised and most of the time you need to know someone who knows someone to get a chance. Real estate is a “people business”. Your network and ability to navigate other networks are integral to being in the know, making the right moves, and elevating your business development skills to the next level.

Several barriers to entry exist in commercial real estate, especially for women and minorities. I overcame some of the challenges by articulating my understanding of the microeconomics of the Atlanta market, and aligning my knowledge of marketing and sales to brokerage. Along the way I learned that even if you have a “thick skin”, you need to have a firm understanding of who you are and the value that you bring to each business challenge. Understanding who you are and being your authentic self is more important than shielding yourself from adverse situations.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Monday – Chateau Elan all day. Tuesday – Chateau Elan all day.
Wednesday – Shopping in Buckhead Village District. Lunch at Velvet Taco. Drinks at The Regent Cocktail Club. Sleep at St. Regis.
Thursday – Trap Museum. Top Golf. Massages and dinner at St. Regis.
Friday – Sleep in. True Food Kitchen for lunch. Atlanta Botanical Garden for drinks and music in the park.
Saturday – Porsche Experience Center. Lunch at Negril Village. Illuminarium for drinks. Dinner at The Garden Room.
Sunday – Hiking at Sweetwater Creek State Park. Lunch at Taqueria on Broad. Night at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. Dinner at Rumi’s Kitchen in Midtown.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my colleague, biggest supporter, and best friend – my husband Christopher Bell. Cheers to the best guy in the world. He is more than deserving.

Website: www.cre-101.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rsbell_officebroker/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renautabell

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rsbell_cre

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8OTRljnf8tXFl2aY-pwJGg