When you sit down to talk to Gilda Johnson, the first thing that strikes you is the fact that she really talks. There is no sales pitch and she doesn’t try to spin anything; she is honest and upfront from the start. Her genuine approach is an integral part of her character that extends beyond any personal marketing agenda. She is simply an individual who truly enjoys connecting with others.
Being raised in a family of entrepreneurs in the hospitality and entertainment industry empowered Gilda with the freedom of looking beyond the traditional nine-to-five and taking chances early on in her professional endeavors. She enrolled in real estate courses while still in college. Soon she realized that she had found an industry which offered her the challenge she sought, and one that would utilize her naturally outgoing personality and her uncanny ability to persevere even through difficulties. After earning her license, she began to work as a part time sales associate while continuing to hold her job with a utility company ‘People see me as a successful agent, but I put a lot of hard work and effort into building my business,” she reflects. Her resolve soon paid off, and Gilda eventually found herself being gently nudged into the field as a full-time REALTOR® by her supervisors at the utility company, who suggested that her time would be better spent on her new career.
She attributes her accomplishments to timing, but acknowledges that her personality has played an important role in her ability to thrive as a REALTOR®. “I have always been a go-getter who enjoyed working with all sorts of people,” explains Gilda. “I like to see what makes them tick. When I’m with a customer, the first step is to build a relationship. After that, we handle the transaction. That’s the way that I like to run my business, and it has come naturally to me.”
Gilda began working at Seven Gables in 2005. She attributes her decision to affiliate with the company in part to the level of support she receives from the staff. She adds that joining an office with “a higher caliber of REALTORS®” has been a motivating factor in increasing her own efficacy and level of service she provides as a sales associate. Reflecting upon her real estate career, Gilda admits that she never expected to achieve the success that she has. “It hasn’t always been easy, but I have kept at it,” she says. “My main focus is on providing a better service as a whole. I always try to keep my word and do the best job possible for my clients. It’s the way that I would want to be treated myself!”
Gilda specializes in communities within the cities of Anaheim Hills and Orange and has sold homes as far east as La Quinta and west as Pasadena. As a result, she says that she has focused her business as a listing agent not only on promoting properties, but also on maintaining constant and effective communication with her clients. “I stay in touch with my customers through phone calls, and send them pertinent market updates,” she states. “Customers have questions, and it’s important that you answer them and keep them educated on the process. REALTORS® should always be working towards earning their customers’ trust and confidence,” she says. “I believe that trust must be earned, and earning that trust is always my goal.”
