I'm not your typical REALTOR®. I'm a former contractor, a dad who fought for custody, and a man of faith who found God in a moment of desperation.

 

 I was standing on a ladder, installing motorized window treatments—something I’d done for years as an independent contractor. Suddenly, I slipped and fell, landing hard on my head. It wasn’t a long fall, but it was enough to shake me to my core.

 

 As I lay there, stunned, all I could think was, “If I’d been paralyzed, who would have found me?” I’d spent so many years working alone, and in that moment, I knew I needed a change. I was in my forties, and it was time to find a new path—one that I would find rewarding and safe. I prayed about it and realized I was extremely knowledgeable about the local area and had a critical eye for evaluating homes. Real estate would be a great fit.

 

My journey to that realization started after high school, when I had no idea what I wanted to do. College wasn’t for me; I just wanted to work and make a living. For years, I bounced from job to job, never really finding my place. My twenties were a blur of partying and searching for meaning. By the time I was 28, I felt constantly angry and tired of the life I was living. I had to drink to tolerate my job, and when I sobered up, I felt miserable again.

 

 In desperation, I walked into a church, hoping to find something—anything—that would fill the void. There, I found God, and everything changed. I got sober, found peace, and started to rebuild my life.

 

 I joined the family business in Chicago, learning the ins and outs of window treatments. I moved back to Georgia and started my own business, literally knocking on doors and building my reputation from the ground up. My goal was simple: provide for my family and find stability. I got married young, and after years of struggling with infertility, we adopted a son. When my marriage ended after nineteen years, I fought to keep custody of my son—determined to be the father I never had.

 

The next few years were challenging: divorce, losing my mom and my brother within a year, and adapting my business during the market crash by specializing in motorized window treatments—taking on the jobs others couldn’t or wouldn’t do.

 

 But then, in the most unexpected place—the fourth-grade school bus line—I met Kerrie, the love of my life. We were waiting for the bus with our kids, who already knew each other. My son said something to her son. I turned around to look at whoever my son was talking to, and when I saw Kerrie, I immediately liked her. From that moment on, we started talking regularly, and before long, our friendship grew into a relationship. We eventually blended our families, raising five kids together, and found joy in the chaos.

 

 Soon after, I fell from that ladder and realized I wanted a new career: one that would reward my effort and allow me to use everything I’d learned about homes, neighborhoods, and people. Real estate was the answer. I dove in headfirst, closing my contracting business and starting from scratch as a REALTOR®. It was terrifying, but I was determined. I told myself—and my wife—that failure wasn’t an option. I had to make it work.

 

 Outside of work, I find peace in the mountains of North Georgia. I love hiking, mountain biking, camping, and whitewater kayaking. There’s nothing like waking up to a misty sunrise in the foothills of the Appalachians, surrounded by nature and the people I love. I volunteer at church, play drums in the band, and give back to my community whenever I can.

 

 Looking back, my journey has been anything but straight. I’ve faced loss, addiction, and uncertainty, but I’ve also found faith, love, and purpose. Today, I wake up grateful—for my family, my faith, and the chance to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

 

What makes me different from other REALTORS® is my background as a contractor. I spent years installing window treatments, especially motorized products, which taught me to look at homes with a critical and expert eye. I don’t just see the shiny new countertops or flashy appliances that can distract buyers; I look at the bones of a house, the true design, and the bigger picture, including the area, subdivision, and community. My experience helps me spot things others might miss. I’m able to explain what matters in a way that’s easy to understand.

 

I’m a great listener; I take the time to really hear what my clients want and need in a home. I’m also a strong negotiator who can break down contracts and filter out the noise to focus on what’s important. My approach is detail-oriented and numbers-driven, but always down-to-earth. I want my clients to feel confident and informed every step of the way, and I use my experience to help them make the best decisions possible.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sean McKinnon