Meet Chris Garrard

Leaving the military, I thought I had already overcome the greatest challenges of my life. Never did I expect returning to the civilian world would bring a host of new challenges for me to tackle. It was a big adjustment, and I had many important lessons to learn as I found my path in life. When I was a kid, I knew I would have to work hard if I was going to create a successful life for myself. That’s why I joined the military. It was a chance for me to better myself and have a future. I loved my time in the military. I got to travel the world, meet amazing people and serve my country. Long deployments and field training exercises kept me away from my family for months at a time, but overall, I’m grateful for my time in the military. It taught me discipline and responsibility, and it gave me the opportunity to make something of myself. When I left active duty in 2018 and went into reserves, I felt lost. It had been tough being away from my family for so long, but it was also difficult to readjust to civilian life. While in the military, it didn’t feel like much time had passed, but in reality, I had been on active duty for 14 years. It was hard to accept how much I missed. It made me realize how precious time is and how important it is to cherish the time we have with our loved ones. As I adjusted, I started to miss the camaraderie and the sense of purpose that the military provided. But I was determined to make it work. I leaned on my family and friends for support. I feel fortunate that my wife, Wipa, believed in me during that time as I tried to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I tried going back to school to become an electrical engineer, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t the right path for me. My high-level math skills were rusty, and I didn’t have a passion for it. Giving up wasn’t an option to me. I was determined to find my path and provide for my growing family. For a while, I worked as a trained coordinator, but a motorcycle accident put me out of work temporarily. I was looking for new opportunities and happened to speak with the REALTOR® who sold us our home. She recommended I get into real estate. As I thought about her suggestion, it started to make more and more sense. I love working with people and solving problems. I was able to use my knowledge of the area and my skills in negotiation to help people find their dream homes. Most importantly, I found that I was good at it! I love the sense of accomplishment I get from helping people in my community achieve their goals. Transitioning from military life was hard, but I am proud that I was able to build a successful career for myself. I am able to spend a lot of time with my family, which means the world to me. I am especially proud of my children, Aidan and Kira, who are a constant source of joy and inspiration. Aidan was born in August 2022, and Kira is 4 years old now. Watching them grow and develop their personalities has been an amazing experience. Even though Kira is still pretty young, she is already becoming a salesperson. One day, she wanted to go to a friend’s house, and she began explaining why it was a good idea by saying, “If I go to my friend’s house, then you and Mommy can take a break.” I never thought I would negotiate terms with my 4-year-old! Kids have a funny way of surprising you every day, and I’m grateful I get to be around for all of those moments. As a REALTOR®, I really enjoy the unique challenges that come with every transaction. I take pride in setting myself apart by truly caring about my clients and working hard to ensure they are getting the best deal. In order to provide the best service, I am constantly learning and growing. I am always looking for new ways to improve my skills and create a great experience. For my clients, I focus on building a strong relationship as a trusted advisor and advocate for them throughout the entire process. I am also dedicated to staying up to date on the latest trends and market conditions in order to provide the most accurate and valuable information to my clients. My ultimate goal is to make the buying and selling process as smooth and stress-free as possible. When you work with me, I am focused on helping you and doing everything in my power to reach a successful close. Even after the transaction is over, I will continue to help you on your journey as your REALTOR® for life.