The DeFoor family’s roots run deep in the CSRA, making their connection to the people and land especially meaningful. “I'm the seventh generation on the same farm and I live in my grandparents' house that was built in 1945,” shares John DeFoor. “Being so rooted in our community means knowing where things began, seeing where they are now, and having that perspective to see the vision of where they are going. We’ve been here long enough to understand and see the patterns and growth in our area.”
It’s this combination of that history and innovative thinking that has made DeFoor Realty, founded in 1980 by Lloyd DeFoor, a leading real estate firm in the CSRA. Lloyd’s ability to capture a vision for properties is now carried on by his sons, John and Jeff, as well as a close-knit team of professionals who work together to help clients realize their dreams.
Growing up, John had a front row seat watching his dad work with the land his family knew so well. So, it was natural for John to follow in his father’s steps. “I got my real estate license while I was in college. When I got out of college, I first started building houses under dad’s brokerage and built over 100 houses in 10 years,” says John. “Then dad wanted to get more involved in leading international mission trips and asked me to take over a real estate company. I had to make a decision whether to continue in construction or to move to the real estate side, and I decided to transition to real estate.”
Since that time, John’s brother Jeff and sister-in-law Christie have officially joined the firm, with the rest of the family close by, always willing to pitch in and help. “It’s special being as close as I am with my family. Thankfully, we all get along really well, and we know each other inside and out,” says John. “Most of the time, when someone makes a decision, we know what they were thinking without asking. When I make a decision, everyone trusts my judgement.”
Working with family does have one drawback, though. “We never get to have a full family vacation,” explains John. “We can't really travel all together because somebody needs to be here to make decisions.”
Part of working with family, and a team who feels like family, is that they all work together seamlessly for the good of the client. “We believe in a personal connection,” says John. “When you get us, you get a team. It's not just one individual realtor that you're getting; you're getting all of us and all the resources we have.”
Living, working, and playing in the same community brings a higher level of accountability, something the DeFoor family takes seriously. “If I do somebody wrong, I'm going to see them in the grocery store or at church, so we live to a higher standard than what any of our professional ethical standards call for,” shares John. “Our faith is also very important to us. We're a faith-based organization. We pray in our meeting every Tuesday morning and when people come in and have a problem, the first thing we ask them is if we can pray for them or with them.”
Giving back to the community is another important aspect of the DeFoor family’s identity. They serve through involvement with local food banks and schools, the YMCA’s Camp Lakeside, the Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care, and local chapters of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). “FCA was kind of the first introduction my father had to Christ. Because he didn't grow up in a necessarily Christian home, the only time he ever learned about Christ or the Bible was starting in high school with FCA,” shares John. “I was also in FCA, and we feel like that is a great way to get Christianity into the schools.”
The family is actively involved with Damascus Baptist Church and Lloyd’s passion for international missions continues as he leads medical mission teams through Global Health Outreach, the mission arm of the Christian and Medical Dental Association.
The DeFoor family’s connections to the community and expertise in the many different avenues of real estate make DeFoor Realty a go-to firm for those who want expert guidance. “We are very thankful for the many people who trust us and continue to have confidence in us,” says John. “We are so fortunate and blessed that most of our business comes from personal referrals.”
Sidebar:
DeFoor Realty
DeFoor Realty, located at 6430 Ridge Road in Appling, serves the greater CSRA and works with residential and commercial properties, including investment properties, land development, and is the local expert on lake properties. To connect with DeFoor Realty, visit d4realty.com, call 706-541-0637, and follow DeFoor Realty on social media.
Pull Quote:
“We are very thankful for the many people who trust us and continue to have confidence in us.”