Good Evening TXK
There’s something about stepping into an open house that feels a little like sneaking a peek into someone’s diary—except the diary is an immaculately staged living room, and the deepest secrets are in the form of quirky Pokémon knick-knacks on a dusty shelf. It’s a strange, fascinating glimpse into lives we don’t know and will likely never meet, yet here we are, wandering through their space, absorbing the little details that make up their world.
I spent a day indulging in this curiosity with Sydney Wicks, a local realtor who also happens to be the older sister of my childhood best friend. There’s a certain magic in seeing someone you’ve known forever in a different light. Sydney isn’t just the girl who used to babysit us; she’s a force in the real estate world, showing homes, making deals, and doing it all with a smile that says, “I’ve got this.”
But it wasn’t always that way for her. On our delightful ride in between house tours, Sydney confessed, “That first year I had my license, I didn’t tell anyone I was doing real estate but the people closest to me. The way I thought about it back then, I didn’t want people to know what I was doing until I thought I had a solid understanding of what I was doing myself. I wanted to KNOW MY STUFF.”
And aren’t we all just trying to know our stuff? Whether it’s writing an article or even working in social media management like I do, we often feel like we need to have everything figured out before we’re willing to share it with the world. But I’m glad Sydney reminded me that learning never stops. “I was scared to not know everything. I like to appear like I know everything now, but I’m humble enough to recognize that I don’t, and I’m still learning every single day.”
As we walked through the homes, some were filled with perfectly fluffed pillows, gigantic bathtubs (the most essential part of my future home), and others with snacks out on the kitchen counters for visitors (that I most definitely ate), I couldn’t help but draw parallels between these open houses and the act of opening ourselves up to others. When you walk through an open house, you’re not just inspecting square footage; you’re peeking into someone’s life, seeing the choices they’ve made in colors, textures, and the little quirks that speak to a story you’ll never fully know.
And let’s be honest, we know some of y’all are nosey! Yes, I’m talking to YOU! Y’all know you want to glide through somebody’s home and judge their furniture or decoration choices, or peek around their kid’s bedrooms and see if you can get some inspiration ideas from them. I see you. But no shame, I do it too!
In many ways, I feel like an open house. Every month in this very magazine, I open myself to being “seen,” to being judged, and to being misunderstood. It’s a vulnerable place to be. Sydney’s journey in real estate, from keeping her new career a secret to selling $6 million in her first year, is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of learning about the market, about others, and about oneself.
By the time we wrapped up our last house tour, I realized Sydney had not only given me a glimpse into the world of real estate but also into her life—her fears, her triumphs, and her relentless drive to keep growing. It was seeing an old friend through a new lens—one that made me appreciate her journey even more.
As we parted ways, I couldn’t help but reflect on something Sydney said that stuck with me: “There’s always more to know.” It’s a simple truth, but one that carries so much weight. We open ourselves up, not just to being judged, but to learning, to growing, and to making space for the new and better things that lie ahead. In many ways, we’re all open houses—offering glimpses of our lives to those who pass by, hoping they see the value we’ve created and the potential in what we’re still building.
So, the next time you find yourself at an open house, reading one of my articles, or simply talking to strangers in the grocery store, take a moment to appreciate the unique stories hidden in those little details shared. Sometimes, just like when getting a house ready to sell, it takes a lot to clean it up, fix the defects, and make it presentable. And that’s a lot like life. But the rewards of moving on to something new are always worth the effort.
