Watermarks–Devon Floor
A closer look at Barron Lake residents
Barron Lake is where many “firsts” happened for Devon Floor, from her first steps to cruising on the pontoon. And now as a local Realtor®, it’s also where she sold her first house.
Devon, whose parents, Brian and Debbie, bought a house on Barron Lake when she was just one month old, recalls with great fondness lake life, as she knew it. “My favorite memories include riding my bike around the lake, tubing, riding the jet ski, fishing, cruising on the pontoon and so much more,” she said.
“I surely enjoyed swimming and tubing and still do. But it depends on who the driver is. When I was younger, I would only trust my uncle Mike to be the tubing driver.”
She has many fond memories growing up on Barron Lake; like one Christmas morning when she and her family saw a deer swim across the lake. “And yes, I definitely Googled, ‘Can deer swim!” she said.
Fishing is a longtime Floor family favorite. “We would get up early and go bass fishing on opening day. My mom and I always kept my dad plenty busy—getting birds nests, accidentally having the fish swallow the hook, helping me set the bait (ew) and getting the fish off the line,” she said. “One year, when I was much younger, I accidentally threw my fishing pole in the lake during a cast.” The expeditions weren’t complete until the fish were cleaned and thrown on the grill accompanied by potatoes. “For me, lake life always has meant being outside, making memories, being surrounded by family and throwing down on the grill,” she said.
“I also will never forget the ‘pic-toon’ we made. It was a picnic table on an old raft with pontoons. It had a bell, a cooler and even a mini charcoal grill,” Devon said.
She also recalls the weather patterns on the lake. “Although I was never a fan of storms, I loved watching them roll in across the lake,” she said. “The way the sky and wind would change, and you could see the rain coming from one end of the lake to the other.”
Following graduation from Niles High School, Devon enrolled at Western Michigan University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology with a minor in Geriatrics. She stayed in Kalamazoo working in an assisted living facility. Four years later, she went to a real estate conference in California with her mom when her dad was unable to attend.
“I met so many amazing people and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was so focused on getting the job as a marketing director (at her former place of employment) that I lost sight of what was in front of me my whole life,” she said.
Devon texted her dad while she was at the conference and asked, ‘What if I said I was interested in selling real estate?’ His response was short and sweet—‘we’ll talk when you get home.’ He said he knew before we even left on our trip that I would come home wanting to sell real estate.”
Before she knew it, she was back in Niles studying for the state exam and officially began her real estate career in August 2019.
“There is honestly so much to love,” Devon said. “First and foremost, I truly love working with my parents. They’ve been selling real estate together for 20-plus years. I love learning from them and I love the networking that is involved. I’ve met so many wonderful people. I love how no two days are ever the same.”
She’s also proven herself to be a hard worker in this industry as evidenced by two awards. Devon earned the Gold Award for 2020, a production award from the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors, and the Achievement in Continuing Education (ACE) award. “I am always looking for ways to improve my skills and services. Although I am a new realtor, I have two people in my life with many years of experience and I tap into their knowledge and skills every single day,” Devon said.
Devon has earned an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) designation, e-Pro Certification, Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) Certification, At Home with Diversity (AHWD) Certification, Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification, and the Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) endorsement, all from the National Association of Realtors. “I’ve taken all these extra classes and put in a lot of time to build and expand my professional skills to better serve my clients,” she said.
On top of all this, Devon has made it a priority to stay involved in the community. She is a member of the Niles Service League, an organization that works with area schools to identify children with needs. “This spring we were able to purchase a much-needed eye exam and glasses for a student. We also assist with Christmas Families, college scholarships and so much more!” In addition, she is on three committees for the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors; Public Relations, Professional Development and REIS Technology, as well as serving on several subcommittees. “Of course, during the summer, I am out on the lake! My boyfriend and I just bought new kayaks so I’m looking forward to using them this summer,” she said.
Devon enjoys spending time her dog, Buster, and her parents’ dog, Xena, reading, hanging out with family and friends and going to events that support local establishments. She also continues to add to a collection of Willow tree figures she started about three years ago. “My very first one I received when I graduated from college. Since then, all the figurines I have represent an important milestone, event or person/relationship in my life. My favorite one is the “With Grandmother,” that I was gifted when my grandma passed away.”
