Michelle Henderson : Family First
Written by Zachary Cohen | Photos by Nested Tours
Over the past eight years, Michelle Henderson has built one of Oklahoma’s top real estate businesses, rising to become West + Main Homes’ Edmond branch broker. But that’s not all that defines Michelle; she is a wife, a mother of two, and a dedicated community member. For Michelle, family always comes first.
“Why real estate? It was always about flexibility,” Michelle shares, “but it’s also become much more for me.”
Putting Family First
Michelle was born and raised in Altus, OK. She graduated with degrees in advertising and public relations from Oklahoma State University and then relocated to Kansas City. In Kansas City, she worked in various fields: marketing, interior design, and pharmaceutical sales. In 2016, she turned toward real estate.
“My husband kept pushing the idea of selling real estate. I was resistant for a while, but then I realized real estate married all of the things I was interested in — marketing, design, and sales. I’m super interested in design. I've renovated several homes. I love staging and photography,” Michelle explains. “When I was pregnant, I knew I didn't want to go back to an office job, so I got licensed and started when my son was a few months old.”
Michelle was lucky to have a great mentor to start her career, allowing her to learn the ins and outs of the business while closing her first deals. In 2017, Michelle and her family moved back to Oklahoma to be closer to family. With another child on the way, they knew they needed more support.
Seeking Balance
Michelle has not only risen to become a top agent; she’s now one of West + Main’s brokers. She closed 16 transactions for $6.4 million in 2023.
Perhaps even more impressively, Michelle has accomplished this while continually putting her family first. She drops her kids off at school and picks them up daily. She volunteers at their schools and attends nearly all of their extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, her business continues growing.
“There are challenges and sacrifices I have to make. I laugh when I say ‘flexibility’ because we are always working on our clients’ schedules, but I can also figure out so much to be at my kids’ activities,” Michelle explains. “I work with a lot of families with young kids, so they are usually understanding. I set the expectation up front: if something is important, I'm available, but if it's not an emergency, we can talk the next day. My clients know my schedule — when my kids go to school and come home from school. I try to manage expectations on the front end, but that can all go out the window when there are deadlines.”
So, what have been some of the keys to Michelle’s success? Her commitment to service and community has led to countless referrals, and so has her dedication to excellence. For example, she stages every listing, ensuring clients get top dollar for their homes.
“The design aspect is huge. I pay for staging for clients. It’s a win-win. Everyone nets more money, and it sells faster. I have really invested in that portion of the business. I made that decision early on to invest in that. That has helped me attract beautiful listings, and that’s led to a lot of referrals,” Michelle explains.
Contributing In All Areas
Michelle and her husband, Adam, have two children, Palmer (8) and Pearl (6). They also own Abide Interiors, a home decor and furniture shop in downtown Edmond. They enjoy golfing, visiting with friends, and working on their short-term rental property in Phoenix.
As Michelle thrives in other aspects of her life, one thing is abundantly clear: her family comes first.
“My kids are my legacy,” she says. “They are so important to me, and that’s what's been so cool about real estate — all of the opportunity to be there for my kids. It’s amazing that I can contribute to their lives and still contribute to my family through my career.”
