Justin and Bethany Russell are down-to-earth people building a legacy for their four children: Henry, 9, Charlie, 6, and 5-year-old twin daughters Emma and Callie. The high school sweethearts both lost their parents at a young age, directly influencing their future. “Our children don’t have grandparents, so it instilled in us that family is extremely important,” Justin explains. “We aren’t promised tomorrow and the trauma of our life events has helped strengthen and motivate us to make something important out of this life.” 

 

That goal of creating a legacy has fueled every decision the couple has made for their careers. Although Justin originally joined the Army National Guard and planned on military service, an injury during basic training caused him to be medically discharged. Looking for plan B, he found a job as a pest control technician. “I liked learning new things and really fell in love with the industry,” Justin says. “Bugs piqued my interest, so I started studying them.”

 

He quickly worked his way up through several companies from a supervisory position to  territory manager for the state. “I saw how things were done in different businesses,” Justin explains. “I had a desire to provide a better customer service experience without cutting corners on the service side.”

 

 

In April 2019, Justin and Bethany opened Local Pest & Mosquito in Springville, Ala., after moving there from Pinson. “I love interacting with our customers,” he says. “Each house has its own issues, so there is problem-solving that goes into each service appointment.” Business has grown through word-of-mouth and five star reviews, almost doubling every year since its inception. Rates are based on the size of the home and are published on their website. Staff members Jenna Teasley and Route Manager Andrew Cusimano round out the team. “They do a phenomenal job for us both in the office and in the field,” Justin says. 

 

With certifications in public health, household pest control, and wood destroying organisms, Justin also graduated from Auburn University’s Pest Tech Academy in 2014 and 2018 and is a member of the Pest Management Association. “I enjoy educating my customers on how to make their homes safer and healthier,” he says. “It’s important to help people understand what is going on.”

 

Of course there is a down side to treating pests—sometimes it’s simply gross. “The worst thing I have faced so far was treating a house that was infested with both German roaches and bed bugs,” Justin says. “The walls were literally crawling.” Armed with a hazmat suit and a respirator, Justin was able to provide a cleaner, healthier place for his elderly client to live in. “It was a sad situation, and I was happy to help,” he says. 

Before starting his own pest control business, Justin became a licensed real agent in 2018. Bethany joined him in 2020 after the dental practice where she worked was shut down due to the pandemic. “My dad was a real estate agent who helped open the first EXIT Realty office in Alabama around the time I graduated high school,” Justin explains. “I saw what he was doing and wanted that flexible schedule for my life and family.” Justin’s dad advised him to wait until he was older so he would better understand the process and give him time to build a sphere of influence that trusted him. That time came in 2018. With a cushion provided him from the sale of his previous company, Justin was able to enter real estate as a REALTOR(R).

 

Justin joined a brokerage that used a flat rate commission fee and quickly did well. When the owners of 1% Lists Legacy asked him to open their first brokerage in Alabama, Justin wasn’t interested. But two years of persistence convinced him. 1% Lists Legacy lists homes for one percent commission, is in 18 states, and growing quickly. “Technology has influenced the home-buying process, but our commission model hasn’t changed,” he says. “With less time involved in transactional work, it makes sense homeowners get to keep more of their hard-earned equity.”

 

Justin and Bethany have eight team members and are among the Top 100 agents in MLS. Justin has also used his pest control knowledge to educate other agents about termite bonds. “Most real estate contracts state there must be a 12-month repair and replacement bond on the home, but sometimes agents may not be well-versed in the language,” he explains. “I enjoy educating them on treatments, what they need to know about the contract, and which bonds should be ordered.”

 

With four kids and two businesses to run, Justin and Bethany’s days are full, but Justin says their calendar is all-important. “We schedule out everything—even blocking off days so we can recharge, reset and regroup,” he says. “I begin each morning at the office to return calls then switch gears to listing appointments and showings.” By dinner time, the couple is home and ready to focus on family and their kids’ activities. “It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been rewarding,” Justin says. “We want to pour into them as much as we can and grow our businesses for our children’s future.”