Local DI realtor featured on HGTV's Island Life show

Renee Reinert Pote, owner of Iron Gate Realty, is well known on Daniel Island as a professional real estate agent and broker. Knowing the island inside out the way she does, an email she received this past fall from HGTV sparked her interest. The email was sent to all area realtors in Charleston looking for real estate professionals who had clients looking for houses on area islands for their Island Life show. Pote immediately replied to the email.

Pote explained in her email to the show’s producers that she had particular clients looking to purchase a home on Daniel Island. In her mind, the thought of being contacted seemed farfetched when considering all the possible replies the television network would receive from an area as big as Charleston. However, the unexpected happened.

Within about 30 minutes, the producer emailed her back and said they wanted to do a Skype interview over the computer with her and asked if she was ready. After a very detailed 45-minute interview, Pote was notified that she had made-the-cut, and she was thrilled!

“When I received word that they chose me, I was very excited for several reasons. First, I was most excited for my clients because they knew and loved HGTV and to now be a part of that was thrilling! Secondly, I was excited because I truly love Daniel Island and what it has to offer. I knew I would be very comfortable filming and explaining why people should and why people do move to Daniel Island,” recalls Pote.

After the scheduling details were determined it was time for the HGTV crew to come to Charleston to shoot the episode. Pote enjoyed the process, though she noted the days were very long.

“Filming started early, usually 7:30 a.m. and finished at 8 p.m. depending on what was being shot that day. It took five full days of filming for a 30-minute show! Once we finished filming the first show, I was asked if I wanted to film another show,” explained Pote.

Pote jumped at the chance to do it again. With her second episode coming up on April 10, 2016 at 10 p.m., Pote hopes Daniel Islanders will watch her help another couple purchase a home on Daniel Island.

“I enjoyed meeting both filming crews and became friends with all of them,” says Pote of her experience with HGTV!