Real Estate Investing

We’re beginning to see a lot of agents fall away from their careers in real estate and this isn’t surprising given the condition of today’s market.  Buyers and sellers have been jittery in my world for just about two years now.  I’ve said before that when I started almost five years ago, there were easily 65 agents in my office.  We’re down to *I believe* 41 and I’ve had more long conversations with my friends who are considering inactivating their licenses.

Meanwhile in the area immediately surrounding Nashville - approximtely a 60-mile radius - we’ve already had nearly 16,000 closings this year.  What do I want of this?  My fair share of business.  I strongly believe the best way to do this is to provide strong customer service skills to my customers and client, along with a thorough knowledge of the area and a strong degree of professionalism.

The customer service focus is exactly why I love this post by all-around nice guy, Sam Davidson who founded Cool People Care.  Cool People Care exists to motivate and educate people in order to mobilize them to change their worlds.  With over 40 events scheduled all around the United States now, it emphasizes that the power of one can make a huge impact on ourworld.

However back to Sam’s post, which is delightful and can be used in ANY field - real estate, lending, teaching, medical, manufacturing, clerical, etc.  He says instead of ending emails with “Let me know if you have any questions…” say…

What else can I do for you?

It’s the simple things that are sometimes the most insightful.  As Sam says, “The question lets the recipient know you’re interested in having a conversation, and that you’ve done the work required to get that conversation started. You’re listening. You want an answer.”

I have every intention of continuing to provide solid customer service to the people I work with, using Sam’s great suggestion as the strong foundation of all my future emails.

Meanwhile, as you read this please know that I’m very interested in learning what else I can do for you.

Food, water, shelter.  These are the most basic needs for human life, so important in fact that instinct should kick in should circumstances challenge us to survive.  But we hear time and time again about hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and other natural disasters that virtually wipe out all the food, water, and shelter that support and protect human life.  At the risk of stating the obvious… without the resources to live, there is no life.

I regularly read online sources for the latest real estate news and CNN.com caught my attention with Home for 10 people… in a portable box.  As I clicked over to read the story, I imagined one of the stackable houses like I’ve heard about in Japan where people live in a 10×10 unit or about some fabulous prefab design.  Instead, I found this amazing story about how one idea by one man is helping people to survive when disaster strikes,

The ex-Royal Navy search-and-rescue diver says the idea behind the ShelterBox came to him “literally in a heartbeat” while watching the news in 1999. Henderson was struck by the footage he saw of relief workers dropping food on the ground to victims of a disaster.

“I decided there and then that I would try to make a difference in a more sensible and dignified way,” he recalls. “I went to my study and I got a piece of paper out, and I wrote down ’shelter,’ ‘warm,’ ‘comfort,’ and ‘dignity.’ And that’s where it started.”

The portable easy-to-carry box contains supplies that will help people to survive including a 10-person tent, water containers and purifiers, thermal blankets, multi-fuel stove and cooking utensils, and more. 

The non-profit Shelter Box organizions - sponsored by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard - is always looking for donations and volunteers to help with this humanitarian effort.  I applaud the work of this volunteer group and thank them for their kindness.

There is no greater sense of accomplishment than helping someone buy their first home.  The pride of home ownership, achievement, and having your own dirt is a great feeling.  But aside from that, the other amazing opportunity that we have as real estate agents is the ability to give back to the community.

When I was 15- or 16-years old, I got my first taste of volunteer work as a candy striper when I lived in Arkansas (so long ago the details are sketchy!). They tried to put me on a patient wing, but I learned early-on that watching stitches come out caused my face to meet the floor.  Instead, I worked in the lab where I helped patients sign in for blood work. 

I don’t think the giggles over big men growing faint at the sight of a needle was the driving force behind my love for volunteer work, but helping other people is in my heart.  Volunteerism seems to be the mojo behind my company, as well.  We raise money for Make-A-Wish, Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, not to mention local Humane Societies, a child with Hirschprung’s Disease, a home for the blind, and an elephant sanctuary.

Today I learned that the Governor of Tennessee signed into law the Josh Osborne Law which makes starvation and dehydradtion a child abuse offense.  I had met with Josh and his aunt several months ago and put together an online petition to gather signatures in favor of the measure.  Our petition gathered 1,147 signatures from across the state - enough.  This was something that felt bigger than me… knowing that my work played a role in changing a state law.

And while our market is slow, I urge all Realtors to take advantage of an extra hour or two of free time to do something good.  Help clean a trail, volunteer to build a Habitat for Humanity house, or help an elderly person clean their home.  Remember that your service to community defines not just who you are as a real estate agent, but who you are as a human being.

Photo from here.