After 8+ years in the business, I've decided it's fianally time to start journaling my adventures in real estate. I've been thinking about this for years. In fact, I distinctly remember telling a coworker back in my Rose & Womble days that I had a goal of starting a blog and posting to it weekly. Well I've been at Keller William's for three years now, so I obviously failed at that one. It's hard to make something like blogging a priority. There really isn't a direct return on it. Most of our actions are for one of two purposes; to serve our current clients; and to help attract new ones. That's pretty much the job in a nutshell - go get clients, then provide them with excellent service. If you can do those two things in this business, you'll do well. If you don't, you'll end up like 85% of people who get their license...finding a real job.
But the world really doesn't need another real estate blog. At least not a typical one, where we spend all our time reviewing the real estate process step by step, acting like that information isn't available on a thousand other sites. While I'm sure much of the process will eventually come up, the goal is to have it happen organically. If I ever post an article called "Step 1 of the Real Estate Process", I invite you to whack me over the head with my laptop. My vision for this blog is to tell you the stories you need to hear in order to understand what buying or selling a home, and living in Hampton Roads is really like. What I want more than anything is to tell you the truth, let you know what works and what doesn't, set your expectations straight, and for the lack of a better term, keep it real with you.
The problem with real estate transactions is that people are involved. This means that the straight line flow charts, and "norms" can be thrown out the window at any moment. For every deal that goes as planned, the next has a twist that's often completely unpredictable. Because people are unpredictable Navigating those unknowns is what often makes this job so interesting, frustrating, exhausting, and rewarding. We usually figure them out. Every now and then we don't. I think there are lessons to be learned from both.
As this blog progresses, I plan to keep it in my voice, which means it's definitely going to get a little PG-13 at times. I doubt there are many little kids out there reading real estate blogs, so I think we'll be ok there. And I'll try not to make these things too long. No one has time to read a ten thousand word post on negotiating home inspection repairs. This may end up being the longest I post write! With that in mind, let's wrap up this introduction. I look forward to sharing with you all the crazy shit that happens in my career. Check back in weekly(ish) and let me know what you think. I strongly encourage feedback, and even a little discourse. I love a good argument - I mean constructive debate.
Oh, and by the way, I'm never too busy to help you or anyone you know with your real estate needs (We have to say that at the end of everything. It's on page 1 of the successful real estate agent handbook) But seriously, send referrals, I have a baby to pay for
