A few months ago I asked what we should look for if we select an heir apparent.  My blog was sorta high-jacked by two friends named Nutsy and Raven but I had some feedback. My requirements were.....

• Honesty......this certainly would be a must.
• Energy......if I get tired, they shouldn't!
• Intelligence......street smarts wouldn't hurt.
• Education.....must know proper communication in writing and in person.
• Computer literate......know their way around for emailing, scanning and actually be better at this than I am!
• Personable.....get along well with people.
• Ambitious.....aims for success but not by stepping on people.

After careful thought, I called up this gentleman who'd done lots of work for me as a contractor or handyman while he was working to become a Nutritionist.  He already had a degree in Engineering but was not practicing.

I stunned him by saying, "Mark, I think you should become a real estate agent.  I've got lots of foreclosure properties and you've helped me with a lot of them by making repairs for me.  You could probably serve in two capacities."  He even bought one of the foreclosures, fixed it up and flipped it.

Then I gave him the sales talk. 

• I know that you are honest and anyone who works with me or for me has to be honest.
• You have energy that is never-ending and my HA (heir apparent) has to have more energy than I have.
• Intelligence is a requirement and you have a university degree plus that nutritionist award.
• Computer literacy is a requirement and you understand the computer. (Later on I learned he has a son who is an expert!)
• I know you're personable because every time I recommended you for a job, they called you back to do more and more so you have repeat business.
• You're wife has a great job that supplies you with the all-important health insurance needed to survive.

He was absolutely surprised.  He'd never thought of real estate as a career.  He talked it over with his wife and they decided I'd made good points.  He then started with all the training that was required.  Within weeks he WAS a real estate agent.

I fought to get him an office right across the hall from mine.  He bought his computer equipment, traded vehicles, and started working immediately.  It has now been about 4 or 5 months since he began and he works diligently and learns so fast!  He promptly masters whatever I put out for him.

He has also closed several transactions already.  His eagerness and ambition are apparent.  For a while he made my work load harder because of working and training at the same time.  But I feel confident that he is competent as my backup if I want to go on vacation.

So, drum-roll please!! 

HERE HE IS!!   Mark Lercher, new RE/MAX Advantage agent from Searcy Arkansas.

P. S.  He does have one bad flaw.  He does not read my blogs so he may not even know he's here.