Eureka ! ! !   I made a new friend yesterday. 

I visited a broker luncheon held at a new home site near my home in Lovettsville by two builders and catered by a local french restaurant.  The food, of course, was scrumptious.  But, believe it or not, that was not why I was there.  I am in a new home in a new neighborhood, in a new community in Loudoun County, VA and I want all of the builders in this area to know me.  When I have a buyer to tour these homes, the builder's representative will remember me kindly because I helped make his broker's luncheon a success.  Will it help me get a little bit more in terms of price, upgrades, loan flexibility, dates, etc.  Of course it will.  Furthermore, the builder will remember my name.  So, that part of my task for the day, cultivating the builder's rep was a success.  But, that wasn't the best part of the day.

I met a new referral agent.  Yep.  I was sitting at the dining room table enjoying pate on toast, crab stuff on toast, smoked Salmon on toast (they had a lot of stuff on toast), and one of the nice young ladies at the table asked if I was a broker.  I said yes I am.  I suppose it's the older than dirt appearance that is always the clue.  They figure anyone around as long as I should at least have their broker's license by now.  They're right.

The subject of new business came up and I offered that they should relax because while the market is dead now, that I expect we'll have some activity once the prices come down another 10% or so.  So, one of the agents recognized my name or company name from the Internet.  That in itself was gratifying enough to make my day.  But, it got better.  As I was leaving one of the agent followed me out and gave me her card.  She is licensed in Maryland and Virginia and will be glad to get buyer referrals from me.  So, I invited her to call me next week and come down to my home in the neighborhood and I'll go over my procedures for referral agents.  I'm sure we can do some business together.  I often can't find an agent to help a buyer, especially on short notice and she's right in the neighborhood.  I'm looking forward to our meeting. 

I can use local referral agents because I plan to establish a real presence in my own neighborhood.  I'm developing web sites specifically for this area.  I have a TV spot
aimed at move-up buyers for this area.  I am previewing many homes in the area.  I know the area.  I want sales here. 

All I need is some buyers. 

Typical of homes in my neighborhood that I want to sell.  In the $1,000,000 + or - price range.
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com.  http://www.homefinders.com/.  Serving Virginia and Maryland home buyers.