Discovering my Relocation Niche
Or Did it Discover Me?
When I think of those who advise, backed by experience, on the value of having a niche, or maybe more than one, I first think of Liz and Bill Spear (aka BLiz) in Ohio. If you are not already following this AR Ambassador (Bill) for the wisdom he shares in each weekly Ask an Ambassador post, you really should. Now!
Bill and Liz are successful Realtors in Ohio north of Cincinnati, and they certainly know their market, and the patio home niche they blog about and service. It’s good learning for us all! Bill has posted about having a niche multiple times, and he has plenty of success to back-up what he’s talking about.
I’ve had 4 major relocations (in addition to multiple smaller moves locally and regionally) – Michigan to Boston, Boston to the Twin Cities, the Twin Cities back to Boston, and Boston to Carlsbad CA.
Perhaps more than some of you, but not nearly as many as others. But the number of moves doesn’t matter.
My move in 2005 from Boston to Carlsbad evolved into a focus on relocation as a niche, having moved multiple times with changing jobs, working with relocation companies, moving kids, pets and cars, plus buying and selling simultaneously, or trying to. All are issues those who are relocating have to deal with.
These days relocating buyers have to cope with intense competition around the country…tough enough to handle as a buyer if you live locally, but even more challenging dealing with from a distance.
As a former Human Resources professional in the corporate world for 15 years I dealt with relocation issues for employees on multiple occasions. As a result I understand many of the practical issues people who are relocating deal with as far as changing jobs, but appreciate the issues anyone who is relocating has to cope with – managing a myriad of tasks, coordinating buying and selling (or renting) from a distance, preparing for the move, hiring movers, learning about a new community, and the list goes on.
Relocation can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve not done it before. But even if you have relocated each situation is different and presents its own challenges, especially on the house hunting side!
Timing can be a big issue. Sometimes a relocation may have to happen fairly quickly due to a new job, or perhaps other circumstances. For some, it’s more dependent on finding the right home and community – that could take months or perhaps longer depending on the reasons prompting the move, and other personal and financial circumstances (e.g., selling the current home).
I enjoy working with relocations a great deal (most have been in-bound), and it was a natural progression when I moved here to Carlsbad from Boston, given the life decisions we had made to relocate our family multiple times over the years.
Those experiences, coupled with my experience in the corporate world, readily lead to a focus on relocations...but of course I help lots of local buyers and sellers, too.
As a result of my relocation niche focus I developed a 5-page Relocation Checklist that I share with clients, a checklist of questions to ask movers, provide a range of relocation services, and created a video series of Relocation Tips and Advice for those who are relocating to my area.
My vast network of Realtors around the country from the ActiveRain community and my Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) connections allow me to help buyers and sellers all over the country with their buying, selling, and relocation needs. I can help either directly if moving here or leaving my area, or indirectly with referrals to qualified agents I know. How can I help YOU or someone you know?
If you have questions or need any assistance with YOUR relocation, or if you are just thinking about a big move in the future, please reach out to me, the #SouthernCaliforniaRelocationDude, at (760) 840-1360 directly or via text.
What niche(s) do YOU serve?
Did you discover your niche or did it discover you?
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