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Divorce Your Car

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams

My business partner, Brent Sainsbury,  is giving up his car (anyone need to buy a BMW?).  We have teamed up with Community Car here in Madison, which is a car sharing program.  He plans on using one of the Hybrids when he needs to drive clients.  Otherwise he will walk, bike or bus around town. 

When we have clients moving into a downtown condo, we purchase them a membership to Community Car.  I must admit, I was a bit skeptical-of all the professions out there, it would seem that a real estate agent should have a car.  I think he will be able to make it work and it sets a great example for our clients.  Many people that we work with want to move downtown so they can give up the second car or go car-less and bike/bus to work.

We did get some free press out of it.  There was a big party to celebrate the people who divorced their car.  The next morning our local news did interview Brent.  Once I get that clip, I will see if they let me post it.

Brent in the Daily Page.

Are there any other agents that are going car-less?

Posted by

Jenny Persha

c: 608-347-5954

www.livegreenmadison.com

Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time
Well that is very interesting. Let us know how it turns. Definitely a different idea. Hope it works.
Jun 30, 2007 10:02 AM
Jenny Persha
Keller Williams - Madison, WI
Our Dane County Executive and the Madison City Mayor have teamed up and proposed to support a regional transportation authority.  This plans for the long term health of bus service, road maintenance, and biking facilities in the region, as well as for getting us on track with rail.  I am hoping this will enable us to eventually be able to use Location Efficient Mortgages
Jul 01, 2007 03:34 AM
Anonymous
Charles
I have never owned a car.  I hope to avoid it until I can get an electric one.
Jul 02, 2007 06:46 AM
#3
Real Estate Guy in Madison, Wisconsin
Powered by: Real Broker LLC - Madison, WI
Real Estate Guy

Jenny,

 

I heard about Brent's revolutionary idea.  It is a wonderful example you (both)set for us all.  I was looking for the article so was happy you linked to it.  This certainly dwarfs my purchase of a hybrid pre Katrina when gas prices were $2.20.

Wellcome to Active Rain, I just found out you associated with me.   Keep up the good work.

PS What is a poha?

Jul 03, 2007 09:04 AM
Marcus Valdez
Berkshire Hathaway Rocky Mountain Realtors - Fort Collins, CO
what year and model BMW?
Jul 03, 2007 10:04 AM
Anonymous
Rebecca Thorman

This is great. The good thing about blogs is that you don't have to be a technical know-it-all to start and maintain one.

You're absolutely right about Community Car. I live downtown and I've been a member for a couple years now. I don't own a car at all! It's fantastic.

Looking forward to continuing the conversation.  

modite.com/blog

Jul 08, 2007 03:04 PM
#6
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services
Jenny -- you are lucky to have such a program and to have some good public transportion.  Here in New Hampshire, I am not aware of such a program.  Let us now how it works with real estate -- I can tell you when I had clients in last week to find a home -- I was driving them for 3 days straight from one home to another and I don't know how the sharing would work!
Jul 08, 2007 03:09 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!
I love this idea! Thanks for the links. It is great to see the innovative ideas from around the country!
Jul 08, 2007 03:59 PM
Evan Little
Surterre Properties - Santa Ana, CA
Eco, Live/Work, Sales and Management
Great story and hope it works out for the best.  Would love to hear how things are going 6 months from now.
Jul 09, 2007 12:31 PM
Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

What a terrific program.  We don't have anything like that here. 

We do have "community" bicycles all over the downtown area.  They're all yellow, so you can't miss them.  Unfortunately, most of them have been kept by the riders, so you don't see too many of them around any longer. 

Please keep us informed on how well the program works for real estate agents.

Jul 11, 2007 04:05 AM