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May the new year not be the bummer that last year was...did you finish strong?

By
Home Builder with Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon Fire/Water Certified

My father used to say:  bad start, good finish!  He played college ball for Auburn, so there's a football analogy in there.  I'm the daughter (vs.son) he had and made due in other sports for girls/women.  But, as the year ends and we look back on strenghts from 2010 and what to take with us into -- WOW -- 2011, it helps to reflect.  I / we own a new-ish business and still have had some of the same struggles that our realtor friends, established realtors and other businesses have faced in the year that -- sorry other ladies -- sucked. 

It's all about closing--closing the deal AND the relationship, so that we're the one's who get the call, if we're needed.  Clients want to call people they "know and trust."  We can build that in the new year with remembering the little things.  Send those birthday cards, or a post card with a thanks for their business.  And, let's not forget our past clients.  I'm spending the New Year's weekend sending notes to clients from late 2009 to date.  That's now that I've made it home to New York from D.C., post-blizzard.  Yes, finishing some somewhat late holiday/New Year's cards.  Maybe my notes for a great 2011 won't be "round filed" and will stand out because they didn't arrive with all the holiday and what we call "Chanamas" cards.  (We're a blended family in NY state.)

So, let's all keep our chins up, reach out to those who know us and will pass our names along.  Although I do fire and water cleanup for home and business owners, and carpet / commercial cleaning, we see customers who are thinking about selling, or just bought their homes.  They know 10 people who know another 10 and that vicarious connection of friends and family members can be exponential.  So, all of us -- as business owners and brokers -- who have to rely on our reputations for recommendations....let's hope the word gets out and we can close some great customers requests, as 2011 dawns.  Getting an email out to clients who've shared theirs with us helps too!

2010...not so great, but it's a new day and a new game.

Cheers with bubbly and all our best from Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon and my great team, to all of our rainmaker friends.

~ Hillary Sheperd

www.servprosmv.com or servproofscarsdalemountvernon.com

 

 

 

Posted by

____________________________________________________________________________________

Hillary Sheperdfire water mold cleaning restoration flood soot puffback scarsdale mount vernon, ny

Vice President / Co-Owner, 

Servpro of Scarsdale /Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, NY  10550

914-669-5181

Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon

Flood, fire, mold remediation

Comments (25)

Nina Rogoff
Boston, MA
Wix Websites for Real Estate Agents

Hillary, welcome to Activerain! You're right...letting our clients know we remember them and appreciate their business is a great way to keep our name "in front" of them. Happy new year!

Dec 30, 2010 02:19 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

I came from Debbie G's Re-Blog of your message.  Welcome to ActiveRain...

I like "2010...not so great, but it's a new day and a new game."

Dec 31, 2010 01:12 AM
Dustin McClure
Mossy Oak Properties Outdoor Realty - Mooresville, NC

Nice post. Hope you have a great 2011!

Dec 31, 2010 04:34 AM
Amy Jones Group
South East Valley - www.AmyJonesGroup.com - Chandler, AZ
4 Time BEST OF OUR VALLEY Winner

Yep...topped last year.  In fact, my second highest production in all my years selling real estate.  I feel very blessed.  Happy New Year!

Dec 31, 2010 04:40 AM
Anthony Daniels
Coldwell Banker - San Francisco, CA
SF Bay Area REO Specialist

Good stuff Hillary.  Thanks for sharing it.

I'm tied for 1st place in my office and so far, still in the top 100 for my region.  I'm not afraid to put in 15 hour days and I always try to work smarter, not harder.  I also take lots of time off but still work remotely, whether it's on the beach, at a cafe overlooking a piazza or at a truck stop during a road trip.

Happy New Year all.

Dec 31, 2010 05:11 AM
Dawn Maloney
RE/MAX Trinity Northeast Ohio Real Estate Specialist - Hudson, OH
330-990-4236 Hudson & Northeastern Ohio

Hillary, I hope you have a very improved 2011. Happy New Year - it will be better!

Dec 31, 2010 05:36 AM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

I finished strong a 65% above 2009! The bad part is at the moment I,m out of bullets.

Dec 31, 2010 05:49 AM
Pat & Wayne Harriman
Harriman Real Estate, LLC (203) 672-4499 - Wallingford, CT
Broker/Owners, Wallingford CT Real Estate

We started our own company this year and beat last year by 39%, closing out the year with 5 closings in December. We're looking to improve that stat by at least 50% in 2011! Good luck to you in 2011 and to all our Active Rain friends!

Dec 31, 2010 06:12 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Hillary - Congrats.  Your first feature.  You go girl!

Dec 31, 2010 07:01 AM
Bradley Pounds
Watters International Realty, Broker Lic #606049 - Austin, TX
(512) 736-3353

Congratulations and best wishes to you for a strong 2011!  I think we have another tough year for the seller side but some real energy on the buyers side of things.

Dec 31, 2010 07:21 AM
Ken Patterson
TPR Properties - Rocklin, CA
Roseville Real Estate, TOP Rocklin Realtor

Congrats Hillary!  We are finishing strong here!  And STARTING stronger than the past 2!!  The big MO!!  (Momentum)...  Here we come 2011

Dec 31, 2010 07:32 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279
As a matter of fact, just got an offer accepted today on a million dollar home. Great way to end 2010! HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Dec 31, 2010 10:04 AM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

 

Wishing you and all the commenters here a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

 

Dec 31, 2010 10:21 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

I am glad to be seeing the rear end of 2010!  I finished strong in that I am determined to make 2011 a good year - no matter what the economic forecast. 

May we all have a prosperous New Year.

Dec 31, 2010 12:15 PM
Geri Sonkin
Douglas Elliman Real Estate 516-457-7103 - Merrick, NY
Long Island Real Estate & Staging Expert

Your title made me smile.   . . .Did you finish strong?  The answer is yes.  I'm still standing, and that's as strong as it gets.  Wishing you a wonderful new year, nothing like the bummer 2010 was.

Dec 31, 2010 12:18 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Staying in contact with clients makes a huge difference.  As to finishing strong, I'm feeling pretty good about where things stand as the new year starts.

Dec 31, 2010 12:52 PM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

Hillary, good job on the feature. I am in your neck of th woods- maybe we'll do business this year. Yes, we had a good finish and January is looking strong too, thank goodness. 

Dec 31, 2010 01:06 PM
Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Hillary:

Apart from a few health issues, it was a lovely year.  I am hoping for more of the same in 2011.

Here's to a good start and an even better finish to the new year.

 

Dec 31, 2010 03:31 PM
Hillary Sheperd
Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon - Scarsdale, NY
Co-Owner ~ Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon, NY

Thanks to Philip, Debbie and everyone who commented on my reflective end of one year, "dawn of another year" post last week.  Sorry for delayed reply, as tied up with new year's family stuff.  Enjoy and so honored!

Jan 02, 2011 04:02 AM
Hillary Sheperd
Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon - Scarsdale, NY
Co-Owner ~ Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon, NY

So many of you had great, or at least okay 2010's and Forrest and I were really glad to hear it!  Geri's was a toughie, too, from the sound of it, but we can take 2011 on from the beginning and make our own great year...Claudette, hope your health keeps improving!

Jan 02, 2011 04:06 AM