Small Town Real Estate

Thomas, I would love to comment....and can do so with some expertise! I have been there...and done that.  Really, I came from a community of 6700 people in Oelwein, Iowa, where I had lived, gone to school and worked for 47 years of my life.  I came from a family, well respected and a household name for most residents within 20 miles of my hometown and worked very hard to always give back to my community.  I loved my hometown where I had been in retail and real estate as long as I remember.

I now live in beautiful Bend, Oregon with a population of about 80,000. I own and operate a year old EXIT franchise.  I came to Bend in 2002, and yes, there is a world of difference.  In my Iowa hometown selling real estate was more a popularity contest.  It seemed like those who liked me and had confidence in me would list and sell with me.  Certainly there were times folks did not know either me or my family, but I made sure my name was everywhere.  I advertised in the local paper, did local radio....but that was about it.

Now, in Bend, selling real estate is entirely new.  It is 90% prospecting. Period.  Hardly anyone knows who I am...or cares, frankly.  I don't always win a listing after giving a listing presentation....and business is 100% about hustling.

Although my volunteer work was NEVER about getting more business, I am sure my service to my hometown community as the president of my Chamber of Commerce, president of our economic development group, volunteer for fund-raising efforts, board member of The American Red Cross and the United Way and city councilman helped show my leadership abilities.....but sometimes political positions I took also hurt in securing more business.

I tried to be different from other Realtors.  I demonstrated, as best as I could, that I could be trusted, worked hard and always had the best interests of my clients in mind. 

I must admit, that while I love Bend, Oregon....I sometimes miss the small town way of doing business. While I could never see myself back in Oelwein, Iowa...where the average home sale price was arounf $50K...I miss what makes small town so desirable.

I would recommend that you join as many clubs as will have you, that you volunteer in anyway that you can to give back, that you are active in your church and children's school and work hard to be the best. 

I wore a suit everyday (even when the humidity was 90% and it was 90 degrees outside),always had professional presentations and worked hard to be the best.  You can easily do the same.  Best of luck to you!