Back during the Persian Gulf War, I was stationed in tropical Guam on a U.S. Navy military base and was there for two years. Our mission was to support the Naval fleet from information gathering techniques. Honestly, that's about all that I can divulge about my military duties even now. I just happen to know the importance of confidentiality even after more than 20 years since my honorable discharge.
However, I compiled a list of some skills that were learned or developed that still are useful for me today as a civilian helping my clients with buying or selling homes in the Richmond Virginia area. Below is a summary of those major skills that relate to my military training.
1) Attention to Detail---Paying attention to small details is very important. While serving on active duty in the U. S. Navy, I learned that paying attention to details can help avoid injuries and save lives. Even today I find that those same skills helps to serve my clients when negotiating items on a Purchase Agreement, sometimes referred to as a Real Estate Contract.
2) Strong Listening Skills---Having strong listening skills is important for all military personnel, so that orders are followed correctly in order to help fulfill a specific mission. Today, I find those same active listening skills help serve my clients. For example, I can help my home buyer clients find the criteria for types of homes that they prefer by excercising my active listening skills. Also, I can help home sellers by listening to what they would like to achieve in selling a home.
3) Discipline and Focus---Working in the military, I found that I often had to get up early in the morning and worked long hours in order to fulfill a specific military mission. Similarly, I find that working long hours and being persistent helps serve my Richmond Virginia residential real estate clients very well. It could mean working long hours showing a large number of homes in one day for some real estate clients who could be residing outside my geographic area. Otherwise, it could involve doing a lot of online investigation and making phone calls to other agents to find some hard-to-get information that a particular client of mine may need.
4) Negotiation Skills---Being able to find a common interests with others was essential for my success with getting along with a diverse population in the U.S. military. The same holds true in civilian life while I'm helping home buyers and sellers with Richmond Virginia area real estate. Having strong negotiation skills often comes from finding a sense of common interest with the other party in a residential real estate transaction.
5) Patience and Confidentiality---Along with working long hours while serving in the U.S. military, I also developed a stronger sense of patience while working with others. We had to learn to work together as a unit. Also, often I had access to information that was confidential in nature. Only a few people may have access to a particular piece of information. Similarly, that helps me when working with my clients. Fortunately, I have a lot of patience working with clients who may have a change of mind about something, and also I do respect privacy and know the importance of keeping certain personal information confidential.
Are you a U. S. military veteran? Consider the valuable skills that you have learned or developed while serving on active duty. Remember that you can be a major asset to the civilian community!
Above is one example of a beautiful green home near Richmond in Henrico County.
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Are you a U.S. military veteran, active duty, retired or civilian looking to buy or sell a home? Call a veteran today, and let me help you get started!
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