It was 2008, I had just left a big box company after 18 years to start an auction company.
It was a bright idea.
I had seen sellers give their homes over to auction, paid for advertising up front, gotten no results and were back on the market with that same company "stigmatized" with a property that did not sell.
I had recently sold a very unusual property with an auction company.
I negotiated to remain the listing agent, was part of the advertising, open house, hand holding the seller and it was a huge success!
So I had this idea to go further. Have an auction company run by Realtors® who could stay with the listing from beginning to end. I used the term accelerated marketing.
It was exciting coming up with the name, putting a team together, having signs made up and getting sellers to go this "new" route. That first and only year we did a lot of successful auctions.
But looking at my bottom line, it was not working as a successful business. The income from the same amount of listings, that I was doing prior, was drastically reduced. The team had to also be paid. For me this was just not good business.
Time to say NEXT.
I became a broker and opened HomeRome Realty.
Did I make a mistake?
No!
I did try something that was not right for me but I learned a lot especially how to find out the seller's bottom line. Never once have I looked back. Absolutely love being a broker and owner. Love being a 'solopreneur' and love being responsible only to my wonderful clients.
It is okay to try a new idea.
It is okay to change directions.
This is being submitted for the December Grant Schneider contest.
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