I took a major liberty with this challenge. The suggestion was to write about what I have done in the last year or two that improved my business. Well…it was longer ago than that. In fact, it was at least ten years ago! What was it? I became part of a Team!
I was an individual agent for years. I was doing o.k. Not setting the world on fire. Making a good living. Still, I thought that I could aspire to do better…more.
A new agent joined our brokerage and, wow!, did he hit the ground running. His initial plan was to get a real estate sales license so that he could sell a few homes to supplement and complement his contracting business. He was a kitchen and bathroom remodeling specialist. Well, he sold so many homes in his first year as a REALTOR that he left the remodeling business in the hands of his partner and switched to selling homes full time. He actually outgrew our brokerage and moved to different brokerage to continue his growth trajectory.
He and I and another agent or two met monthly or so over coffee just to talk shop, exchange ideas and take the pulse of the market according to each other’s opinions.
It was at one of these get-togethers that he mentioned that he was so busy – he had already added an assistant and was establishing his own staging company in addition to full time real estate sales – that he could use another REALTOR to help him handle all of his business and continue to grow.
Well…I gave his comments some thought over the next few days and decided to meet with him for more information on his thoughts, plans and expectations.
The Medford Team came into existence and I became the first added REALTOR member and it has made all the difference for my real estate career.
Over the ensuing years, the Team has added a fabulous stager together with starting a staging company…complete with warehouse to hold the staging inventory and workers to schlep the furniture and two trucks for carrying the staging materials and for loan to clients. Our stager, along with her assistant, also acts as project manager and plans and executes repairs, upgrades and modifications to appropriate properties prior to listing them for sale. As project manager, she also has an assistant and the help of outside crafts people and vendors to bring change where needed. Our Team administrative staff includes a listing manager and a transaction coordinator. Both are licensed. They are also provided with additional support as needed including from Virtual Assistants. The number of REALTOR members has grown and fluctuated from three to as high as ten. The Team also includes two inside sales agents who are also licensed. The original assistant to our Team Leader has grown in experience and knowledge and is now our Chief Operations Officer!
The outline for our real estate business can be found in the book The Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller, Dave Jenks and Jay Papasan. It is an excellent road map and our Team Leader, Carl Medford, has taken it to heart.
Our Team closed 130 sides last year and finished as the Number 1 producer in Alameda County!
Our Tagline: Changing the world one home at a time.
Our Mission: To provide unparalleled real estate experiences, transforming clients into raving fans who partner with us in providing fresh starts locally and globally.
Our Vision: We will be the real estate team of choice, a profitable business and a beacon of hope.
You saw the stuff about “changing the world”, “fresh starts locally and globally” and “beacon of hope” so you will not be surprised that we donate a part our commission for each transaction to several local and international charities.
For me…change has been good!
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