I just told myself, I'm back

Wow! It's been a minute or two since I've visited my own blog! It's good to see some people have visited and posted some comments. I appreciate that and I will return the favor asap. Where do I start?
Well, I love people! And I love my clients my clients even more! But one thing I've really learned as a guy that is very young in the business is that you and your client must share the same vision. And it all comes in the first conversation you have with that person, whether it's over the phone or in person. I think what clients want to hear from a Realtor is that we are honestly going to help them. In addition, I believe as Realtors....we have to believe that we can help them. All of this can be determined from the first conversation, or at least the first time you have an in depth discussion.
What I have learned is that most people don't care how many millions of dollars you have sold...or not. Truth be told, most people will establish a relationship with a person they trust. They want to see how well you listen to what they want. I’ve talked to many Realtors and they agree that most of the clients that don’t come from a personal referral, are clients that have not dealt with any other Realtors. In other words, they give us a brief overview, kick the tires and say "I’ll take ‘em". Now what you do after the initial overview is key.
I’ve dealt mostly with first time buyers. It is so important to get across a clear understanding of the home buying process to the first time home buyer. I think this is where I do the most talking for the duration of my relationship with the client. I don’t talk about what I’ve done or my numbers for the 2nd quarter....I am exclusively talking about them. What they should expect, what closing costs are, financing options, what is a home inspection and how does it help them, replacement costs. All the things that tend to get a hand raised in the middle of the deal followed by a "I thought....."
Somewhere between sipping your iced tea and answering a question or two, you begin to know who your client is and vice versa. At that point, most people will start to develop in their minds what they want you to do for them as their Realtor. Shortly after that they will express it. All we have to do as a Realtor, is deliver. Despite the many facets this great business has, this is still a service business.

The world as it is

I was in a room full of real estate agents trying to fulfill my educational responsibilities towards the State of Tennessee and towards the NAR when I happened upon a discovery. We were talking about cultural diversity and its influences upon the real estate market. The instructor asked us (at least 60+) "Has anyone worked with a Hispanic client?" I was sure some of the agents that appeared to be in the business a while would raise their hands as they did to all the other questions that showed them to be outstanding. Not a soul in the room raised their hand. I felt like Eddie George must have felt when Ray Lewis exploded on him a couple of years back and left him unconscious. The instructor mirrored my surprise also, but casually moved on probably realizing what I and everyone else in the room realized.

What the heck are we doing? As of last summer there were about 120,000 Hispanic people in the Nashville area. Accommodations have been made from banks to NES to service the needs of the Hispanic population. Maybe I was in the wrong cross section today. But I felt like maybe, just maybe we haven't tried to cross the line. I served a short time in the Army, and I had a Drill Instructor tell me "People don't try what they don't know, have no fears you will have everything". I'm sure we welcome the chance to work with the Hispanic population, I know I would. But what steps have I taken. And then it became brutally honest to me that I had not thought anything about it in my marketing effort. Again, what the heck was I thinking? Of course there is the language barrier. Grant it, I haven't spoken a word of Spanish since my junior year of high school in Mrs. Lehman's class. But that can be fixed in time.
Everyone deserves a home if they can get one. I guess I just woke up today. I know I am awake now! I'm not saying that overnight that I am going to win the trust of the entire Hispanic population of Nashville and the surrounding area. But from what I saw today, starting today I might be one of the few.

The Real Estate Business

I have searched the Internet far and wide to find blogs on real estate in Nashville as well as Tennessee. So far I have found none. Hopefully I can pride myself on starting the first one on real estate (someone correct me if I am wrong, I am easily humbled by facts!) Blogs are everywhere on every subject. I stumbled upon it look for a new marketing tool. I think I may have found it. In this business, I think you have to mix the urban legend of real estate past with the flourishing forward movement of technology to be successful. Websites are great, I have one: ulyssesminor.crye-leike.com but they are asynchronous, great sales tools and information points if treated right however. Thanks to all the real estate agents around Nashville who let me bend their ears on the finer points of real estate. I hope we can all gather here and share honest information.