In real estate, negotiating skills, market knowledge, and transactional expertise, education and experience matter a lot.
How about personality?
If you are working with a REALTOR to help you purchase a home or to sell your current home (or both), chances are that you'll be spending a lot of time meeting and talking to that REALTOR during the next 30, 60, 90 (or heaven forbid, longer) days. In fact, you may spend more time with your REALTOR during this period than anyone else except perhaps your spouse and/or children.
Personality mattered when you chose your wedding photographer, didn't it? And he only spent about 8 hours with you!
So, how about the personality, energy, creativity, and overall spunk of the person who's by your side during one of the arguably most stressful financial transactions you'll ever endure?
PERSONALITY MATTERS!
If you're in the market for real estate and looking to select a Northern Virginia REALTOR, I've compiled a selection of my blog posts over the past year that display my creativity, personality, and generally define "who I am." Love it. Or Leave it. That's up to you. Just thought you might be interested in taking a peek into the psyche of the guy who's going to be helping you buy or sell a home.
These blog posts can also be useful for other REALTORS around the country who are looking to refer their relocating clients to an experienced Northern Virginia and D.C. REALTOR who also passes the "fun test."
"EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEXT REALTOR BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK" (CLICK EACH LINK TO READ THE FULL BLOG POST)
- YES, I'M ALSO AN ATTORNEY -- A RECOVERING ONE
The REALTOR for Attorneys -- Helping Lawyers Buy & Sell Houses -- Don't hold it against me, please. It's actually a good thing. I've learned the real estate business from the legal side and help prevent my real estate clients from ending up in court. I also like to help attorneys in Northern Virginia & D.C. buy and sell homes (Ask about my attorney discount.)
The Difference Between Realtors & Lawyers -- I've heard all the attorney jokes, so don't even go there. Here's my insider's take on the differences between the two professions.
New Survey Confirms I Made a Good Choice -- Attorney? REALTOR? I'm happy with my decision.
- GETTING PERSONAL
Who?? MeME! -- A "MeMe" is a tradition in the online blogging world where a blogger writes about themselves and divulges a few personal tidbits. Here's my first attempt.
Enough About Me, Let’s Talk About MeMe Some More: Meme Take 2 -- Learn more in the sequel.
(You've Got) Personality -- Talk about personality. Here's a summary of my life to date.
Bucket List -- Things Still to Do -- These are my goals and aspirations.
Books Overflowing from My Shelves -- A Book MeMe -- You can tell a lot about a person by the books he reads.
How I Proposed to My Wife: 4 Important Lessons Learned for Real Estate -- In this most personal of stories, you'll learn why my wife is definitely my biggest fan!
- I'M FAMOUS!
My 8 Seconds of Fame on CBS National News This Morning -- I was on CBS' The Early Show as a real estate expert.
Need an Angle for Your Real Estate News Story? Give Brian a Call -- I've been in newspapers and on TV. Now signing autographs.
- YET HUMBLE
Please Check Your Ego at the Door -- I really am very down to Earth. You won't see my face on a billboard and my business card doesn't say "#1 agent!"
Real Estate Makes Good Party Talk -- Real estate is one business that is hard to escape.
- I'M A GOOD CITIZEN
Giving Back to the Community -- More Than Just Money -- Learn about the charities and organizations that are near and dear to my heart.
Dear Mr. Mayor, Clean Off This Wall! -- I don't like seeing graffiti, especially in a neighborhood where I sell homes and where I live. I let the Mayor and the City Council know about it. They responded quickly and I'm happy to say the wall is clean.
- WATCH ME ON FILM
Look Who's Buying a Home! (3 Minute Video) -- In this award winning video, a special VIP visitor comes to Alexandria, Virginia to purchase a home.
Blooper Reel -- Brian & George -- Watch the other video first. Then have another laugh with this one.
Like my personality?
Then give me a call at 703-626-0715 to discuss working together towards your real estate goals.
Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:
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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.VirginiaRealEstateNews.net.
Great idea! I'm trying to do more posts that I can direct my clients to as a resource.
Brian,
I notice when people call me over the competition it's because they think they are reading something with substance and not just a robot site that takes orders. They feel like you are describing something with emotion ...like you are actually talking to your friend. Personality,down to earth attitude,customer service and professionalism is number one.
BILL: Thanks a lot! The picture was made using the site mentioned in this post that I wrote some time back:
Want to Play with Pictures? Check out this Blog (and the links)
goodgreat relationship between the two parties.What a great Idea you are a very busy man It is great to see that you are giving back toy your communtiy
MAKEA: Thanks for your comments. I try to give back as much as I can.
Wow, great minds think alike! I JUST today, in my car, thought, I should make a compilation of blogs to send clients to, answering FAQ's about staging! So...great idea!
Brian, you look so dashing with the red handkerchief in your pocket and so intellectual with the glasses......why is your "file" photo so bland? Adolph Menjou was a famous actor way, way back. He made his mark, got noticed, by being impeccably dressed (spats, even) and driving around Hollywood in a junker! The dichotomy was memorable. Same with your pictures. Just wondering....are you maybe a Gemini, with two sides? That would be great! TWO real estate agents for the price of ONE! Thanks Brian, for this creative post! I wanna red handkerchief too. Elizabeth
Chemistry is definitely important, however I think many people actually use chemistry as their ONLY criteria, which is why many people work with agents who are NOT productive and NOT successful. I'm often amazed that people will entrust their largest purchase with their mother's daughter's sister's friend who goes to church with my father's second wife. THAT'S their criteria!
I think it's VERY important that you see proof of what an agent has SOLD in the past 6-12 months. Do they PRODUCE? Many realtors are like actors. Most actors aren't WORKING - they're tending bar or waiting tables waiting for their big break. Yet, if you ask them what they do for a living, 100% will tell you they are 'actors'. 0% will tell you they are bartenders! Realtors are the same way. Can you honestly say you're a Realtor when you haven't sold one property this year? Many do....There are many realtors out there who haven't produced a dime in the past year. They've spent a LOT of time writing about real estate on their blogs..... but they haven't PRODUCED. Why on earth would you want to work with that person?
Check and see if your realtor is a productive, successful, FULL TIME realtor. That is the most important issue in this climate, not the fact that you can 'buddy buddy' with them. Being nice and having great chemistry won't always get you the best deal on your new house or get your current house SOLD. Personally, I'd rather have a realtor who WORKS for me and does their job well than someone who gets along with me and doesn't do the job (or do it well).
Choose a realtor for the right reason and your experience will be a good one. In the end, the 'experience' has to do with the agent doing the JOB, not being 'nice'.
Love how you have put this testimonial together Brian. You should embed this in your website.
Very good post. There are some clients I have worked so hard with that when the transaction is complete I go through withdrawal and miss them.
One stop shop. They can interview you without even meeting you! Unusual tactic to get the word out about 'Brian'.
I better get busy creating a personality so I can blog about it. Good job Brian.
Great Job Brian! Liked what your post had to say and how you said it. Have a great rest of the day.
Excellent post and some great ideas that the rest of us can use to give more personality to our online presence. thanks!!
Interesting post. I bookmarked it as a future reference. Everybody says I have a great personality ... If they only knew I'm trying to keep it under wrap and tone it down.
What a great idea for organizing your posts into a snapshot of what makes you the right person for the job!
What a great post today, Brian. Just chock full of interesting tidbits of info. You must be one very busy man. Great for you! McLean, VA sounds nice.