Vancouver Wa Real Estate - Elite Realty NW

The Power of Being Nice - A Vancouver Washington Real Estate Story

As a real estate agent here in Vancouver Washington, it is very easy to get caught up in yourself. Your own listings. Your own buyers. Your own life. It is a tough business and there usually isn't time to worry about everyone else, right? Maybe kinda right, but let me tell you this story of how being nice has paid off in spades for me.

A phone call that I took yesterday is what prompted me to write this post. The call was from an agent who was calling to thank Janice and me for visiting an open house that she was holding a while back. We were just driving through the neighborhood when we noticed that an agent in our company was holding an open house a few blocks away. We decided to stop in to say "hi" and to see how things were going for her. At the time, she let us know that she was struggling with the listing. We talked her through a few things, discussed a better pricing strategy, and were on our merry way. Yesterday's phone call ended with, "You guys were so nice to stop in try to help me and I would like to give you guys this listing." How cool is that?

It sparked a few other thoughts. Janice and I really turbo charged our business when we started focusing on new subdivisions. We have listed and sold 4 subdivisions in the past 3 years and have worked sales manager for several others. I am often asked by other real estate agents how I got those listings. Until now, I haven't really understood the dynamics of how I got this deals. But right now it is clear as day to me; I got them by being nice!

For example, there is a condo / townhome project here in Vancouver Washington that was listed with another agent in our office. I popped by the model home one day just to see who was onsite and to see how they were doing. While touring the model, the agent mentioned that she had been working for several months without a break. She was tired and needed a vacation. I volunteered to take a few shifts at the model home to help relieve her workload. She agreed. I picked up 3 days a week. The only deal was that I could keep any leads that I got while working there and I would get the buyer's agent commission if I sold one. It was a win / win situation for us both. I got a good source of leads and she got a much needed break. Two and a half months later she called me to let me know that she had discussed it with the builders and that she was giving me the listings on that project and the listings for 3 other subdivisions! Just because I was nice enough to help her when she needed it!

Think it was a fluke? Listen to this one:

Three years ago the real estate market in Vancouver Washington was booming. People were lined up to buy new construction and the builders could name their own price. A new subdivision was being built in my neck of Vancouver. We noticed that the model was complete and there were open house signs throughout the neighborhood. We stopped in to tour the model home and started chatting with the listing agent. He told us that he was going to be listing 2 more neighborhoods for the same builder in the following 3 months and he was worried as to how he could handle it all. The first thing out of my mouth was "How can I help?" The long and the short of is that we worked the models at all three subdivisions for about 16 months and sold about 27 of the new homes. The leads that I got from that project have accounted for more than half of my business since those projects have been finished! Be nice to your fellow agents; it is the gift that just keeps giving!

As a side note: I wish I didn't have to say this... I never once asked for any of these listings and I never once went through back doors to try to get a builder to change agents and to use us. That is the quickest way to be blacklisted from these kinds of projects. I was there to give a helping hand and to generate leads for my database. (Oh Yeah, I sold a bunch of house along the way too!) I just wanted to be part of the project. I never imagined that I would end up listing them all!

The tip that I want to share with you is simple:

Be helpful. Be nice. Be ready if anything should come your way!

p.s. Let me tell you what the photo is all about. I was having a difficult time finding an image that represented "nice" so I ended up using this photo that Janice and I took of our travel companion, Happy Bunny, on a trip to London a few years back. Click here to see Happy Bunny's travel pics.

Big smile, yellow nose, pink floppy ears, what could be nicer than that?

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver, Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in West Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service.