This morning, at my 7:00AM BNI Meeting (Business Networking International) I was asked to be the presenter. Only having 5 minutes, I decided not to talk about my 32 years of experience, 35-50 homes that I sell every year but about my philosophy about real estate and my mission..with a few facts thrown in. Below are 15 THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE.
1- The best time to buy or sell is when you are ready. We sell homes every month of the year. If that were not the case, I would be in North Carolina for several months a year.
2- When you RENT you live in a house or condo. When you OWN you live in a HOME.
3- Owning a home is critical to the accumulation of wealth. Net worth for a renter is measured in hundreds, for homeowners in the thousands.
4- Owning a home is a GREAT plan…most of the time. If you do not realize that you need to INVEST in your home every year, $5,000-$8,000 for improvements and upkeep or if you are a millennial who changes jobs and locations every year it is not the right direction for you. Home Ownership is a long term investment and a responsibility.
5- Every situation is different. I ask the tough questions so I can best counsel my clients. My job is NOT to make people homeless or to allow them to make poor decisions. I try to understand their goals and get them from where they are to where they need to be.
6- I do NOT sell houses. I sell SOLUTIONS to housing problems.
7- I will NEVER know it all. I continually research and find resources to help me/my clients. I am an avid student of personal and professional development.
8- My BNI network is one of my greatest assets. I am the COI (Center of Influence) for my clients. From a mold person, to a hairdresser, you can call me for a recommendation.
8- I use my knowledge and statistic to give people the information they need to make decisions.
9- I help clients formulate a plan so that they can move forward with confidence.
10- I educate clients on process to manage expectations and minimize surprises. I HATE surprises.
11- Inventory levels are at an all time low. Interest rates are heading up and we will see 5-8% appreciation in the 2018 market.
12- I am passionate about my mission, my profession and my industry.
13- I a stronger because of the team of 10 who I mentor. They challenge me to question the status quo and to always be learning.
14- My strengths are: my knowledge and wisdom, my ability to stay calm in crisis situations, my ability to solve problems because of my network of networking partners, my ability to ask the tough questions, my persistence and consistency, my strategic thinking skills, my communication and negotiating expertise, the ability to give my clients emotional support when needed and to develop trust bonds with my clients.
15- I work hard so that I have the resources to give back to the communities that have given so much to me and my family.
Please know that you can refer me with confidence. You can see my record by visiting my page on Zillow. Please follow my page on facebook, McCaffrey Professionals, to read my daily blog on all things real estate, business, resources and just personal.