Q: How Does a Private Real Estate Brokerage Continue to Thrive in this Challenging Environment, while so many Agents are Moving Out?
It's Really Quite Simple
Create a company with a deeply rooted culture based on service - not sales.
Give our clients total freedom to walk away via the Neighborly Realty Easy Exit Agreement.
Employ an owner who possesses advanced business education, who has international corporate management experience, and who recruited mentors who built successful businesses during and after the Great Depression.
SLOWLY add professional agents with strong capabilities - who are as fanatical about taking care of clients as we are.
Don't grow for growth's sake. Grow when customer service levels can't be maintained without additional help.
Tightly control costs. A cheaper operating model means Neighborly Realty can pass along those savings to our clients. It also means we don't have to spend 90% of our time chasing new business - that time is reinvested into helping existing clients.
Practice what we preach. We too are Real Estate Investors, with apartment complexes in Texas. We can talk investment and cash flow realty, not just theory from a text book.
It's not about the money. If you are in this business to earn a quick dime, you aren't practicing the Neighborly Way.
Our clients are frequently surprised by both the level of service and insight our company provides. For that reason, they refer their friends and family. We appreciate that vote of confidence and take that responsibility very seriously. It also means Neighborly Realty stays focused on serving our clients, not running expensive and time consuming marketing campaigns.
Q: What is The The Neighborly Way?
The Neighborly Way is the foundation for our company culture. It drives how we treat our clients, how we work within our team, and how we regard our peers.
The Neighborly Way sets the framework for how we operate and how we make decisions. It sets the guidelines for all activities within the Neighborly Group – Neighborly Realty & Neighborly Financial. The Neighborly Way embodies how we approach business and life.
1) Service – NOT Sales
2) Be the Industry and Market Expert
3) Advisors, Coaches, and Teachers
4) Respect for the Client, Team Member, Partners, and Peers
5) Communicate Frequently – with Fact, Tact, and Truth
6) Integrity First, Honesty Always
7) Earn and Encourage Trust
8) Personal Earnings are Second to Client Service and Their Satisfaction
9) Repay our Communities, Promote Charity
10) Protect and Promote the Environment
11) Deliver a Single One Stop Shop Experience
12) Unwavering Belief in The American Dream
Internally:
13) Reward for Performance
14) Value Personal and Professional Development
15) Encourage Cooperation – not Competition
16) Embrace and Encourage Diversity, Tolerance for Everyone
17) Stay Ahead of the Technology Curve, when there is Benefit to Client or Team
18) Plan for Industry Change – Create Opportunity Appropriately
19) Practice Safety in the Work Place
Q: How Do We Deliver The Neighborly Way?
Exceed Expectation
Process Design - A strong process is repeatable and provides a consistent result. The Neighborly Realty "Green Folder System" ensures a smoother escrow and less "midnight fire drill" phone calls. You will know far in advance what to expect throughout this process. Expectations and next steps will be clear. You will know our responsibilities and your required level of commitment ahead of time. You will see all disclosures up front. You will learn, learn, learn. You will enable us to act on your behalf when you give us the order.
Negotiations - These times are amazingly complex. W e will review your situation, add the perspective of your personal goals, and create an approach that fits your style and needs. We've done battle with banks (on foreclosure / REO homes) and fought for Sellers in Short-Sale positions. We've negotiated down builders of new construction - in 2008 we waved one family 124,900 on their purchase alone - nearly 30% !! We've helped families compete with the banks when selling their own homes.
Contracts - We find that much of our industry spends the majority of its time trying to find a home and "Make a deal". Making the right deal is far more important. Once your signature is dry, it is extremely difficult to change the terms. More importantly, do you or your representation know what those detailed terms are and protect your interests all the way through to close of escrow? With advanced training and contracts coaching specific to real estate, we will make the right deal and protect you to the end.
Marketing - For sellers, our environment no longer supports "put it on MLS and it will sell." While important, the right price is not enough. We employ a diverse set of tools designed to greatly improve your chances of connecting with a potential buyer. It is unrealistic to expect to convert a prospect who the home does not fit, however it is unforgivable to miscommunicate with the one who it does. Our team has experience in complete product marketing campaigns that comes with an insight and creativity often missed in a mature industry like ours.
Technology - We employ technology to greatly facilitate the search and dredge up data you probably did not know was available, right down to the nitty-gritty on that home that caught your eye. Call us early and we will support you with a stream of data on your neighborhood (to sell) or that preferred neighborhood (to buy), to help decide when the time is right to go to market. We come from the technology sector - we know how to do it.
Our Ears - We use them regularly! What we know simply does not matter if we do not take the time to get to know your preferences, goals, and critical factors. While there are always similarities to leverage and provide insight, every transaction is unique. We view ourselves as consultants and every consultant must listen extensively before creating a plan. It is how we create a team between the agent and the client that is positioned for success - your success, whatever your situation. With all the capabilities in the world, we would not receive the deepest trust that our client's referral represents, without using our ears to your benefit each and every day.
