Since spring is here it may seen inappropriate to discuss snow, particularly after a winter of ferocious weather in many areas, but I am currently reading The Snowball, Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder. The quote on the jacket cover reminded me how much a career in real estate has in common with a snowball: "Life is like a snowball. The important thing is finding wet snow and a really long hill." Warren Buffett
I was halfway down the hill and living in a new state when I began my real estate career in 1992. My nearest relative was two thousand miles away and my friends were scattered across the USA in the pit-stops I made from Chicago to Maine to Baltimore to Florida in my previous life as a corporate gypsy. With a desire to put my transient days behind me, I enrolled my youngest child in kindergarten and myself in real estate school.
License in hand, I strolled into the closest real estate office, the broker assigned a desk, handed me the multiple listing book and with a smile told me to, "Go sell something." With no relatives, no school or club chums and no SOI in sight I did not know the odds were stacked against me. I gathered up what little "snow" was at my disposal (I held office listings open on weekends and spend endless hours fielding calls at the up desk). After weeks of immersing myself in the business and hurling small snowballs into the Universe, I took my first listing and as luck would have it I received an up call and sold it too. Yes, dual agency in my very first transaction. 
Over the years the snowball grew in size and moved forward with varying speed. Word of mouth, direct mail, open houses, my love of writing advertorials for the local newspaper and a monthly newsletter started in 1993 added girth and growth. Referrals and repeat clients became the core of my business. Active Rain blogging and Internet savvy gave me a new way to keep the snowball rolling forward.
Today is a perfect example of embracing the growing momentum: A lead from my website will have me out previewing for an ocean view home. Yesterday's listing appointment generated by a direct mailer requires followup, Later this afternoon I will list a past client's home. A nurtured Internet lead wants to purchase income property. Yes, it can get pretty hectic as the snowball grows, but the satisfaction grows too.
Those flowers in the photo are from a prospective first time buyer and a reader of my blog. Other current listings and buyers are from referrals, Active Rain, open house, past clients and my website. They're all wrapped up in my real estate snowball.
Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800
PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.
South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
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Palos Verdes Peninsula Blog - Palos Verdes is Home
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Sell Smart, Buy Wise and Live Well
Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333
PalosVerdesLifestyle- Norma's award winning site as the best Palos Verdes homes and real estate blog since 2007. Selected by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty blogs. Awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Lender411 blog review. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.
South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Based on information from the Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing as of the initial date of this article/blog publication and /or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.
Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma
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That is so sweet that your client sent you those flowers. Real estate is like a snowball that once it gets rolling, the bigger it gets. Congrats on a successful business. Thanks for sharing.
Paula, yes especially since he has not purchased a home yet! We're working on it though.
Norma its great when everything just comes together and keeps building up isnt it?
Norma, it is amazing that when we try and true keep filling the pipe with leads, past clients and prospecting it comes back two folds to us, congrats and thanks for sharing this.
Christine - The recession slowed my "snowball" down, but it's still rolling forward.
Kelley - Yes it's important to keep moving forward.