Email, Facebook & TXTs Probably Best Before 9am
While I try hard to communicate with as many friends and clients as possible, I’ll never claim to be a telephone answering champion. It’s constant challenge that I’d love to perfect.

Email, texting and Facebook afford Realtors the opportunity to to keep up with all facets of their client’s lives but the job also requires a lot of face to face time. I happen to think that if I’m with someone face-to-face, I shouldn’t answer the phone and interrupt that face-to-face interaction with a 10-minute telephone talk with someone else. I can only think that everyone would like the same courtesy.

Enter the current morning telephone situation. As our listing/sold inventory has grown, the phone is ringing more and thank goodness for it! What has transpired though is a new blitz of calls between 7:30am and 9:00am; enter Finley Jones and her morning routine.

While I appreciate that folks want their needs met, only so much can be done before I drop Finley off at her little school house. Lately the phone has been buzzing hard early, and as I try my best, I simply can’t answer the early morning vibrations. My face is either full of toothpaste, hands full of diapers, or I’m helping Jenna make ‘botbots’ for Finley’s day ahead.

I only type this because I’ve felt an uptick in the amount of early morning calls. Given that we’re in a sliding scale/imperfect system and the fact that I’m a natural ‘pleaser’… all I can do is try my best.

I’ve pondered changing my mobile number (perhaps to differentiate business calls from personal calls) or purchasing a ‘team phone’, but now that Amanda is on board we seem to be doing better with our current PhoneTag system.

YAY for all of the action and I hope it compounds as we grow our practice, but given Finley’s morning routine, calls before 9ish will likely be returned at a later time. As a Realtor, it’s a wonderful problem and wouldn’t trade this situation for anything.

If you’re an early morning caller…Finley, Jenna and I THANK YOU for any patience that can be afforded! 803.758.1669 (office vmail) or 803.447.8683 (m/text) 🙂

>>Columbia’s Newest Hotsheet: May 3 – 26, 2010
It’s been a while since I’ve thrown the HotSheet on blog but with fun stuff like Jenna going to the Bahamas and Amanda joining the team, Columbia’s newest list of homes for sale had to wait.

Be sure and click “See All” on the MLS link in the top left hand corner. If you don’t take advantage of the See All you may drive yourself crazy clicking each page.

After six months of preparation, the worst kept secret in downtown real estate circles is finally official. 🙂

In the world of real estate, career changing events don’t come along very often. Sure, selling a high priced home or listing a neighborhood is a happy event, but a real game changer can be a difficult thing to achieve.

This weekend we solidified such an event as Amanda Q. Payne joined me at Coldwell Banker United, Realtors – Midtown. Amanda is a fantastic Realtor and a top shelf asset to our brand.

As I strive to continue to grow this real estate practice, Amanda is a perfect fit. She and I will combine our time and talents to maximize each other’s assets.

Amanda and I met in a little pink house on Bagnal Dr. in the first few months of my career. We were previewing the new listing, introduced ourselves and struck up an instant friendship. Ever since meeting at the pink house we’ve barbed, joked and recruited each other over and over again. In short, this has been a long time in the making.

I represent quite a number of listings for sale in the Greater Columbia area. Amanda will communicate with sellers and represent buyers from the different web and print media on which we have a presence. Being part of a real estate team doesn’t necessarily mean that we “share” clients. It does however mean that our time will be strategically leveraged for our clients benefit, which will propel us to the next level and enable us to give a higher level of service.

I’m flattered and humbled that Amanda has decided to bring her work ethic and professionalism to the team. She’s built a successful career in her own right and will only expand on this success at the dominant downtown real estate firm. Further still, Amanda arguably has the nicest voice in the business.

As for our clients this is a win, win, win. Our Buyers and Sellers will be the great beneficiaries of her move and will undoubtedly feel the effects of our combined efforts.

Amanda’s transition and our work ethic notwithstanding, we recognize our success still lies with our friends and referrals. Having said this, I have to thank everyone for being a part of one of the best real estate networks in South Carolina. The addition of Amanda Q. Payne strengthens our network exponentially.

Sitting Around At Sullivan’s Island Is Hard To Beat
No doubt one of the best things about living in Columbia, SC is that we can be on a beach in less than two hours.

Richland Co’s Closed Homes; April 24 – May 18, 2010
It’s been a while since I’ve posted the latest closed stats so I decided to narrow the search a little. The link above omits the Northeast section of the county known to Realtors as “Area 4,” which would’ve vaulted the closed count to nearly 150 homes.

It’s probably worth mentioning that Realtors at Coldwell Banker United’s Midtown Office were involved in 104 transactions in April. With this kind of volume produced in one office, watch for a big bump in the number of closed transactions in the next report. We’ll see!