The Question That Caught Me Off Guard
A good friend of mine, and past client, asked me the other day, ‘so, with these changes, are you still a Realtor day to day?’ I’m really glad he asked because it caught me off guard and I’d like to make it clear. I understand where he was coming from, there has been plenty of news in recent months. I’m grateful for the opportunity to become an owner at Royal LePage Wolstencroft and Royal LePage Wheeler Cheam; we’ve made some key hires at David Smith Homes Group; there have been coaching/consulting opportunities; and I’ve also stated publicly my desire to have a little more balance in life. The combination of these together caused him to ask the question. I apologize if it’s not been clear in recent months how the above have impacted my primary role as ‘Realtor.’
I am still a Realtor, and I’d still like to be your Realtor! Day in and day out I continue to serve clients across the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland in everything from home buyer/seller consultations to contract negotiations; from setting up searches to developing home marketing plans. One of the reasons the team has been through some changes is that I actually want more face to face time with clients, serving them in very practical ways. The reality is that the most value I have to offer our friends and clients is the chance to sit down with them, unhurried and well prepared, to discuss their plans, hopes, and dreams, and then to walk alongside them in accomplishing them. That’s also what I enjoy most!
People Over Property, Always.
The last few months have refreshed my commitment to the ‘People Over Property, Always.’ ethos. Quite frankly, I don’t want to be the number one Realtor in our brokerage, city, board, or nation – I want to be the number one Realtor for those that trust us to serve them. Last year led to those team volume awards, we were the seventh top team in the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board*; the second top team in Langley*; the second top team in the Lower Mainland’s number one brokerage*; and I was awarded one of Royal LePage’s ‘Top 35 under 35’ awards. I was even featured on the front cover of a real estate magazine in October. Those awards and that feature haven’t made their way onto my social media because they weren’t reflective of what I really want.
What Matters More?
More important to me was the testimonial I recently received from some past clients who have become genuine friends;
“We first met David Smith three years ago when we sought to purchase our first condo. In a season of rising prices and multiple offer sales, we were hesitant. David helped us find the perfect home, which we bought for under asking in a desirable neighborhood.
When we reached out to David again a few years later, he walked us through the selling process and was patient with us as we casually started looking for a bigger space. For more than a year, David sent us Snapstats as we analyzed the market with him, researching and waiting for the right time to sell. Then, on a whim this past March, we viewed a presale development and fell in love. David was right there when we needed him, and again helped us buy our new townhouse under asking price.
In September, David took care to artfully market and sell our condo in multiple offers over asking. In three years, we’ve bought two homes under asking and sold our condo for over asking in multiple offers and David has been there every step of the way.
David is more than a Realtor to us, he’s a friend, confidante, the guy you feel like you’ve known forever when you’ve only just met. We truly felt valued and appreciated, and that he had our best interest in mind. David is honest, trustworthy, authentic, and kind. Hiring David was the most important and best decision we made, and we highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.” – Curtis & Ashley.
I teared up when I read that testimonial; they were actually the couple I wrote about in a recent blog recognizing, ‘I’m now in a season where clients are returning as ‘past clients’, just next week we’ll film the listing video for a client who years ago wrote about his first experience, “David couldn’t have a better slogan than “People Over Property, Always”. We felt that he genuinely cared about us as people first, and clients second. We would highly recommend David to anyone looking to buy/sell their home.”’
I was desperate to offer them the same (and improved!) experience the second time through the process as they had the first time. They felt cared for and they recognized we had placed their best interests first throughout. Those words ‘honest, trustworthy, authentic, and kind’ matter more than any award. It’s why the thank you cards in our office are on the shelf above the trophies.
Hopefully That Settles It!
So, I wanted to start this year by making it perfectly clear, David Smith of the David Smith Homes Group is still a Realtor and would still love to be your Realtor! If there’s anything I can help with, as always, never hesitate to reach out. I’d love the chance to walk through your hopes, dreams, and plans, and I look forward to working together to achieve them.
Gratefully,
David
P.S. It’s probably time for an updated profile picture, isn’t it?!
*According to FVREB/REBGV MLS statistics for 2020.