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Thinking about thinking...

At the morning Coffee Shop.

By: John Bourassa
Sunday, May 20, 2007 8:06 PM

My partner, Russ, and I have teamed up for nearly six years already.  We came from different milieu - he in financing and I in the automotive service industry. 

 

Neither of us had much sales experience except that Russ had a formidable background in the secondary finance trade and real estate business law compared to my natural ability to effortlessly chameleon with people.

 

Anyway, Russ and I live only a few blocks apart.  So, Russ first suggested meeting at a trendy coffee shop before we go to the office.  “Sure, why not.” I said.  And the early morning courtship began (shame on you for thinking that way). Confused

 

Months later, we are still meeting at the same rendezvous place, but, by that time, we have become more comfortable with each other and we began expressing our difference of opinions about real estate, politics, or trying to solve the world’s problems in 45 minute (which we were able to accomplish for the most part), like an old couple squabbling over insipid matters.

 

One time, a morning regular customer couple has been listening to our vociferous conversations for awhile and they interjected to add their comments.  I, being the gregarious one, invited them to sit with us.  That led to making friends with them, to eventually getting to list their house, doing open houses on their house and acquiring 2 separate clients who bought something else from us, and lastly selling their house.

 

All the while, we continue our routinely morning delights.  Then, other coffee-shop regulars started to cut in asking questions about real estate.  We invited them to our table and oblige to their inquiries.  Eventually, for some of them we’ve listed their condos or homes and sold their properties. 

 

Over the years, our table gained notoriety which amassed to a group of astounding professionals who have become regulars to our morning coffee clutch, ranging from a stockbroker, a mortgage officer, a title agent, one other Realtor®, one large corporation Officer, and a retired NY attorney plus the odd ones who dare sitting in our warped intellect group.

 

So, just for enjoying 45 minutes of coffee time each  morning, we are constantly making great friends with whom, if nothing else, we can BS with about nothing and everything, solve all the world’s problems and harvest a lucrative referral network.

 

Mike Farmer, along with your thoughts, I’ll take “Interface vs. Internet” anytime.

 

 John

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Comments

Gregory Bain
Member Since '03

Gregory Bain said:

John, That is a wonderful way to conduct business. I wish I could join you for a morning coffee. And, thanks for your kind words in the other thread. I love this place and wish I could see all of you over a cup of coffee. Phil A. treats - I hear they have the best coffee.

May 20, 2007 6:35 PM
John  Bourassa
Member Since '03

John Bourassa said:

Gregory,

I'll save a chair for you.  Meanwhile, I am making you an honorary member of the "mindless nornin' coffee clutch".

U-R-OK pal.

John

May 20, 2007 6:45 PM
The Cunningham Group .
Member Since '06

The Cunningham Group . said:

Just how loud do have to talk to catch the interest of tho others in the coffee shop?:)

Susan Noble

May 20, 2007 6:51 PM
John  Bourassa
Member Since '03

John Bourassa said:

My partner ans a rather soft voice.  I am the one with a natural loud carrying voice, even when I whisper.

However, I always scan my environment wherever I am and when someone crosses my gaze, instinctively, I nod and smile at them like acknowledging that they are there and things happen.

I really enjoy being there.  I wish I could set office there.

John

May 20, 2007 7:01 PM
Bill Thompson, REALTOR®
Member Since '07

Bill Thompson, REALTOR® said:

John,

I really like that story. In my humble opinion, this is the way to do business. You do it by becoming part of the community. I could expand on that by saying to get invloved as many ways as possible. Meeting people in the community, learning about their needs and desires. Helping people when they are down. I really think it should be done without even considering it a "networking opportunity" or "prospecting". Just enjoy the lifestyle and people of your own community without thinking about them as potential clients. Soon you have more busines than you can handle.

I am going to bed early tonight, have to go out to the neighborhood coffee shop tomorrow (something I have done for years also).

May 20, 2007 7:11 PM
Todd Clark
Member Since '06

Todd Clark said:

Everyday? You should take stock in the coffee company. Just your sales alone could get you a small fortune in stock!

Todd

May 20, 2007 7:22 PM
Karen Weger
Member Since '05

Karen Weger said:

I am jeoulous. There is a group similar to that here. Except I am not a part yet. Been meaning to do something about it. It is a breakfast group that meets once a week on Friday morning. One of my investor client attends. However, when they first established the breakfast club my ex-broker was the Realtor in the arena. They had decided in this  breakfast club they would have one of everything. Maybe a mortgage officer, a rancher, a restaurant owner, etc... She keeps asking me to attend but I don't want to step on the toes of my ex broker even though he seldom attends. So you are giving me the inspiration tonight, to do what I know I need to do, start a new one. Even though this broker very seldom attends he has gotten every listing from that group.

I needed to hear this because I have been meaning to get to it.

Thanks so much for the inspiration!

May 20, 2007 7:40 PM
Mipeco Realty, Inc -  Michaela Krestenic, Broker-Owner
Member Since '03

Mipeco Realty, Inc - Michaela Krestenic, Broker-Owner said:

Karen, if you have a chance to do it then DO IT!

May 20, 2007 8:29 PM
Mary Welch
Member Since '04

Mary Welch said:

John, I think that is great. Our local coffee shop patrons spend more time talking about other people instead of ideas and business and trends. The "perks" of living in a small town.

May 20, 2007 9:49 PM
Lucia Brooks
Member Since '03

Lucia Brooks said:

I guess people start to trust you if they see you enough.  That is a great way to network with the people closest to your community.  

So do you make it a point to have conversations about real estate or does it just sometimes come up?

May 21, 2007 4:43 AM
Lori McNutt
Member Since '06

Lori McNutt said:

John, That sounds like such a great way to start your day.

May 21, 2007 4:49 AM
Mark Cohen
Member Since '03

Mark Cohen said:

Personal networking is where its at for developing long term business relationships.  John you have a great thing going there.

May 21, 2007 7:22 AM
Klaus Nicholson
Member Since '07

Klaus Nicholson said:

My wife and I talk shop all the time and on occasion there are folks nearby that interject their comments.  Erika also has a regular table at a local german restaurant and the regulars meet on Saturdays.  Their numbers have grown from six to as many as forty. Mostly ladies and the last time I was there several regulars were interested in re-financing or equity loans.  We gave them the pros and cons of both and then went straight to new pictures of grand kids.  For interested parties we are always available.  

I'm a bit jealous John, having a "guy" peer to share coffee and conversations with every morning sounds great.

May 21, 2007 7:57 AM
Mary Welch
Member Since '04

Mary Welch said:

Today at lunch, my husband and I will have a conversation in a local restaurant about how great the market is right now. I am needing more listings in this area and my game plan is to talk about how this is such a great time to sell. And in my area it is, so it won't be hype. Part of that conversation will include pricing right, decluttering, etc. and I will see if I can get some kind of results from that.

Isn't it about time that people hear the truth about real estate right now? Instead of listening to news, hearing how the market is first hand. Great idea John, I certainly won't take time to hang out with the gossipers at breakfast, but I am trying the realtor lunch bunch. I will have to key my husband before hand, and I certanly don't want it sounding like an infomercial.

May 21, 2007 8:09 AM
John  Bourassa
Member Since '03

John Bourassa said:

Kalus,

We've had a few gals sitting in but we had to drum them off out clan because they were outcussing us.  It was really emnbarrassing.

John

May 21, 2007 6:49 PM
John  Bourassa
Member Since '03

John Bourassa said:

Mary,

A Realtor colleague has a monthly luncheon meeting held every 2nd Wed. of each month and he manages to find sponsors for it each time.  We each pay $5.00 including tip and the sponsors pay the difference.

This group is a real estate forumof about 40 people includes 4 Realtors, a couple of mortgage brokers and title agents and the occasional attorneys.  The rest are average customers who want to know about the condition of real estate.

Interesting feedback from customers.  I have sponsored one luncheon, so far.  It only cost me about $150.  I think it is worth the exchange of opinions and ideal at the local level.

John

John

May 21, 2007 6:55 PM
Mary Welch
Member Since '04

Mary Welch said:

John, maybe something like this would be an ice breaker in this area. In my county, but not my town anymore,  there is no spirit of working together. It is not uncommon to see 3 real estate signs in peoples yards. I hate that since it is such a diservice to the sellers. I don't know how to break that except I don't participate. I know I could call the seller and get my sign out there too, it just looks like somethings wrong with the property. I know I could do something like get some agents together and have a speaker for a luncheon, maybe an inspector that I use. The cogs are turning, nice to know I still have cogs. Thanks.

May 21, 2007 9:05 PM
Klaus Nicholson
Member Since '07

Klaus Nicholson said:

I've mentioned it before in a reply,  a home buyers seminar at a local factory gets new customers each time.  School teachers would be a good group since they already get loan discounts.

You can't really talk power tools with the girls, John.  I met an old friend last week and we couldn't stop talking about gto's, norton's and the fact that Les Paul is still making guitars.

May 22, 2007 5:18 PM

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My comments herein are not authotitative; they are humble expressions of my wanderous mind or they are recollections of my past or present real estate experiences, whether they are good or bad. Hopefully, someone may profit from them.