How Real Estate’s Most Successful Agents Show Gratitude
During this Thanksgiving season, what better way to celebrate than by sharing how we (and our “extended family” of exceptional clients) give thanks? As we designed publications these last few months we kept watch for shows of generosity and took notes. This list is by no means comprehensive; for every client we celebrate here we know we have five more doing equally generous acts who we failed to mention.
We’d like to open with a big “Thank You” to all of you – our clients, vendors, prospects, mentors, and friends who have made Discover such an awesome organization. Our blessings are too numerous to count. As we mentioned in our newsletter, our Team Focus this month is… you guessed it… GRATITUDE! This month we will be giving a portion of each sale to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, a local non-profit providing food, clothing, shelter, and holiday meals to those in need.
So, what good works have you, our beloved clients, been up to?
Kris Lindahl in Minneapolis and his RE/MAX Results team showed so much gratitude in October that they literally broke a world record. During their Greatest Pumpkin Giveaway, they flew in a judge from the Guinness Book of World Records who officially declared their line of pumpkins the longest in the world. In addition giving away a ton of pumpkins, the team and its partners donated $2,000 to charity. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2016/10/kris-lindahl-team-achieves-the-longest-line-of-pumpkins-449082
Glenn Ribble and The Ribble Group in West Arvada hosted a fundraiser for the local high school. The team partnered with Buffalo Wild Wings at the end of October, driving 15% of food and soft drink sales to help disadvantaged children attending Arvada High School. http://www.theribblegroup.com/2016/10/19/arvada-high-school-buffalo-wild-wings-restaurant-night-wednesday-october-26th/
Craig Strong, Director of the John Aaroe Group in Toluca Lake, is holding a toy drive for Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. He used the most valuable part of his custom publication – the front page – to spread the word and list out suggested toys to donate.
Dave Friedman in Mount Pleasant is so grateful to his clients and neighbors that he gives them each a pie this time of year. He just asks them to call ahead and reserve it, and they come to the office to pick it up. We think that’s such a simple and “sweet” way he shows his appreciation. This year he posted a video on his website about the pie giveaway, and in it he also gives viewers an update on the Charleston market. http://www.davefriedmantv.com
Shray Pandya and the ExecuHome Realty team in Elkridge have a lot of gratitude this season for the many clients who have made their brokerage such a success. This year they’re working with Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army, matching donations dollar-for-dollar, to buy Christmas presents for less fortunate kids in the community. http://www.execuhome.com/donate-to-the-2015-execuhome-realty-holiday-toy-drive/
Kerby and Christina Skurat, AKA Kerby & Christina Real Estate Experts in he Twin Cities, are well know in the community for their good works. This year, for the fourth year running, they are treating the neighborhood to free whole apple or pumpkin pies and Caribou coffee – just like Dave Friedman’s in his neck of the woods. We don’t know who’s copying who, but suspect they are both independently gracious givers. http://kerbyandcristina.com/thanksgiving-pie-rsvp
Sue Adler, the number one Keller Williams agent in New Jersey for the last 11 years, has a lot to be grateful for. Her list of accomplishments is longer than my 10-year-old’s Christmas list. But as real estate transactions (and the temperature in New Jersey) start to cool for the season she isn’t sipping Chateau Margaux somewhere warm. At the end of October, to celebrate their 100th sale, Sue and her team donated $20,000 to community organizations, which included $10,000 to a school for children who are hard of hearing. This is the kind of generosity that changes lives, and makes us at Discover all the more grateful to have such inspirational clients. http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2016/09/realty_firm_donates_10k_for_sc.html
Ricky Cain in Austin, who we featured in our last newsletter, is always looking for ways to give back. He recently founded a non-profit organization, Cain Cares, for the express purpose of giving time, money, and resources to those in need. This is a fantastic initiative, and shows just how thankful the Cain Team is for their many blessings. http://www.caincares.org
Thomas LeCain and HomesAtlanta Partners are giving away $600 in in gift cards to members of the community through a fun Facebook raffle. This is a great way to show thanks while also building up a list of potential prospects.
Jo-Anne Labuda and the Labuda Advantage Team, right here in our hometown of Columbus, are real fixtures in the community. In fact, they’ve been the personal real estate agents to Discover’s founding family for two generations! This season they’ve been giving thanks with, interestingly enough, a vendor appreciation party. She gathered up the title companies, banks, home improvement and moving companies, and all the other service providers who partner with her to give clients like Leo’s family a fantastic experience.
Jim Bottrell, a veteran Marine and one of the most successful agents in California, is on a mission to raise $25,000 for Wounded Warrior Homes. This non-profit organization provides long-term housing for medically discharged soldiers. The team makes a $500 donation to the program in the name of each person who sends them a referral. http://www.bottrellteam.com/gold_referral
Susan and Jim McCallion, who just recently joined our Discover family, are fortunate enough to live and sell real estate in the beautiful resort community of Sanibel Island in Florida. They are passionate islanders and really love the area. They put together a thorough list of ways to get involved and give back to Sanibel. http://sanibelrealestateguide.com/volunteering-on-sanibel/
The famous Daniel Beer and his group in San Diego have been giving generously to their clients and neighbors for years. They just held a wine tasting event in Temecula Valley, and for the third year running they, too, are giving out free pies! Check out this neat web page where they posted “thank you” comments from last year’s recipients. http://www.myfreepieday.com
Brad Gothberg in Danville doesn’t wait until Thanksgiving to show gratitude. He donates a percentage of each and every sale to charities. On his list are The Ronald McDonald House, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and The Boys and Girls Club. He also holds a special holiday coloring contest for neighborhood kids, and gives the winner a cool $50! You can check it out on his custom publication here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/fdad0a02-df1e-4051-a624-b0451c5bc1fd
Barb Hicks of Greater Kansas City Realty in Overland Park is one of the most established agents in the area. She is well known all over Kansas City, and is quick to show appreciation to the clients who have gotten her to where she is. She recently held a Client Appreciation Event where clients and friends enjoyed giveaways (including a tablet!) and free food from a gourmet “bistro” truck.
Mike Carneglia and his team, the #1 Keller Williams team in the Concord area, have so much to be grateful for. At the end of October they supported neighboring Moss Creek Village by sponsoring the annual fall festival. They set up a booth and passed out Halloween-themed treats.
We are so blessed to be in the company of such greatness. We never cease to be inspired by our clients who, in spite of the demands of their incredibly successful businesses, put the well being of their families and communities above all else. From our family to yours, have very very happy Thanksgiving!