Creating Connections

Creating Connections

October 13, 2021

Residential real estate is an industry where making and maintaining social connections is extremely important. When first getting into the real estate sector, future realtors learn about accessing their “sphere of influence”. These are the people; friends, family, and even acquaintances that you already know well enough and feel comfortable selling your services to. However, to become truly successful, one must reach beyond their comfort zone and become at ease with pitching themselves to anyone in the market.

I am a Realtor, but I know that making lasting connections is important for nearly any business, and beyond that, nearly any human! The more people we know, the more opportunities we have to learn and experience things outside of our wheelhouse.

For example, at Valnes and Company, we open our doors to local artists looking to show their art outside of the typical gallery system. When Stacey was designing our space on Ocean Park Blvd, he held a vision that one day we would be a multi-functional creative space where community members could come together over cultural events outside of real estate. Seven years later, he and I entered a fabulous art opening held by a dear friend and local artist, Robin Miller, in our own space--The Hub on Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica! His vision and our dream of bringing all types of people together had come to fruition and it was incredibly gratifying.
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As a result of this successful art party, Stacey and I also made some fabulous connections with people we would have probably otherwise never met. One meeting in particular, with an acclaimed art dealer, is proving to be incredibly beneficial in a number of ways. 
First of all, Stacey and I have been exposed to a society way outside of our comfort zones, which always means big growth is on the horizon. In fact, I can already feel myself stretching!

Second, this person has many other connections, which will lead to incredible business opportunities for us. As Realtors and humans, we will become more well-rounded and able to speak intelligently with a wider variety of people. In a business where you meet a lot of people, the more you know, the better you are. As Realtors, understanding the market is critical, however, we want to be accessible and knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas.

Lastly, this art party and the new connections that we made really cemented the notion that we must not be afraid to market ourselves! Wonderful reviews and referrals are the lifeblood of our work, but we as Realtors also have to be willing to refer our own selves! Being straightforward about our strengths and the advantages of working with us to potential clients is a key ingredient to our success. Whether speaking with a new friend at an art party or offering up your services to someone off-handedly chatting about real estate, don’t be timid when it comes to marketing yourself.
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Creating and maintaining connections is vital to small businesses, entrepreneurs; most especially, Realtors. Thinking outside of the box will do wonders for your business when it comes to meeting new people. Figure out what ways you can expand your horizons and don’t hesitate to try new ideas. I believe feeling slightly uncomfortable is always a good thing because it predicates growth, both professionally and personally. Who would have thought a real estate agency would also host art parties? In order to create new and exciting connections, you must be creative.
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