From staying productive to taking risks, Chris Barnett, Principal Broker/CEO of Realty Executives Southern Oregon in Grants Pass, Ore. lets us in on his top secrets for success in the following interview.
Chris Barnett,PC, GRI
Principal Broker/CEO
Realty Executives Southern Oregon
Grants Pass, Ore.
Region served: Oregon
Years in real estate: 15
Average time on market: 90 days
Average sales price: $250,000
What is the best way to start a productive day?
Wake up at a specific time each and every day and keep a positive attitude. Trying to smile even when you’re in the midst of a difficult day always helps as well.
What is your favorite way to reach today’s consumer?
Internet, Internet, Internet. Don’t be a secret agent! You must have a strong presence online. It’s crucial to engage with consumers via text message today. It’s also very important to quickly respond to voicemails and emails. The key is to communicate with consumers using the medium they prefer the most.
How does your company implement teamwork?
We are truly a “family” at our office. We cover for one another when needed and we all know our ultimate goal is to help our customers and each other. The rest will come.
In this ever-changing market, how does your company stay flexible?
Our franchise always stays on top of technology. Attending our company and industry conferences is a great way to help us learn about current trends so that we can bring new ideas back to our offices. We get inspired by the changes both small and large brokerages are making. In today’s environment especially, we have no choice but to be flexible.
What is your biggest challenge in today’s market, and how is your company facing it?
Our biggest challenge is getting our buyers and sellers to give us a chance to respond to them. Today’s customers want things now, and if you’re not the first one to get back to them, they almost always find someone to help them elsewhere. This means time management is critical.
Is there any piece of business advice you find yourself coming back to again and again?
Sometimes you just need to jump right in and take a risk. When I opened a franchise office with Realty Executives in 2007, the market was down. My competition thought I was crazy and my friends did too. I proved them wrong by putting our company on the radar of consumers in my area. Within our first year of business we won several top productivity and business practice awards from Realty Executives International, including the Circle of Excellence Award, Diamond Award, Chairman’s Award and Top Gun Award. From there, we have grown every year. I also firmly believe it’s important to enjoy what you do every day. If you don’t, do something else. You’ll always be successful if you love what you do.
