I graduated from the University of Minnesota Law school in 2001, but ultimately found the practice of law somewhat frustrating. As a fresh, new lawyer, I had high hopes of devoting my knowledge and as much time as necessary to create the best possible outcomes for my clients. Unfortunately, the firm I worked for seemed to treat client representation as a numbers game, emphasizing case volume over individual attention. As a result, I never felt that I was able to provide the superior level of service I believed each of my clients truly deserved.
In 2004, seeing a good fit for my skills and interest in client representation, I transferred into residential real estate and went to work with one of the largest brokerages in the state. However, while working for the big firm, I again felt pressure to focus on volume rather than individual client attention.
I was disappointed to find that vast extent of the training set forth in the big firm training program and weekly meetings was not about serving people or selling houses, but instead was devoted nearly entirely to simply trying to sign up more clients. We were taught about prospecting for business by soliciting our friends and family, cold calling strangers, and using our client’s open houses to pick up new buyer and seller leads.
I could only take so much of this pushy-salesperson-style training before I had to find a new company that share my somewhat non-conforming philosophy: the best way to attract new clients is by providing superior service to the clients you already have.
The solution was obvious – start my own brokerage!
I left the big firm and opened Metro Home Connection Realty in 2005, placing my focus not on accumulating clients, but on serving them. As it turns out, I was right – by simply providing the best service for my buyers and sellers, business has come to me. Over the past seventeen years, the vast majority of my business has come to me through referrals, and many of these referrals have since become repeat clients.
Since opening Metro Home Connection Realty, I have had the pleasure of working with clients from all over the metro area and have been honored by being named a Super Real Estate Agent by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Monthly for fourteen years straight!
