Real Estate

Running On Real Estate for September 12

September 12, 2013 By Karen Monroe Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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Karen Monroe.png
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Opportunity is everywhere. We just need to go knocking for it. It’s up to us – particularly in real estate – to go make things happen. Turns out, creating a network really is not so complicated. But it takes commitment.  This is what we focus on every day in real estate. We bring people together, help them move on and connect them with the place they will call home.

Getting started can be as simple as going outside and doing something you enjoy. Where people are present, there is possibility. Talk to them. Be approachable. Go to a baseball game. Talk about the weather or a new neighborhood restaurant on your next shared elevator ride (elevators are great because they hold a captive audience).

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Get a dog or three. Seriously. Nothing unifies strangers faster than dogs. Everyone wants to talk about their adorable four-legged friends. I know my neighbors by their dogs. I hate to admit it, but often I know the dog’s name and have no idea of the dog’s parent’s name. But I do know if the dog owner is looking to move, buy, rent or sell real estate.

The point is, conversation always starts with something common and safe: baseball, weather, food, dogs, and on it goes. It evolves and often heads to the real estate topic. No matter where you are, everyone wants to talk about real estate. This is why I am always prepared to hand over a business card. You never know who you’ll meet and what their current and future real estate needs may be.

It goes beyond simply making the contact. To create an active network that leads to doing business together requires more than a dog walk. Attention and effort lead to genuine relationships, sustainability and growth. And that’s when opportunity comes a knocking.

On the Run

Here we go. Every week I seem to fall into the pattern of using many of the same words and combinations of words. There really are only so many ways to express the action of buying, selling and renting real estate, and to describe my job title. So, I want to try out a few new words. I recently read in a real estate publication a phrase I like that describes the act of buying, selling, renting: the verb is “to trade” real estate. Clever, huh? I can’t take credit for it, but you will see me borrowing the term “to trade” in columns to come.

The next word is interesting and somewhat catchy. Rather than say real estate professional or agent, I will be describing myself as a “real estater.”

Nice, right? I overheard a brief conversation in my office where someone walked in inquiring about becoming a “real estater.” I believe the intended word was “realtor,” but “real estater” still conveys the message.

While my spell check will forever redline this term, in upcoming columns I hope to use “real estater” without quotes. What do you think? Any suggestions for new words are welcome; send me a note.

Karen Monroe practices real estate at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 156 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. She lives in the neighborhood and represents buyers, sellers and renters in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Karen can be found walking her dogs and running the parks, paths, streets and bridges of Brooklyn and beyond. For feedback and all of your real estate needs, contact Karen at [email protected].


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