James Smith Speaks with Associated Content from YAHOO!

In the past few years the Real Estate market has taken a big hit with declining market values and the reduction of mortgage products and programs. Although, it hasn't been easy there are still Real Estate professionals that have stood the test of time. One of those professionals is James Smith, who I was introduced to earlier this year though a co-hort of mine.

James has some impressive credentials that include 2009 FIVE Star Winner by Charlotte Magazine, 2009 Top 4% of Real Estate Agents Nationwide and Bronze Award Winner by Keller Williams International. The list goes on and on. James is an MBA, CRS, ABR, GRI and is a Certified HUD Broker Specialist.

Today I want to introduce to some and present to others Mr. James Smith who is a Licensed Broker representing the Carolinas with Keller Williams Realty.

YAHOO: Good afternoon James. I am delighted to introduce you to our YAHOO audience.

JS: Thanks for having me here. I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you.

YAHOO: James, can you tell us where you grew up?

JS: I grew up in Westbury NY a town about 45 minutes east of NYC

YAHOO: How did where you grew up affect your decisions in life?

JS: If you remember the adage it takes a village to raise a child, I lived in the middle of the village. I grew up in a time when the adults cared not only for their own children, but for all the children in the community. They were all surrogate parents with the rights and privileges of my own parents include imparting a moral and ethical code and when you got out of line a switch from the local tree.

These were the times in the mid to late 70s when most black parents felt an overwhelming obligation and duty to expose their kids to a world they had been denied pre-civil rights moment; a time that saw unlimited possibility through education and hard work. The wisdom of the village and my parents allowed me to create a path to the future that was full of the possibilities of opportunity, hope and achievement. These values taught me, that my future was a function of the decisions I made, and that I needed to choose the path.

YAHOO: When did you know that Real Estate would be your profession? Were you passionate about it?

JS: I wish I could say that Real Estate as a profession was a choice and not an accident but stranger things in life have happened. I am an Electrical Engineer by training and was on the rise in the corporate world when the company I worked for decided to leave Charlotte, NC.

I was given the option to relocate or take a separation. I opted for the separation, the company gave me a great package, so I decided to take some time off to travel and learn some new skills. During my time off, I decided to get a Real Estate license since I had acquired several investment properties over the last few years, and I wanted to get access to the tools available to Real Estate agents.

A good friend of mine convinced me that I should start to explore opportunities to start a company, and gain the skills necessary to move from employee to entrepreneur. So on a fateful day in January 2006, I took the plunge to start working in Real Estate and quickly learned that my skills regarding contract negotiation and salesmanship easily transferred to the Real Estate industry especially my technical skills which allowed me to have a distinct advantage in the profession.

My skills helped my clients to sell their homes quicker than the competition. In a very short time, I was generating lots of direct and referral business and decided not to go back into the corporate arena and use the severance package to launch my company. It was at this point, that I realized my life had made a major shift and that I had a passion not just for Real Estate but the control of my professional future.

YAHOO: I have read some very impressive stats about your business. Can you tell us how you have managed to maintain loyalty among your clients?

JS: Real Estate is largely a field in which all the players appear to be the same to the consumer, from professional fees to perceived value. My mission was to create a value based system similar to Nordstrom's and Mercedes who sell their products through the education of its clients AND the value they individual supply.

If I were to ask a consumer on the street would they prefer a Mercedes or a Pontiac, most would say Mercedes based on the quality of the product, if I was to make that same comparison regarding shopping experience, most would choose Nordstoms.

My clients hire me because my process yields results. My average sale time is more then 22% faster then the market average. Second, I educate my clients on how the Real Estate industry works and how to distinguish Real Estate agents. When my clients and potential customers are educated they choose to hire me. Third, I produce. Consumers don't want cheap service they want value, so if you are choosing an agent, all of the fancy presentations in the world don't matter if your house doesn't sell. I have a track record of success and superior service, I along with my staff reproduce high service and high results one client at a time, and as a result we continue to have a loyal customer base.

YAHOO: How do you maintain a balanced life with all the pressure to stay on top of your game in Real Estate?

JS: I try to have balance but sometimes I tend to work longer hours then I should, in order to produce the results I want. I am learning to let go of items that I can delegate, and have hired a client manager, Cindy who is responsible for the overall client experience. She has done a great job, which affords me the opportunity to continue a more personal relationship with my clients as well as create more time for the business of marketing and promotions, which is really the business of Real Estate.

YAHOO: I understand you serve the Carolinas, but are there any plans to expand into other States in the future?

JS: We are going to grow our base in the Carolinas for the next few years to make sure our process in consistent, repeatable and successful. Once we duplicate the process to multiple locations we will look to expand operations to other areas.

YAHOO: What advice or best practices would you give Realtors that are currently struggling to survive in a down economy?

JS: Most Realtors don't realize they are not in the business of buying or selling homes, they are in the marketing and promotions business. No product can sell without a customer. You must prospect, network, cold call and understand your business better than your competition. Primarily you must make sure the public knows that you exist.

YAHOO: James, can you tell our readers where to find you on-line?

JS: Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheRealEstateCorner
Blog: www.TheRealEstateCorner.com
Website: www.BestCarolinaHousing.com

YAHOO: Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us today James. I wish you continued success in your business.

JS: Thank you