It had been one of those weeks. The phone call came at just the right time.
“Hello, Rich? This is Bill, the guy from California? We had emailed back and forth a few weeks ago? My family and I are considering a move to your area.”
The Light Bulb
The light bulb immediately clicked on. Bill was a retired policeman from Santa Rosa CA. He had also served in the Navy, and had found me through an ActiveRain post I had written almost 2 years ago. Bill and his wife, an adult daughter with twins, 16 Akitas, and two horses, were looking for a little more room to roam, and a slower pace of life. Kitsap County WA would make a perfect home!
Bill and I exchange some pleasantries, and as it turns out, he has driven up from CA to check out the area. In fact, he’s in Silverdale at this very minute and wants to know if there are any houses he can check out.
Viewing Vacants
Well, unfortunately, I have another pending obligation, but I pull up a half dozen vacant listings off the MLS that fit his search criteria. I give him directions to the house, and he arrives a few minutes later. We meet, shake hands, and in short order, we’re sharing Navy stories like we’re long lost buddies. I give him a map and directions to the listings, and then we make plans to hook-up the following day, for an expanded personal tour of the scenic Kitsap Peninsula.
Your Friendly Local Tour Guide
So today, I picked Bill up at his hotel in Port Orchard, and we spend a good part of the day cruising around the countryside, looking at properties, and just becoming better acquainted.
Later, after I dropped him back off, and I was driving home, I was reminded of why I enjoy this career so much. Connecting personally with people, helping them to work through the challenges of transition and relocation, to find that perfect place for them to call home. Fewer things I’ve done in my career have been so enjoyable or satisfying.
Our time together today was well spent and confirmed to Bill that a move to our area was possible. We found several potential properties that would fit their needs/budget well. And interestingly enough, the very first house that my wife and I bought was in Santa Rosa. Our daughter was born there. I will be referring Bill to the agent we used for the sale of their current residence.
Why We Blog
We can have a tendency to become overly absorbed with our discussions here, and lose the focus on the much bigger picture of why we blog in the first place; or why we invest time in various Web 2.0 apps or social networking platforms.
Thanks, Bill. It was a welcomed reminder, and helped me to put things back into proper perspective.
