Luxury Real Estate

By Staci Colville

I wanted to write today first about the buzz of our Spring Retreat in San Diego and, second, about a breakout session that was a true Oprah AH HA moment for me.

First, the conference. WOW… what a great success! As a LuxuryRealEstate.com Account Manager and a first-time conference attendee, I was most excited to get to meet our wonderful members face to face, hear about your markets, brainstorm and see what I can do to help. My expectations were surpassed and I must say I am still having post-conference blues. What a wonderful way to start my day to see all your smiling and energetic faces, willing to share and learn and laugh. It was truly one of the top 5 events of my life.

What impressed me the most was the positive energy that flowed throughout the conference. The constant theme was “the glass is half full.” Yes, we might be in a difficult market, but there was no gloom or doom. It was all about “What can we do to better ourselves in a tough time?” Love it!

I truly felt like we were a worldwide network, holding hands globally and saying we are all in this together and we are all here to help. The strategies and ideas I gained as an Account Manager were invaluable.

All I can say to my dear members who were unable to attend is: You missed it and we missed you!

My AH HA moment came in a fabulous breakout session, led by the President and CEO of Burgdorff, Realtors ERA, Patricia Hoferkamp. She was also joined by Wayne Markovich, Burgdorff’s Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing, and my new, dear friend, Karen Foley, Burgdorff's Marketing Manager.

Patricia’s breakout session was entitled “A Culture of Service: Creating a Real Estate Experience” and it was VERY well-received at the conference. The one statement she made that really stuck out in my mind and that I have now posted on my desk is, “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” These words have inspired me to be a better Account Manager, mother and friend. It was truly one of the highlights of the conference for me and, in my humble opinion, her presentation is book-worthy. Simply fabulous, Patricia… Nice shot!

I bet many of you that didn’t attend the conference are wondering about my reference to this mantra, Nice Shot. Our lustrous leader and founder John Brian Losh spoke of his golf game with friends and how he was perhaps not the next Tiger Woods. He pointed out that even though he may not be the best golfer, it sure made him feel good to hear the words “Nice shot!” after he preformed well. We all deserve to hear those words and perhaps should say them much more often. To all of our members who attended and contributed to the best and most energetic conference we have had, the pleasure was mine in meeting you all and… NICE SHOT!


Editor’s Note:
Staci Colville is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She helps members take advantage of the various services of LuxuryRealEstate.com. I enjoy hearing positive messages because if all we hear are negative ones then we can easily forget all of the good that is happening around us. I’m so pleased that Patricia Hoferkamp’s presentation was well-received and effective. Let us all show how much we care and who we truly are when challenges come.

By Scott Rudolph

I speak with so many that I find myself often speaking with people in various stages of illness. Short- and long-term sickness is an unfortunate occurrence but it allows us to reassess and prioritize what matters most! Truth is, sick or not, we are writing our life story in each moment, with each decision. Is your story an adventure? Is the relationship with your spouse a love story?

Writing our story reminds me of some of the behind-the-scenes dialogue during our Fall Conference in Washington D.C. a month after the tragic events of 9/11. I flew into Ronald Reagan International Airport with jet escort, settled into a well-appointed bunker of a boardroom and appreciated conversation related to reprioritizing… purposefully booking travel, hotels, buying real estate for family, etc. We rallied to support personal and economic health, strength, vitality.

So, what would you do differently if this were your last year? Each time I ask the question I hear:  spend more time traveling, build experiences, start a company, more philanthropy, etc. If your answer is, “exactly what I’m doing now” then kudos to you! If not, let’s get to it… now… today… in this moment.

Book your trips; buy a dozen homes; fill these new homes with the homeless; adopt a dozen children; start a company to right wrongs; write a song; speak out against injustice; call people and reconcile hurt feelings; fill a food bank for a year… I could go on. Make it significant. Keep it low-key. Here’s to your personal and economic health!! Email me your ideas and success stories.


Editor’s Note:
Scott Rudolph is the Director of Business Development for LuxuryRealEstate.com. He works with a variety of luxury-focused companies to expand the LuxuryRealEstate.com influence. Carpe diem! What a wonderful blog entry. I hope that we will all take Scott’s words to heart as we go about our daily lives. What would we do differently if we really believed that our time on earth is limited and fragile? I definitely second Scott’s sentiments, and I hope to be a better person in all of my seemingly small decisions and relationships.

By Lois Lane

Hi Brian,

Our firm, Lane & Smythe Real Estate Brokers specializes in historic property in downtown Charleston.  I have served on the board of The Preservation Society for the past four years and have recently been named President.  The Society is the first group formed for the purpose of saving "dwellings" in the United States.  If you are interested in this you can visit the website, www.preservationsociety.org.

Charleston is the first city in the United States to adopt a historic zoning ordinance. The city is currently in the process of adopting a new "Preservation Plan". As President, I am particularly interested in the "green" aspect of renewing, reusing, and restoring.

Thank you,

Lois Lane
Lane & Smythe
Charleston, S.C.
843.270.2797


Editor’s Note:
Lois Lane is the Broker/Owner of Lane & Smythe Real Estate Brokers in Charleston, S.C. This letter is in response to Brian Langhorst’s March 21, 2008 blog entry entitled “What are you doing to stand out?” We welcome your comments on our blog entries.

By Brian Langhorst

LuxuryRealEstate.com is a wonderful resource of the best agents, best developments, and the best brands of residential real estate. Many of you are very active in local or national organizations, philanthropic groups and more. I would like to hear from you on what you are doing in your community. We have a lot of assets available to you to publicize all that you do.

Please contact us so we can let the world know about you and your industry-leading business!


Editor’s Note:
Brian Langhorst is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. He meets members’ unique needs through the dynamic services LuxuryRealEstate.com provides. You can contact Brian at blanghorst@luxuryrealestate.com. As the editor of the LuxuryRealEstate.com newsletter, called the Week in Review, I also welcome your stories. I’m happy to include them in the Members’ Press Releases section of our website. Let us know about your good news.

By Brian Langhorst

Philanthropy, community-based giving, social justice, and volunteering are all ways you as a luxury agent can make a difference and set yourself apart from your competition. Find a cause near to your heart and get involved. The benefits are more powerful than any magazine or newspaper advertisement. We would love to help you to speak about your passions to the end audience.

Let us know how you get involved with your community. You can contact me at BLanghorst@luxuryrealestate.com.


Editor’s Note:
Brian Langhorst is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. He meets members’ unique needs through the dynamic services LuxuryRealEstate.com provides. I agree with Brian. Giving one’s time, skills and strength to people in need not only blesses the recipients but also the giver. You feel it in your heart and you see it in the faces of those you help. I encourage you to follow Brian’s advice and seek out worthy causes to support. You will surely receive more than you give.