Over the nine+ years I’ve been doing my monthly message, I’ve made this point a number of times: A house is not a home. A house is where you make a home. Home is where – wherever – your heart is.
Well, what’s true in personal life, can also be true in business.
In November 2014, almost 10 years ago, I placed my brand-new real estate license at Village, a firm founded by local visionary, Mark Deutchman. On the advice of a friend who was a Village realtor, I attended one sales meeting and knew immediately – this was the place for me. I found a diverse group of like-minded individuals who formed a supportive community – always learning, always working for our clients’ success, and helping each other out. As independent contractors we were technically in competition with each other, but it felt like I had joined a team. And that felt really good!
Over the years, the company drifted farther and farther away from the community I joined. New ownership and leadership, a change in name (the Village brand ceased to exist), and finally a sale by the current owners to Compass RE, completed the transition to a company I no longer recognized.
And so, I’ve made a change.
On Thursday, June 27, I moved my license to Onward Real Estate.
Unlike Compass, a national corporation, traded on the NYSE and beholden to its shareholders, Onward is a brand-new, local company, owned by local people and focused on the local market. We are backed by Bob Parks, who built Parks Real Estate into the biggest firm in the mid-state before leaving that company earlier this year. Since going public three weeks ago, more than 220 realtors have joined Onward, and more are coming.
But this is about much more than size. It’s about focus. We are local. Every one of us from the leaders and brokers on down, live here and work here and are focused on our client’s needs and wants – in this market.
It’s also about home. We do our best work when and where we feel at home and thoroughly invested. After several years of drifting away from the home base that was once Village, I’m back. And the vibe is good!
Back at home, and moving Onward.