The four lessons I learned launching my career during the pandemic
/
Launching your real estate career during a worldwide pandemic is not for the faint of heart! Honestly though, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I truly believe that the obstacles put in my path only made me a smarter, stronger broker. And, in the end, the hard work paid off! 2020 was a banner year for Busby Group. Together we helped 156 families buy and sell real estate throughout Chicagoland, totaling $65M in sales – that is a $20M increase from 2019!
And, the 2021 spring market is already here! In a moment of reflection before my schedule imploded, I sat down and wrote the top lessons I learned throughout 2020 so that they always stay with me. Here they are, in no particular order.
Be adaptable: Now that we are many months into the pandemic, we all know how to cope and how to conduct our business, but back in March we had no idea! I will never forget all eight of us hustling out to every one of our listings to record virtual tours. We already had professional videos, but we also wanted this more casual, informative video to offer potential buyers. We then shifted to virtual tours and Zoom showings because we wanted to make sure our listings gained the most exposure possible. This experience taught me two things. First, the real estate market is always fluctuating. What worked for one listing, may not work for another. Be observant and adapt. And second, the Busby Group team will do anything for our clients!
Be proactive: The pandemic may be just about the only force able to slow a Chicago spring market! Instead of waiting around, we took that time to focus on and invest in new and existing streams of business. One such area was our corporate relationships. We have deep seeded relationships with many of the top consultancies and hospitals throughout Chicago, working with busy executives moving to or from Chicago. During these slower days we took the time to perfect our protocols and logistics for these clients, and strengthened existing relationships even further.
Give back: The pandemic has impacted everyone differently, but I know we can all agree that giving back to the local community has never been more important. On a large scale, Busby Group introduced our partnership with the Chicago Food Depository, with a portion of every sale going toward helping feed Chicagoans. Giving back is our way of paying it forward and working toward helping to improve the city we love.
Evolve with your clients: One of the many ways the pandemic has had an unforeseeable long-term impact on people’s lives is second homes! The demand for second homes has skyrocketed. As a result, I am planning to obtain my real estate license in Michigan to help my clients buy and sell. Stay tuned for an update in February! We have owned a second home in Michigan for 10 years, and just this past October sold that home and purchased a new one. I love to chat about all things Michigan, so please reach out anytime!
With more passing time and retrospect, I know this list will grow. I am excited for the 2021 real estate market (so busy already!), and know that I will use the lessons of 2020 on a daily basis. As one of my recent clients said in the following testimonial, it is very important to me to go the extra mile for my clients!
Testimonial from past client, Kanika:
“Mara was amazingly patient as she helped us figure out what we really wanted, and matched it with what was available in our budget – and she did all this during a pandemic when everything was closing down. Her persistence in following up with sellers and getting us in to see our dream property (when no one else could during the pandemic) was commendable. Mara guided us through the complete buying process and we felt confident that we paid the right price for a home that will grow with us.”
