One of the hottest topics for modern real estate agents is becoming a community expert, or advocate, for your local area and your clients. For the uninitiated, this means that you know -and love - the local area where you sell.
For example, since you spend time in this area, it should never be a problem for you to recommend the best live music venue, wax poetic on where to get the best burger, or explain the subtle differences between the area's primary schools to those looking to buy a home from you.
In this way, you are not just selling the home but the community as well. One luxury property expert in Nashville is at the front of this movement: Matt Kirkegaard, founder of Movement Property Group.
He said, "I've been living in Nashville for more than 15 years. There aren't many who know or love this city as I do - it's one of my favorite cities in the world," he said.
In his opinion, selling houses is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to being the best agent you can be. He explained that great realtors become ambassadors to their cities, sharing unexpected details of why it's great to live in their area.
To this end, Kirkegaard, a musician and all-around performer who came to Nashville for its amazing music scene, hosts a local TV show called "Selling Nashville."
The show is a great example of agents acting as community advocates, as it shows the founder visiting places he loves in his city, from gorgeous homes to a local winery. He started the show as a place to simply showcase beautiful homes but soon realized that his viewers were hungry for information about Nashville.
"It makes sense. People don't move to Nashville - or anywhere, really - for a house. They pick the location and then find the best house for them. So, my show naturally evolved into sort of selling my city to people thinking of moving here," said Kirkegaard.
Though it's time-consuming, he said that it means he becomes more of a Nashville expert each time he completes an episode, and it brings him clients that love the city as much as he does. So it's well worth it.
Below are three of his favorite tips for becoming a community advocate in your town or city.
Be a Neighborhood Expert
To become a true expert, you can't just read the news and follow a few Instagram accounts for your local area. "You need to hit the streets every weekend," said Kirkegaard. "Stop by that new coffee shop and chat with the owner, go to the local fall festival and pumpkin patch, and go see that local band on Saturday night. This stuff should be fun!"
He explained that it's obvious when people love where they live. Their eyes light up, and their smiles get bigger. He swears that clients pick up on this sincerity and are more likely to move to a place others recommend and love.
Be a Champion for Change
Community advocates don't just sell houses in a region; they are a part of it and care about what's happening there.
Kirkegaard says this is about more than going to galas and networking events; it's about helping people. Go and volunteer at your children's school, the senior center, or the local thrift store, or find the unique thing you can offer to improve your town.
The founder explains that it makes you a better advocate for your community and champion for it and adds a very positive aspect to your local reputation. People will then think more highly of you and be more likely to recommend you to others looking to buy local homes.
"It may seem impossible, but you can take your business further while also helping your community. I know because I've done it."
He has his own non-profit under Movement Property Group. The LiftUp Initiative provides mortgage and rental help to people in Nashville suffering from financial hardships beyond their control.
Go Local, In Every Way
As you might have already guessed, the third prong of Kirkegaard's approach is to spend your money locally whenever possible. Buy your coffee beans from that new, local shop, and buy gifts from a local chocolatier or distillery.
By helping to support businesses in your community, you help to ensure that it retains the charming, local that you (and your clients) love. And, when you close a sale, buy your client a selection of local products or gift cards so that they can become advocates too.
Use these tips to become a top champion for your community, and if you have clients moving to Nashville, send them to Kirkegaard, one of Nashville's unofficial ambassadors.
About Matt Kirkegaard and Movement Property Group
Movement Property Group (Keller Williams), created by musician and real estate agent Matt Kirkegaard, specializes in luxury and affordable housing throughout most of Tennessee, including East and West Nashville, where the company is headquartered. Kirkegaard is accompanied by Ruben Juarez and Aaron Ammon at Movement Property Group. Kirkegaard and Co. strive to make the home buying and home selling processes as efficient and effortless as possible. For more information and to see Movement Property Group's impressive real estate inventory, please visit https://movementpropertygroup.com/
