I am working with clients right now who are reminding me of the importance of looking below surface appearances, and I want to share the reminder with you.  For the purpose of this story I will call them John & Martha, and while Martha is a lovely person, my focus here will be on John.

I first met John a few months ago when he called about a property on our website.  My first impression was of a rather suspicious, brash, flippant, impatient young man who might be demanding and somewhat difficult.  At our first meeting my impression was extended by his physical appearance – wild hair, clothing appropriate to his work in construction and an engaging grin.

As we have worked together over several months I have learned a lot about John.  The suspicion stemmed from a prior bad experience with a real estate agent – we have worked beyond that.  Any difficulties are a function of enthusiasm, excitement and the frustration that an entry level buyer experiences in this market – they are normal.  The impatience is certainly there - balanced by a sincere respect and appreciation for the time I spend with him.  The wild hair is the result of his commitment to Locks of Love, which collects hair to make wigs for children who are undergoing cancer treatment. 

I have further learned of his close family, his love of children, his soft heart (which translates into helping others who are less fortunate), his dreams and ambitions for his family.  I’m sure he isn’t perfect, but I have a great deal of respect and affection for this young man who I first judged somewhat differently.

This experience is one that all of us on The Johnson Team have repeated a number of times, and it is one of the greatest aspects of our job.  We have the opportunity to get to know wonderful people who make us feel better about the world at large.  Hopefully we pass that feeling along to others in the course of helping them with their real estate needs.Â