Momentum

The theme of momentum has come up in my world lately. At first I didn't realize it was a theme- I was just getting from one day to the next, managing one situation or another as best I could. But when I had a chance to reflect about the course our summer season had taken - both personally and at RD House, I began seeing isolated events link together into this theme of momentum, and I think it allows a good perspective on things.

We all know how a bad day unravels itself- it's as if inexplicably anything you touch turns into a firedrill. Like spilling your coffee on your best shirt in the morning, then leaving your mobile phone at home, being late to your first appointment- and on the day goes, almost as if it's a runaway train and there's no use trying to turn it around. Momentum. Good days happen the same way don't they? Maybe you read an article in the morning paper that makes you feel positive or confident, when you get to your favorite coffee shop, your "buy 10 get the next one free" card is full and you don't have to pay for your morning joe, your favorite parking spot is waiting for you, and on it goes..momentum.

It's interesting isn't it? Here's the epiphany I had though. I think we can actually direct- or change- our momentum if we really focus on it. By making a conscious decision to stop, assess where we are, where we're headed, and how we want to direct our efforts- you can literally change your life's momentum, whether for an hour, a day, or for something bigger.

Case in point. This year has obviously been a rollercoaster in the property management, and the real estate market as a whole. Our renewals, move-out's and new business weren't on any kind of predictable pattern, so we had to be extra flexible and nimble. In June, a number of factors came together that started increasing the vacant inventory of units we had for rent. With the economy not turning around as soon as some had hoped, no one seemed to be moving, no matter how we tried to change up our advertising, the phones weren't ringing with prospective tenants like we thought they would be. It all seemed gloomy and overwhelming. One Friday morning our broker, Ricky D, called us into a meeting, and just gave us an old fashioned rally speech. Yes things weren't happening as we'd planned, he said, but we're going to make them happen. Do more open houses, get more creative with your ads, talk to more people, find more sources of information- go, go, go. If you ever watch the Bravo TV show "Project Runway", it was like one of those moments when Tim Gunn is out of things to suggest and just advises the contestants in exasperation to "just...make it work, people!". In other words, stop focusing on what's not working, and focus on making it work. Momentum.

And guess what? That very day was when things started to pick up. We did a renewed focus on open houses that weekend, changed up all our ads to throw conventionalism out and creativity on (one 19^th floor loft was billed as "Batmans Gotham City Hideaway"), the phones started to ring, and we never looked back. Since the beginning of July, we've rented 23 units, and are back to our average days on market of 22 days for unit rentals. Momentum.

Yes, it can seem impossible to change the direction of things sometimes, and I'm saying there aren't things entirely out of our control. But we can decide how we react to them, and where to focus our efforts in relation to them. It's a lot like Oprah's definition of Luck, which is "preparation combined with opportunity", which I think is so well put. If you don't prepare for things to turn around, you won't change your momentum as easily when the opportunity to do so arises.

You will always have bad days- and good days, for sure. But when things start to spiral downhill, try stopping, reflecting and be aware of what's happening. Change your momentum. If all else fails, you can laugh about the fact that nothing is going to go right today, and focus on how you're going to start out again tomorrow.

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About RD House Real Estate and Property Management: We are a leader in relocation, in-town condo and executive Seattle rental properties, working with Microsoft, Amazon, Fred Hutchison Center, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Alaska Airlines, Nordstrom and others. Many of our listings have video blogs/tours, and can be found on our website at www.rd-house.com.

If you are a Corporate relocation specialist and in need of help placing clients or employees, please contact our relocation team at (206) 728-6063.

RD House Real Estate and Property Management

Leaders in Property Management

159 Denny Way #110

Seattle, WA 98109

(206) 728-6063

www.rd-house.com