Sunday afternoon drives with my Uncle Gordon, Aunt Charlene Benn were to places for a picnic by a brook or other scenic Maine location.
But all along the way, he was studying behind barns, looking down thru fields and searching for old cars and trucks. He along with another Uncle Cedric Benn ran a car sales, junk yard. And if you wanted to know where there might be a part for that 1959 Cadillac or an old regular Farmall tractor, Uncle Gordon was the eagle eye, elephant memory guy to turn to, quiz if you needed a part or test his knowledge on where there was a wrecked 1960 Thunderbird or 1957 Chevy two door car. It's what he did since a teenager...be around vehicles, collecting them, enjoying them.
I thought about Uncle Gordon who has passed away as I was driving back from Fort Fairfield Maine this morning in Aroostook County. I do the same thing..scan the countryside but instead of scoping out old machinery, auto and truck hardware on rock piles or in barns, I am scanning both sides of the road for Maine real estate. I do take note of the old tractors and machinery due to growing up on a Maine farm, and working the land since being knee high to a grass hopper as the expression goes. But my head is swiveling from side to side while driving, noticing which place has an un-mowed lawn, looks deserted. Making note of the new addition on this home. The need of paint and a roof on that house.The skidder ruts of a recently heavy woodcutting, timbering operation on that land along the way. The drives to anywhere have a surveillance monitor feeding one part of the brain with a steady stream of area property and surroundings. Property awareness. Mental notes to yourself to do this, this 
and this Monday with calls and personal visits to the owners of the mailboxes you see along the drive whether it is a business or pleasure cruise behind the wheel.
I think like most professions you don't call work, enjoy with a passion, in a way you are always working. Maine real estate sales is no different.
Absorbing and in the game you have chosen for your profession. Studying
properties along the highways and by ways and not ever totally shutting that part of the brain off that processes the steady stream of
real estate, area neighborhood activity and future
listings. Like a soldier in a dangerous
land that noticed trip wires, situations that could mean a booby trap or danger. A
Maine real estate broker uses the intelligences of the country and town property scans for financial survival from this Kit Carson full time scouting. Being aware what is happening in his or her area, knowing and seeing the process of property change as it passes hands.
Like most agents, brokers, REALTORS, you can close your eyes and go up and down streets of your home town or area communities and one by one recite who lives here, owns that acreage or lakeshore cottage.
And before them who the owner was, who built the place. I guess remembering details on the lot size, owners of the property is why we go in to
listing, marketing, selling Maine real estate. It's not trivia, it is inventory. Knowing the market, being a salemans well versed on the properties and areas they are in. Salesman who don't use the three little words much "I don't know" and why automation of the
real estate industry is not likely to replace the
agent, broker, REALTOR.
Maine, fun place to live, work and play.
I'm Maine Licensed Real Estate Broker Andrew Mooers
