Getting Your Real Estate Life Together: Q&A with Chance Jackson

Name, Location and how long have you been an Agent

My name is Chance Jackson. Portland, Oregon. First Licensed in 2018.

How would you describe your brand?

I try to envision my brand as an extension of both who I was, who I am, and who I want to be. My branding is so much more than just the top tier marketing assets I utilize at my brokerage, it's also a culmination of how I communicate and react to specific situations in the business. I like to think of my brand as straight-forward, easy-going, honest, elegant, and evolving. Like the real estate market, my brand must be open to change at a moment's notice without sacrificing my core beliefs or values.

How do you differentiate yourself?

I'm not the average realtor. I bring a lot of new perspectives, marketing strategies, and concepts to the market. As a millennial, I'm on the younger side of the real estate spectrum. While being a man of color in the Pacific NW, I also often find myself standing out on a crowded street. When it comes to differentiating myself, I chalk it up to honoring who I am as an individual instead of defining myself by what my profession is. I also try to connect with people BEFORE I "look for the deal". I prefer to vet individuals based on their character before I commit our next month to their real estate goals. 

What marketing method is most effective for you and why?

My favorite marketing method thus far is on social media platforms. I LOVE Instagram. I find that it's a great way to network with like-minded individuals without flooding people with real estate advertisements every waking moment. On social media, you have the ability to display your character and success stories through your stories and timelines. It helps potential customers analyze why I'm the perfect fit for them while reminding them that real estate agents are more than just salespeople. 

What marketing method is least effective for you and why?

I've tried it all...Door-knocking is hands down the hardest form of marketing for me in this market. I know it works for some great agents out there, but in today's market, it just doesn't seem safe or wise to do. I found that, when at home, people were focused on social distancing well before COVID-19 hit the scene! For now, you won't catch me knocking on a door unless I was invited over ahead of time.

What are your three favorite ways to start a conversation?

1. I thrive in awkwardness. I don't know why, but I get overly excited when there is a weird silence in an elevator or in a line at Costco. At the sacrifice of those in my presence at the time, I will strike up a conversation at a moment's notice: Not blindly, as I can read people's expressions fairly well (I'd like to think), but eloquently.

2. Center the conversation around the person you're speaking to. I try to find something that I admire about them at first glance. It's as a statement to let them know I "see" them as the person they are.

3. Listen more than you speak. Ask questions and truly desire to know the answers. People love chatting about themselves. I mean, look at me... I'm GLOWING while answering these questions! Give someone else the stage and learn as much about them as possible.  Not only have I found great real estate leads through conversations like this, but I've also met some incredible life-long friends this way! 

How are you elevating the look and feel of your business?

Real estate collateral companies, like All Things Real Estate, are crucial in helping to display and market yourself in an elegant way. Small items like open house signs, "Please Remove Your Shoes" signs, closing letters, and home-buyer books are a few very important tools that every top producing agent should have in their toolbox--combine those items with some personal branding touches, then you've got the 1-2 punch knock-out combo that will leave more business at your door through client referrals!

What's one piece of advice you would give a new agent?

YOU ARE AN ENTREPRENEUR NOW. Treat this career as a business. Keep tabs on every expense, conversation, and decision you make. Once a week organize your system and reset for the next week. Once a month audit all of the analytics and assess what worked and what didn't. Adjust to the 80/20 principle of lead generation and sore like an eagle through the skies of success. You got this!

Connect with Chance!