The Alimond Show
Welcome to The Alimond Show --join us as we share our entrepreneurial guests' stories, uncover their secrets to success, and explore the unique paths they've taken to build thriving businesses in our community.
In each episode, our host, Aliyah Dastour, sits down with a diverse group of local business owners, from the corner cafe to the boutique shop, from tech startups to family-run enterprises. We peel back the curtain to reveal the trials, triumphs, and transformational moments that have shaped their entrepreneurial journey.
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The Alimond Show
Patricia Dinkins - Realtor
Have you ever wondered how a personal passion can evolve into a thriving career that shapes the lives of others? Patricia Dinkins of P Dinkins Residential Properties with Samson Properties joins us to share just that—her seamless blend of personal interests and professional expertise in creating wealth and stability through real estate. With a heartfelt commitment to navigating life's milestones, like divorce or entering golden years, Patricia's story is a beacon for anyone seeking to leave a lasting legacy.
This episode is a tapestry woven from Patricia's colorful experiences, her innovative marketing strategies, and the intimate client relationships she fosters beyond the closing table. She opens a window into the vibrant world of Northern Virginia's housing market, and then takes us on a journey through the irreplaceable value of cultural exploration. Whether it's a transformative property sale or the anticipation of her next travel destination, Patricia's narrative is a poignant reminder that living with purpose often starts with a single step outside our comfort zone.
My name is Patricia Dinkins of P Dinkins Residential Properties with Samson Properties. My tagline is legacy, wealth and stability. So I help individuals create legacy for their families, stability and wealth, and I do this by being a negotiator, a life coach sometimes, because sometimes people have life, be life and, as they say, sometimes an educator, negotiator, just leading them through the process so they can have success in their home life or home transactions.
Speaker 2:That's right. Can you tell me why that is so important for clients to have, like when are they calling you up, like you know what this is going on?
Speaker 1:They need your help.
Speaker 2:Let me know.
Speaker 1:Okay. So they call me when the home no longer meets their needs. So either they want to become homeowners or there's a definite family divorce, or they're too old, because this year I've changed my niche to the 50 plus communities, because I'm in that age range and my dad, as I told you, turns 92 today, so he's in that age range too. So I want to protect them, so I want to protect them, basically just giving them success that they need in making their dream come true.
Speaker 2:I love that. Tell me your story Like. Who were you as a kid that led you to this journey in your life, to this point.
Speaker 1:Well, I think the kid part doesn't play into me getting to this point. Okay, what does play into it is I was engaged at one time and he and I would go around visiting open houses, so we both were supposed to do it together. But we didn't get married. But nonetheless we were supposed to go into the business together and we were like we can do that. So, like I said, didn't take place. So years passed down the road and I was like I'm going to get my real estate license. I love that.
Speaker 2:But who were you as a kid?
Speaker 1:Who was?
Speaker 2:I yeah, Like what do you mean? Like what did you like to do? What did you grow up listening to? Like we want to get to know the person behind the business. Okay, how were you like?
Speaker 1:I'm like crafts Okay, excuse me, I like being creative and that plays into my business too, because I love marketing and so marketing allows me to be creative, also Loving crafts, like I'm going to movies, what else? I used to go bike riding with my girlfriends George Washington Park, where we used to go down there and bike ride, so I guess that's about it, yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, and what kind of music did you grow up listening to?
Speaker 1:Oh, probably definitely R&B, r&b.
Speaker 2:I love me some R&B.
Speaker 1:Yeah, r&b yeah.
Speaker 2:Love that and can you? You said marketing is a big role.
Speaker 1:I love marketing.
Speaker 2:Yes. So tell me, what advice would you give to any entrepreneurs who are looking to market themselves and putting themselves out there?
Speaker 1:Basically market yourself by being creative, opening to new ideas, getting out there and networking, because networking is so important. Also, there's a saying that you may have heard it it's not who you know who knows you.
Speaker 2:So Haven't heard that one. Okay, I'll put that one in my pocket. Okay, be my guest. Thank you, and can you tell me a little bit of what you do for your business with marketing, like, how are you putting yourself out there, your business, Okay, like I said, I'm starting this year to do more networking to get my name out there.
Speaker 1:Also, of course, social media stuff.
Speaker 2:I was going to ask like anything online.
Speaker 1:Yes, online social media Facebook and IG, doing podcasts. I just recently signed up for this software where people can search for my name on Alexa and other devices like that. So doing that. Advertising in different program booklets one of the schools down the street from me. They're having an auction so we can advertise in their booklet, advertise in Inova, so just do a lot of advertising.
Speaker 2:I love that. I love that you're doing it like physically. You know it's not just online, you're out there putting your name in. For some people they've totally shifted just because of what's available to them now. So I find that very amazing that you're like still, you can also get to know people that way as well. And like hey, this is my name, this is what I do. It gives people like you know what I really like? This person I want to like, support them. I want to do that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I love doing videos too. So I have a YouTube channel and I do post videos on IG, on YouTube.
Speaker 2:That is good. I hope that you're putting that informational stats and all that good stuff out there, but also definitely personality, definitely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like I said, I love the creativity of it.
Speaker 2:How did that get started? How did you dip your feet into showing people your videos and just putting play on that camera and recording yourself?
Speaker 1:The coaches that the powers that be say the new thing is video.
Speaker 2:That's right. They did not lie. They don't lie.
Speaker 1:So I just started doing it and my girlfriend always tells me well, you can do it off the, you know, off the fly, the top of your head. I don't need a script or anything like that. I just started doing stuff so it just comes natural to me.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, and I see you've got some stats here. Anything you want to share with us?
Speaker 1:Yes, I'd like to share the stats for January and February, please do Okay. So the market stats. This is for Northern Virginia. So in January 771 homes sold, but in February 1,020 homes sold. So it's moving up the number of homes sold. The median price for January was 650,000. February 687,250.
Speaker 2:So things I'm looking up they are a little clout for you.
Speaker 1:The month inventory Now in January there was only 0.7. That's moved up a little bit. 0.9 months of inventory. So that basically means it would take 0.9 for everything that's on the market to sell out. Still low inventory.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Average days on the market for January is 29 days, February 22 days. Like I said, things are looking up.
Speaker 2:We love to hear that.
Speaker 1:Yes, I do too. Of course. The number of pending sales for January was 1,072,. Pending sales for February 1,227. I'll speed this up Housing inventory for January is 981. For February, 1,153,. Houses of inventory and the new listings for January is well, it's 1,070, for February 1,255. So everything's looking up basically.
Speaker 2:I love that I mean even interest rates.
Speaker 1:they're not like the threes. Lenders say that it'll never go back to the threes. That's what I hear, so don't look for it.
Speaker 2:Sorry, sorry, folks Don't look for it, so it's probably like those sixes.
Speaker 1:It'll end up being, hopefully the end of the year, mid-sixes somewhere around there.
Speaker 2:Wow, I love that you have that projection for you, because a lot of people say a lot of different stuff. They're like you know what, I don't know, but the number one thing that I hear is like don't wait for that three, because you're not going to be getting that number three.
Speaker 1:But I always tell my men have mentees also, so I always tell them you got to know some stats. You can't just tell people, oh, the market's looking up, you have to have some information to give them.
Speaker 2:And I think you're the first one to bring that. So thank you so much for bringing it, you're welcome. You should show it to the camera too and be like look at that, we got the stats y'all Right here, right here. Perfect, give me both angles. And now tell me a little bit how you're keeping up to date with what's going on in the market. Like to help you and your potential buyers and sellers to help.
Speaker 1:Basically I go to the National Association of Realtors or Northern Virginia Association of Realtors and look up the monthly stats. Also my brokerage. They provide us with the stats every month as well.
Speaker 2:OK, so you guys are really on top of that. You got to be.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And what are some strategies that you found during your career that have really helped you as a real estate agent?
Speaker 1:Strategies, being personable, being real. If you don't know, say you don't know. Don't try to, I guess, bamboozle or stonewall the clients. So, basically, being honest to who you are.
Speaker 2:Honest to his policy. I like that and what are some tips that you would like to give to any first time home buyers? They're not sure where to look, where to go, what to do. What would you like for them to know? If anybody's listening.
Speaker 1:First time home buyers. What you should do is first make sure you start saving. Don't overextend your credit when your first step is to get that pre-approval, because if you don't get the pre-approval, you start looking and you end up disappointed because you have in your mind, oh, I like this house, but then you find out you can't afford the house. So then you feel it all depressed or whatever.
Speaker 2:Sad.
Speaker 1:Right, sad, depressed or whatever. And also, once you get the pre-approval, don't change money, don't move your money around in your bank accounts, don't go out and buy a bit cost items, don't take a new credit card. So basically keep everything the same during that time, because that can mess up your loan.
Speaker 2:That's good advice there, because I feel like a lot of people forget they're like do I need to move this here?
Speaker 1:so?
Speaker 2:it'll look good Right. Will it show when my credit goes through.
Speaker 1:Right and you're thinking about oh, I'm getting this house, I'm going to go out and buy some new furniture. Don't do it, folks, until you get the house.
Speaker 2:Wow, that is actually a really good advice, because I mean, I'm not on the market for a house right now looking. I just don't feel like I'm there and being realistic with myself here. But that is something that I'm definitely going to consider and I'm sure other people are like wow, I didn't even think that when I buy a house, go buy all that furniture.
Speaker 1:That's something that seems like a common thing that you would want to do, but actually it's not Right, because you may think you know you want a new house, but you also want a new car. Yeah, you can't do both of them at the same time. No, ma'am, no, if you're getting the house, get the house, get the car later.
Speaker 2:I love that, yeah. What employees do you currently have? Me personally.
Speaker 1:I'm a solopreneur. Oh okay, I'm not on a team or anything.
Speaker 2:Okay, so that's good to know. Have you ever considered getting help, not like with another real estate agent, but maybe or like any assistance just with helping you like organization putting stuff out on social media for?
Speaker 1:you, I thought about it, but I like the creativity about it. Now, when I have a whole lot of clients, it's best to have someone, because if you're having buyers and sellers, the buyers are running you around all over the place, so you need someone to help you with the paperwork and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, yeah, and I love that you said that, that you love the creativity part, so you creating it and putting it out there like that's your little passion.
Speaker 1:That's me, yeah. I love that All the way.
Speaker 2:And then have you had any weird requests ever from any potential home buyers or clients in general, like requests like, hmm, I want a house, but it definitely has to have this, and you're just like that's a weird request. But you know what? I think I know a home Anything like that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Unfortunately no weird requests. I've had some rude clients before but not weird requests for homes now For homes.
Speaker 2:Okay, have you ever had any experience with anything like haunted or potentially haunted homes?
Speaker 1:I want to say yes and no. I showed one of my clients the house and when she walked in there she's like something doesn't feel right about this house.
Speaker 2:Oh my.
Speaker 1:And so she didn't stay in there long. So after we got out of the house I told her. I said someone did die in the house. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 2:See, this is why I asked, because it's crazy to hear these stories and the fact that she just followed her intuition. I don't know something. You didn't say that. And then you're like actually that's crazy, yeah.
Speaker 1:And I have gone to show another house, and when we went in there, like upstairs, they had like candles all around and then they had like the witchcraft in general. Oh no, so we didn't stay in there either. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 2:So you were showing the home and they just had that there, like they had that.
Speaker 1:The people had it upstairs in their house.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know if that's one way to sell home. I mean no judgment. You guys you, do you, but that's very interesting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so those are the, I guess, the weirdest things.
Speaker 2:Okay, thank you for sharing that I'm always so curious to know. So, thank you. And then, for any real estate agents or any people who are working in the real estate industry, what advice would you like to give them as far as personality goes, like what's an ideal real estate personality that you think people should have?
Speaker 1:That's kind of hard because we each work differently. Like I said, I would say, being honest, be yourself, because every client is not meant for every agent. So you may meet somebody and you all may clash or whatever. They're good for another type of agent. So just be yourself, be true to who you are. And I always tell new people who are thinking about getting into the real estate business. I let them know in front. It's a hustle business. It's not something where you can just lay back and chill. You definitely have to work, okay, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then how important is it to you to build and keep those relationships with your clients even after you've made that transaction?
Speaker 1:It's very important because they may give you a referral. Exactly, exactly, yeah. So it's very important Not only that, you don't want them to think that you are only interested in the transaction, you don't want to just sell them a house and dump them.
Speaker 2:No, no, I love that. Do some clients ever go to you for some advice in the area, like when they're moving out of state or they're like do you know where the best? This and so on so is, how are you keeping up to date with that information for them when and if they ask you that?
Speaker 1:No one's really asked. One client moved to Alabama, but that was her home. I met someone this past Sunday when I was doing an open house. She was kind of new to the area and I asked her. I said, well, are you, you definitely want to stick to this area? She said well, and I was like, how about Fairfax? How about Springfield? She's like, well, I'm not familiar with that. I said, well, there's a metro there. You know that you can consider. So yeah, so it's basically just knowing certain areas where people want to move to. I love that, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then, what do you like to do in your free time, like when you're not selling homes and bringing up all the information and doing your research? Who are you outside of?
Speaker 1:that I love to travel.
Speaker 2:Tell me where you've been.
Speaker 1:I've been to Germany, Dubai, of course, places in the United States, but the big one is coming up in April. I'm going to Singapore.
Speaker 2:Oh, my goodness. You have like a little curiosity bug in you to travel.
Speaker 1:And I've always. You know you talk about what type of person I was as a child. I've always loved culture and languages, although I'm not proficient in anything which I was, but I've always loved culture and languages.
Speaker 2:I love that. What made you want to go to Singapore?
Speaker 1:This is funny. I was watching one of the TV shows I can't think of it now the one where they're chasing around the different countries. You know what I'm talking about.
Speaker 2:Chasing around different. I don't.
Speaker 1:They're on teams and they're going here and there getting tasks of different. Anyway, it was a TV show, Maybe Survivor or something like that.
Speaker 2:No, the other one I don't know.
Speaker 1:Maybe one of us could think of it, but guys, it's a TV show on there. We promise and you probably know what I'm talking about yes, about there going around different places in the country, and Singapore was one of the places that they showed. Okay, and they went to Singapore. I'm like oh wow, that looks interesting. I think I want to go to Singapore. So that's how Singapore because of a TV show.
Speaker 2:Love that. Yeah, I'm curious. What wasn't that interested you? What did they do? Or was it a food? They show a location?
Speaker 1:a land, just the landscape environment, and I'm into architecture as well, so I like the architecture of the buildings. So I was like that looks interesting.
Speaker 2:I love that. Are you going to go alone, or how are you going to go? I was going to go alone.
Speaker 1:But one of my girlfriends, pat, I don't want you to go alone, I said, but it says it's one of the safest places you can go.
Speaker 2:Okay, but I'm glad someone's going with me.
Speaker 1:That's what my other girlfriend said. She's glad that one of my other girlfriends is going with me.
Speaker 2:Yes, I had another guest that I was talking to. They like to travel on their own and I think that's really awesome and I think there's something to be said about somebody who likes to go out on their own and I'm sure you don't have to depend on any plan around you.
Speaker 2:But I feel nervous Sometimes. You just can't wait on people. You're so right. But man, I mean that's amazing. Good for you for having that courage, because even sometimes I feel nervous to go to a concert by myself. I'm like I need someone with me.
Speaker 1:Concert. I'm not sure. I've gone to Vermont, Not Vermont, rhode Island by myself. Okay, yeah, because I just wanted to get to myself. Okay, I'll go to Rhode Island by myself. You don't have to worry about asking somebody where you want to eat or what you want to do you just do your thing. I love that You're inspiring me.
Speaker 2:Maybe I'll consider You're the second person who likes to travel like that. But, I'm glad your girlfriend's going with you nonetheless.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Shout out girlfriend.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Shout out Dorela. Yes, yes, you'll see that when we get to your little shorts, but all right. Just to wrap this up, one more question. If you could leave our listeners with one message, what would that message be? It can be in regards to your industry, or anything in the world or in life, or something in your heart, a message.
Speaker 1:I guess I can give two messages.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:First message is a real estate message. Real estate is one of the best investments that a person can make. For example, one client was in her house four years. She sold it after four years and she netted over $70,000. So I mean stock market's good, but real estate's better. So consider investing in real estate.
Speaker 2:And then, before you get to that second message where can people find you? What's the name of your website?
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, the website. It's long, okay, so the website is Patricia Dinkins. D-s-n-d-e-v-i-n-k-e-n-s-s-n-s-a-m-d-s-o-n-propertiesnet. All right.
Speaker 2:And then what's the second message?
Speaker 1:The second message is we all have a purpose in life. So once you find your purpose, don't be afraid to say it. Step off your comfort zone and pursue your passion.
Speaker 2:I love that. Thank you so much for being here today.
Speaker 1:Thank you for having me again. I love it. Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Thank you.