Good Neighbor Podcast for the Greater Chattanooga Region
Connecting Business Friends to Local Neighbors!
Our goal is to enable business owners and executives such as yourself, who serve Cleveland and the Greater Chattanooga Area, to share your stories and connect with your neighbors residing in the nearby communities. Through the local projects and programs offered from the Friends & Neighbors Group, including The Good Neighbor Podcast, residents are able to learn more about local entrepreneurs and executives including the products and/or services your business offers them
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Good Neighbor Podcast for the Greater Chattanooga Region
The Realities of Real Estate and Investment with Chris Powell of Keller Williams Realty
Imagine having a real estate agent who brings not only market expertise but also in-depth construction knowledge to the table. Meet Chris Powell from Keller Williams Realty, who transitioned from a hands-on construction background to becoming a seasoned real estate professional and investor. Chris’s unique perspective allows him to offer invaluable insights during home inspections, which can be a game-changer for both buyers and sellers. We also discuss the perks of being a real estate agent, such as early bird access to prime investment opportunities and helping first-time homebuyers find properties with potential equity, especially in the competitive Chattanooga market.
Are you interested in making a secure investment with substantial returns? Chris breaks down the concept of hard money lending, explaining how it can be as safe and lucrative as traditional bank savings. With potential returns ranging from 7% to 15% annually, and safeguards provided by real estate attorneys and title companies, it's an investment avenue worth exploring. Chris also highlights the importance of understanding interest rates and leveraging home equity lines of credit effectively, coupled with the flexibility that comes with being an independent real estate contractor.
Think being a real estate agent is all about flashy lifestyles and quick money? Think again. Chris demystifies common misconceptions about the industry, shedding light on the demanding work, long hours, and financial responsibilities that define a real estate career. He emphasizes the value of effective negotiation, ongoing client support, and detailed consultations to understand buyers' visions. To top it off, Chris shares his passion for community support, urging listeners to stay connected for all their real estate needs and to champion local businesses in the greater Chattanooga region. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in real estate, from budding investors to seasoned professionals.
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This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Scott Howell.
Speaker 2:Hello, good neighbors, welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast brought to you by the Friends and Neighbors Group of the Greater Chattanooga Region. Again, I'll just repeat my name. The announcer told you I'm Scott Howell. I'll be your host for today. You know the reason that we put on this Good Neighbor podcast. Every podcast has their own theme and their own reason for being.
Speaker 2:But the reason for the Good Neighbor podcast we want to bring an awareness to the residents who live in our community regarding locally owned and or operated businesses in these communities and throughout the greater Chattanooga region. The reason for that is, in this day of corporate giants, sometimes people can forget that there are locally owned businesses out there. We're going to be meeting with a gentleman who's a real estate agent. So let me just say this while I'm talking about locally owned businesses, if you're aware of this or not, even though a real estate agent may be working under the banner of a large corporately or excuse me, corporate nationally known company, they're still an independent agent, which makes them self-employed. So always keep that in mind when you're dealing with someone in the real estate industry, that they do work for themselves, and we always want to encourage on this program as much as possible, work with businesses and people in the community who are supporting those locally owned names, because we wouldn't be what we are Our communities.
Speaker 2:Imagine what our communities would look like if we took all the independently owned businesses away and all we had left was a corporate giant. There wouldn't be much selection out there. So we really need to support these folks, and today I'm going to be introducing one of our good neighbors. His name is Chris Powell, my name's Howell, his name's Powell. Don't get us mixed up. I know we kind of look alike, but we both have beards.
Speaker 2:So you know, here we go Right. But here's Chris Powell. He's with Keller Williams Realty. Chris, thanks for being on the program with us today.
Speaker 3:Yeah, great. Good Tuesday everyone. Good Tuesday, scott. I appreciate you having me. It's a pleasure. I look forward to getting some information out there to the community today.
Speaker 2:Well, it's my pleasure too, and I'm always glad to meet another guy who knows how to part his hair.
Speaker 3:So yeah, I was going to say we do have the same haircut.
Speaker 2:Oh, hey, Chris, before we jump into talking about your real estate company and your business and how you kind of operate everything, I'd like to give you the opportunity, if you'd like to, to speak about maybe a little bit about yourself and your family.
Speaker 3:Yeah for sure. So I guess, on the real estate side of things, I've been in the real estate business, a licensed agent, for like nine years. I also had a construction company as a contractor. That knowledge really helps, you know, hand in hand there with the real estate business when it comes to buying, selling or investing. And then, speaking of investing, I'm also an avid investor, real estate investor. One of the reasons that inspired me to get my license was because I was investing and just needed someone to list and sell properties, find properties, and no better someone to do that than myself. So yeah, that's kind of where I'm at in the real estate business and then personal life, just mostly work. I put plenty of systems into play where I have lots of free time. That's another thing I like about real estate because I can be pretty remote most of the time and delegate some work out different things. Like I said, systems in place. That gives me a little more free time and respect my time as well and use it wisely.
Speaker 2:That's great. That's great. Well, chris, when talking about the real estate business, you said, of course you come from the construction background and home investing, and I know one of the one of my friends is also a home investor. She became a real estate agent because she said, it kind of gave her a peek into the investment community before maybe it came to light. So you do get to see some properties, maybe before they're listed or before the public themselves knows about those kind of things. But when you're reaching out to help people in the community that are looking to buy or sell their home, how do you feel that your experience benefits you to help them?
Speaker 3:Okay. So yeah, as I mentioned, with the contractor experience as I'm walking through, I feel that of course, I'm going to set myself on a pedestal here and say that I'm already kind of doing a home inspection when it comes to buyers really and sellers as well when I'm going to my listing performance when it comes to buyers really, and sellers as well when I'm going to my listing performance.
Speaker 3:So you know that knowledge kind of speaks for itself as I'm walking through and kind of keeps all clients really confident you talk about. Also, you know, finding deals before what we call off market or maybe like a pocket listing. So get you know. Of course network with other investors and other agents. We do get a lot of calls of off-market properties. That not only helps on the investment side but that also helps when I'm looking at helping a buyer out, especially first-time homebuyers that don't understand the process. Once I get these type of deals in, of course we have to list them, get them out there on the MLS and give some exposure.
Speaker 3:But I have the opportunity, you know, again to be able to negotiate for these buyers and, you know, possibly buy into a property where they're in an equity position, where, if you're familiar with the market. These days, that just doesn't happen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, yeah, that's. We're still in the Chattanooga area, still in the industry, where sometimes people are overbidding. Yeah, it's pretty wild. The Chattanooga area is still in the industry, where sometimes people are overbidding. Is that correct? Yeah, it's pretty wild.
Speaker 3:The market's interesting because you can have a home just several blocks set on the market for 60 or 90 days and two or three blocks away you can have a similar home. Go into multiple offers, like you talked about going above purchase price. Yes, it's a very interesting market.
Speaker 2:I want to ask your viewpoint on something. What do you think is the reason that so many people are choosing Tennessee to move from different parts of the country?
Speaker 3:Man, I'll tell you, I get asked that a lot and everyone always. It's funny because everyone always screams. You know, are they from California? That's the first question you know from California. Or even clients calling me saying, hey, we're not moving there from California. But you know, tennessee is a great place to raise a family. I mean, it's a good kind of down home state, of course, beautiful. You've got your mountains, you've got rivers and lakes.
Speaker 3:There's plenty of stuff to do here in tennessee if you're an outdoor person so yeah, I mean it's just, and then the cost of living is not bad at all and we look at the real estate market. You know there has been quite a bit of growth in chattanooga from that, but I mean we can all agree that that's got all across the nation yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2:I mean, you know, yeah, sometimes when you, when you kind of grow up in the south, you you think, wow, you know, I see the prices of some of the places around Cleveland and and you know, uh, different parts of Chattanooga and I think, whoa, that's, that seems high, then I think. Then I hear people moving from different parts of the country who sold their house for three, four times as more money for a smaller house, smaller lot and then they come here and buy, pay cash for a home because they got so much for their house. That's paid off, or something. I'm thinking, wow, I guess we're blessed and don't know it.
Speaker 3:Correct and that is correct and I mean that's a huge blessing for a lot of people, although you know you get some people in town with the market going so how they look at the equity that they've gained in their home from the spike in the market over the last several years, and that you know they're intrigued about that. But you know it's another thing. When they sell and have equity, you know where do you go then. I mean do you try to find a state with a lower, lower value or do you stay in Tennessee? And I mean you're really not benefiting yourself moving out of actually the square footage you're in. You you would have to downsize it and pay the same same purchase price. So yeah, it's a. It's very intriguing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a yeah I. I thought about that myself because I people buying because they have their house paid for and then they sell the house and they go. Wait a minute. I didn't think about trying to find another place that was reasonable. Now everybody's all the prices have went up and now they're looking around thinking, oh my goodness, why should I stay where I was at? At least I knew my neighbor was there.
Speaker 3:I'll tell you, scott, it is a great opportunity when you look at that also, because I mean it gives you, it gives you an incentive to kind of invest some of that equity. If you do downsize, maybe you even got. You know, I hate to say, go back home to parents or family, but go back home and stay for a while, and we're seeing a lot of people you know buying land, staying in campers while they actually build, which is another great value.
Speaker 3:You know the cost of billion building has went up substantially as well, but you're still. You know it's it's cheaper to buy, to build a home instead of buying a home, so that's a good idea. You know, take some money and do something like that and then when we look at investing, you know you get a lot of people that won't go into a home that needs repairs. Right, if you think about it, the repairs are not that bad. I mean, it gives you something to do on the weekends and again, you're just building equity and then you get to hold some of the equity from your other home that you sold.
Speaker 2:That's interesting Something you just said. You said it's cheaper to build than it is to buy, because I remember a few years ago they were saying just the opposite. So the market has flipped on that spectrum too.
Speaker 3:For sure. The only time you know, the only thing you're seeing with building is the time frame. So really, you know, most new construction loans are interest only. So sometimes you'll get in a situation where you're paying quite a bit of interest on your loan while you're waiting to build. So it's a balance. And another thing I really love about real estate, scott, is it's always a numbers game. So that's where I come in handy and I feel like I add a lot of value as a real estate agent from these various backgrounds, because real estate's a numbers game A lot of people don't understand. You get one price at $500,000. That doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be in at that $500,000. There's lots of negotiation there. Same with building. You could always negotiate, especially if you're building yourself. From a contractor standpoint, I've had people where I refer subcontractors that I can trust and see they're able to negotiate with that subcontractor and obtain a lower price to build. So you know there's another benefit there.
Speaker 2:So do you feel like that you have an added benefit? As you know, obviously every real estate agent can help someone buy a home or help them sell a home. Do you feel like that, due to your experience, that you have an added benefit?
Speaker 3:if somebody is looking, it may be beginning their investment journey because the experience that you have, Very much so I myself have a program that I'll do for, say, hard money lending, which is basically anyone can take capital lend to myself or other investors to do these flip projects and get the same as those building projects that I talk about. You know, and a lot of investors will get themselves in trouble there because of time frame again, but they'll be getting just interest on the money. They've been. You know that they're able to loan out. So that's something you know that I do a lot and encourage some people to do the same way.
Speaker 3:I'm actually working with a client right now that sold their home. They're moving to Florida so they're able to take some of the equity and invest into our investors and they're getting a monthly payment and that's not going towards the principal, that's just their interest on their money. So they've cashed out on their home and now they're getting additional payment to cover, you know, whatever they want to do to take a little time down in Florida before they buy or it was looking like they were going to just rent for a while Payment may cover the car payment. So you know it's a big consideration there.
Speaker 2:Is that something that you would like to discuss a little more here and make it, make people aware of the investment opportunity you're talking about, because I'm not sure if I'm aware of it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, a lot of people are not, and it's. It's another one of those things that, uh, where I have value there because you can, you can ask a lot of investors, there's a lot of uh, you know, I don't know what you want to call it newer investors versus the season.
Speaker 2:Most season investors know, but I've even known some of them that don't because that's the biggest thing with the investment world is you know how do we get money to?
Speaker 3:flip these properties Because a lot of them you can't take conventional loans out just because of the repairs needed. And then you got to find the repair money if you do. But yeah, it's, and it's structured very well. What scares everyone, scott, if I ask you right now, hey, speaking of, would you want to loan me $100,000? You would probably think I was crazy. So how's that secured, as most people ask? So it's secured.
Speaker 3:The same way a bank loan is, you're just the bank. So, same way, you're going through a real estate attorney, a title company, closing company basically they have attorneys on site or a real estate attorney. You're getting your promissory note, you are lien on the deed, your first lien holder on the deed, and it closes just like a real estate transaction. A lot of people do not understand that. So what they have, if you have an investor that goes fault, it's the same way. They get the property back. Just like a bank would. They have all the legal paperwork. It closed through the title company. They recorded again on the deed.
Speaker 3:So I mean it's, it's, it's very safe. And you know, at seven to 12, I've even seen 15% return on your money and that's not immature. I've even seen 15% return on your money and that's not amateurized, that's over a 12-month period. So that's why I say if you're borrowing $100,000 and you're looking at 10%, that's $1,000 a month. Right, and again it does not go towards the principal that goes in your pocket. So where else can you get a return like that? And it's secure. That's what I try to go over Once I walk people through that and kind of show them some deals that I've done and walk them through the actual closing process that's actually legal, with an attorney. Then they're on board and I think you could understand that as well if you had extra change laying around.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Is that something that you're involved in kind of trying to help people do, or is that something that tell me how that affects you?
Speaker 3:I do all the time. So I'm always looking for someone that's willing to, you know, loan hard money. So that's another thing. With the public, if you, you know, if you want to reach out to me on that cause, I flip properties myself. And again, the security, there is the experience, my contractor experience. I am very aware of the timeframe. I'm not in business to lose money, of course. So you know I I keep all my P's and Q's on that. So, yeah, what you know, welcome to reach out and I could walk anyone through the process, go over the paperwork with them, that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3:If anyone was interested with something like that and you, you could do it yourself too. That's a lot of things, you know. Maybe we're going away from the not really real estate as far as the brokerage firm side of it, production. But when you look at investing, if you're looking to invest, you know everyone has their aunt, uncle, friends that have some money laying around and it's anywhere from, I mean, $5,000 to half a million, a million even so you know just whatever you can pull together. Some of that could be. You could get a loan for the property but you need repair money so you may have an uncle that's going to loan you $30,000 at 10% interest. You know, I mean, it's really a no brainer.
Speaker 3:That's just money back in their pocket for extra dinner eating out through the week. You know whatever you want to spend it on.
Speaker 2:They're definitely not getting that out of the bank right now, are they?
Speaker 3:No, it's just such a great residual. You know it's a great great residual machine there.
Speaker 2:So you know what? I guess what I'm hearing is, you know, as I when I spoke at the very beginning, you know telling people that you know a real estate agent is an independent contractor, you're not employed by Keller Williams. It's kind of a long, tedious process but for all the listeners benefit out there, when you, when somebody gets a real estate license, you're licensed through the state and when you get it, you have to hang it under someone, you have to put that license under someone's name, and so here you're putting it with Keller Williams, but you are an independent contractor, meaning you're self-employed and free to do other things, and what we're speaking about now are some of those other things that you were already doing even before you got into the real estate business.
Speaker 2:As far as being licensed, I guess.
Speaker 3:Exactly and you can do it. You know both sides. You know you have policies to follow, that whatever brokerage you hang your license at has different policies. Right, a few rules on being able to list and sell your own properties, that kind of stuff. You have to tiptoe a little bit there, but it's not that strict if you understand and kind of educate yourself if you're looking to move in that direction. But yeah, it's pretty big, even a lot of sellers that don't want to list their property that may sell out. Right, you know, it gives me an opportunity to purchase the property as well and, and you know, if someone is not and this, this crossed my mind.
Speaker 2:You correct me if I'm wrong, chris, but if someone is not even wanting to move, but they have equity and they wanted to get a home equity line of credit and turn around and invest that money, uh, that that's. That's perfectly legal, isn't it you?
Speaker 3:would have to. Because as far as I you know, as far as I know, that if you're getting a line of credit on your home, you know you're looking at what are you paying for that line of credit. So again then, that numbers game is what a lot of people don't understand, because people get excited and be like well, you know, I'm going to pawn the title to my car and then let you borrow it for 10% interest, but what they don't understand is that title pawn is costing them 22% interest right.
Speaker 3:So these numbers you got to be careful with. You know thinking like that and doing stuff, Because you know what I see is a lot of people invest like that. It's like, oh, where can I get money to loan money, to get a return on it, and you know, are you really getting a return?
Speaker 2:Well, this is the perfect example of you having the experience. Here I am pulling something out of my app, but the experience you've got is saying whoa, whoa, wait a minute, slow down. And so that's where you could really benefit, helping other people to not make those mistakes, you know. So you know sounds like to me. You've got a lot of experience, not only in the real estate business but helping people buy and sell their home, but also a lot of other added benefits that people could, you know, really gain from and working with you, especially if they're looking at some type of real estate investment opportunity.
Speaker 3:For sure, a hundred percent, and I can educate, you know, anyone that's interested on that as well. And you know I work with a lot of investors. Every, almost everyone I talked to and you could probably agree to you know everyone says, ooh, I want to flip houses, I want to invest in real estate. You know there's all kinds of money in real estate we might get into that later, but that's the misconception as well, as real estate investors and real estate agents make so much money and they don't really do anything. But those are some other things that I like to walk people through and kind of give them some examples and actually show them kind of my day in, day in, day out.
Speaker 3:I journal a lot of my days I think I don't know if we were talking about this at the beginning of the show or just to a lot, for you know, every minute I'm setting an open house right now. So I'm using my time to both host an open house and be on this podcast Educating the Community. So I really try to use my time when I do use it, because I really love free time. I really love free time. So you know, a lot of times if I work five days a week, I'm able to get in what most people get in in two weeks. Um, if that makes sense to you, yeah.
Speaker 3:It makes a lot of sense, you know a lot, a lot of these things I like to be able to educate people on. You know different clients and stuff Cause everybody is the money struggle right, like we were just talking about. How can?
Speaker 2:I, how can?
Speaker 3:I take this and do this and have more. What happens is people get anxious and they're uneducated and they start making moves. A lot of times they get even in a position where they're deeper in debt.
Speaker 2:when we're talking about finances, that's what we don't want to do, that's for sure.
Speaker 3:I think I've given you too much information. This is a great real estate investing podcast. I see a lot of seasoned vets being like, hey, you're not supposed to be telling anyone those inside secrets.
Speaker 2:Don't get you any hate mail going here.
Speaker 3:No, they do compete with each other. So a lot of successful investors are quiet. They'll give you a few little, a few little pieces of the meat, but you know all in all they're, they're quiet and I don't mind at all to um really give you the whole bone. Um, that's another thing with real estate, you know there's a lot of real estate agents out there, but my value I you know I'm very confident and I want to say it's just priceless.
Speaker 3:Uh, because you can sit down with me and get educated, and everyone always asks you know that too. How do you? How you get business? There are so many agents. I've got a friend that's licensed. I've got an uncle. I've got you know, even my kid's teacher's a real estate agent. On the side I say, well, I'm the only one.
Speaker 2:I'm the only one. Well, chris you mentioned something a while ago about the myths and misconceptions, so let's go ahead and talk about that. What are some of the myths and misconceptions, whether it be buying or selling a home or real estate investing whatever you want to talk about.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so jumping into this, I've always been a very social person. I'm great at network and I can make friends anywhere. I've had several sales positions but and then, of course, had to sell myself in all of this, especially as a contractor as well. So very trusted and easy to do. You know, when I sat down with someone very confident, you know, just building that rapport and that's that's one thing I really enjoy about my business Just making friends, long lasting friends. After I make, you know, all of these transit transactions go forward.
Speaker 3:But the misconception is always you know a real estate agent, you know they're. They always have brand new top of the line clothes, watches, cars, houses, homes, they own property. You know they make millions and they don't really do anything. So you know, I used to tell people all the time as a contractor. It's kind of the same misconception there. It's just well, you know, all you really have to do is get you a truck and a tool belt right and you can go out and make just as much money. So I lead people the same way in the real estate world. I get all kinds of agents that come to me and new agents there. You know they're. They're just blown away by, like, how do you make money in this business? And it's tough. It's just so tough If you don't enjoy talking to people, which you know these days in time, you know it's getting getting a lot rougher A lot.
Speaker 3:A lot of people can find almost any information, even if it's not, you know, factual, on the internet, so they, they don't want to spend a lot of time and I even kind of noticed that, so I had to really kind of show, instead of, of course, talk value, show value. So that misconception is just. Sometimes it blows my mind because I don't understand, because you know it's almost like I hate to mention, like an election, If you don't have the knowledge of something or a fact of something, don, because you know it's almost like I hate to mention, like an election, if you, if you don't have the knowledge of something or a fact of something, don't, you know, don't really perceive. What I always tell everyone is like, hey, go get your license, hey, learn. You know, because I've even had a lot of people do that and come back to me and say, hey, there's no way I can work in this business. I've been doing it for six months, I haven't gotten one paycheck and I'm like well, how many hours do you have in six months? And they were like a lot more than my regular job. So that's.
Speaker 3:You know we get big checks. I will admit that. You know, I'm upfront and honest we do get big checks a lot of times from commissions. But when you look back at the hours again, the numbers game, you kind of divide that down and a lot of people don't understand.
Speaker 3:You know you're paying your brokerage, you're paying Uncle Sam when you're a high volume production. You know you pay an assistant. You know there's a lot of things that go into that. Transaction coordinators you may have, like a buyer's agent or a listing agent helping you out. So it's really you know that. Know that full check. Of course, like any paycheck, it doesn't go directly into your pocket.
Speaker 3:So that's another thing that I I kind of have to educate people on, because I get a lot of people of course want to negotiate when they're listing their home. Yeah, the commissions, and I never negotiate my commissions, because how would I be a commode negotiating your home if I sit here and negotiate easily with you on lowering my commission. So my value is always there. You know, when I'm talking with someone and I walk them through that again. That numbers game is what they don't realize is we say six percent, you know, three percent paid to a buyer's agent that brings a buyer usually, and if I bring a buyer I will reduce as well. But when you look at that percentage whatever that is that you're paying to sell your property the opposite of the value proposition is like we just talk on the. You know, would you get a home equity loan to let someone borrow to invest in real estate?
Speaker 3:We got to look at the numbers there. I mean, can, can, can this person that's listing and marketing your property save you? You know, 6% or maybe even more, because I've seen a lot of transactions that I've been through with owners that go into it themselves and they're like oh yeah, I sold the house. I know where to get the documents, the state documents. I know I'm familiar with the title company, so I'm just going to close it. Well, you know what? Did you negotiate? Did the buyer or seller pay any concessions? There is a. There's a big range of things there, you know. Did you save money on your homeowner's insurance? Did you get a home inspection? You know, cause if you're not aware that you needed one before you close a transaction and then, a month later, you run into more than 6% of the house when you're well, you're looking at a buyer side more than either way, more than 6% or whatever value you lost you're, you're about to lose. So, yeah, the numbers game is you got to stop and think a minute about that.
Speaker 2:And you have a lot of time to involve. Some people might not realize it, but I've had some real estate agents tell me you know I showed somebody a hundred houses before they finally made their decision Correct. Some real estate agents call it. We live in the HGTV generation now, where everybody thinks you show three houses and you find your dream home.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and then you're looking at post closing a transaction. A lot of times you'll get the seller of the property or the buyer of the property will continue to call you. You're like especially people from moving out of town. You're like the local service directory. It's like where can I find a good septic guy? Where's the county office to pay my property taxes? You know it's so. You're still putting in hours after you've earned. You know that money that commission.
Speaker 2:That's what you get for being such a nice guy, chris.
Speaker 3:Oh man, it's wild and I love helping people, don't get me wrong. But I always say you know, that's another thing. I like to talk to 10,000 people Because from those 10,000 people I'll get 500 transactions or say 1,000. That conversion rate is pretty low. But the more people you talk to, the more transactions you get. But that's another thing. I mean you waste a lot of time talking, like you were talking about showing. I try to be really detailed on my buyers. When I'm working with buyers, when I sit down with them to begin with and do a buyer's consultation, or if I meet them at the first home I'm showing and do a buyer's consultation, I'll go over them with you, know a lot of specifics, get a lot of detail on their end, so I'm not missing anything. And again that knowledge of me being a contractor, I really get their vision and get a feel for what they want. So after I've showed them about five homes, we're usually under contract.
Speaker 3:If not a lot of times after that I'll say, hey guys, let's go back. And you know, let's go back and revisit some details, because this last home I showed you guys had the perfect backyard and deck like you wanted and everything else was good with the house. You were looking for the property. So let's, let's sit down and kind of revisit. You know, because everybody's always changing their mind and once they start looking at properties they all run together or they see something that's added you know that they didn't realize that they couldn't live without.
Speaker 3:And I don't mind at all. Just you know, I just want to get straight. So another system is just so I can be organized and just really help you find what you want as quick as possible.
Speaker 2:Well, it makes sense because nobody comes into this going as quick as possible. Well, it makes sense because nobody comes into this going. I want to see a hundred houses before I make a decision. Nobody needs to do that, so it makes sense to go back and revisit, right?
Speaker 3:I mean a hundred percent. And I want to say you know, I don't know if you're familiar with this whole thing going on with the National Association of Realtors, with the big lawsuits, talk about work and hours. It's almost like getting another college degree with the things that have changed, with the forms, how you had to present marketing. Now a lot of the public does not know that. They're not, they're definitely not educated on that. Sometimes it takes a professional to educate them on that or they have to dig pretty deep to get that information so that you know we spend hours when something like what's happening right now and then we have to build other values and I you know what. What is good is it's going to weed out a lot of new agents because they're not going to know really how to do business and they're going to have to be really careful because they could be doing all this for no paycheck if they're not very, very careful and there's a lot of fines involved and that kind of stuff. So I tell a lot of people like I had a lot of agents and been to so many meetings and looked at a lot of this stuff, so many webinars and lots of different things through the associations and stuff. And I always tell agents because they're freaking out, they're like, hey, you know, I'm going to have to change my career.
Speaker 3:What I always say is, if you were doing your job right to begin with, you don't have anything to worry about, because now it's kind of restricted you to be that professional and actually get to that detail like we talked about, and revisit some different things and make sure you have all your documentation correct. Because you know, because you don't want to get to a closing table Knock on wood and I'm confident enough that it will never happen is I have never got. You know, you don't want to get to a closing table and realize that you as the agent has made a mistake. That could result in a lawsuit. You know, of course real estate agents have the errors and emissions insurance to cover a lot of that, but in some cases it could be fully your responsibility. It could come out of your pocket. The lawsuit could be geared towards you and your brokerage. So, yeah, lots of. As you can see, it's not a I guess you could say a walk in the park, or you know so and there's you know any.
Speaker 2:Anything that that pays well comes with a lot of responsibility. I don't care what it is in life, if it, if you can make good money at it, there's a lot of responsibility that comes with it. So any anybody who gets themselves and just thinks all you do is sit around and make money is is just not really thinking soberly about it. But Chris go ahead.
Speaker 3:I was just going to say we were always wanting to say if it was easy, everybody would do it. And if you look at real estate investing, everybody has tried it, especially over several years. They're still trying it and the worst thing is a lot of people won't listen to the information that you're that you're giving them. They have to learn Sometimes you have to learn the hard way right and that there's a huge, huge liability there.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, chris, if there was one thing I always like to ask this of everybody that I speak to if there was one thing about Chris Powell and your business as a real estate agent whether it's helping people buy or sell, or real estate investing, or whatever that you wish that all our listeners knew about the heart of your business, that they probably wouldn't know unless you shared it with them, and you'd like to share it loud and proud here today on the Good Neighbor podcast. What would that be?
Speaker 3:You know, really, just like I've been talking about, and kind of, what do you want to say? Not really a lecture, but, you know, just educating people. I have a thing in my CRS system. When I send stuff to people, um, it's kind of the backside of the tax suite for the counties, Um it says, you know, um, I think, uh, no, knowing that you really don't know. You know, and it's kind of that's kind of upfront and blunt, but I like being that way, it's just like you know.
Speaker 2:And then of course, I don't know everything.
Speaker 3:There's a lot of new, new things coming into play, as always, new laws and stuff like that as well. But you know I'm just up front with people. They know that they can get the knowledge they need to make the decisions they need to make when it comes to real estate buying, selling or investing from me. Because if I don't know it myself, I will either do the research or I will find someone that does know and set up a meeting, even if I have to, to get to get you in front of someone just to educate you. And uh, and it's just wonderful when you see that light come on in clients and clients eyes. You know just when they realize that you know and just how much they appreciate me guiding them through that. And then that again, that's another service that is not paid. That's just. You know something that I offer as an agent. You won't get that in a lot of people.
Speaker 2:That's good, good point, good point. So I want you to do this Take a moment and tell people how that they can find out more about Chris Powell, more about who you are, and how they can connect with you online or offline so, yeah, you guys uh can go to facebook.
Speaker 3:This sold home. Uh, it's my facebook page. You can also look me up, chris powell uh, facebook as well. A very outgoing. I try to do a lot of adventurous stuff, do a lot of. I used to race motocross, still ride some motocross paragliding, snowboarding, a lot of backcountry adventure stuff. So I always like to mix everything into fun.
Speaker 3:So you can get me there on Facebook, friend me, like my page, whatever. You can also Google me if you want to see some of my reviews that I've gotten. I need to work on that, but you can also Google me. Call me anytime at 423-421-0667. And when I say anytime, that's 24 seven. I will still take your call. If not, I will text with you and get back with you within 24 hours, which is which is something you don't see a lot Communicate very well. So, yeah, most all social media platforms. I'm also on Instagram Chris Powell and and then Chris Powell Keller Williams Realty. And if you want to come by and see me I'm hardly ever at the office, but 7158 Lee highway there is the Keller Williams office you can come by. Leave a message with Mary up front. She knows how to get in touch with me direct, immediately. She puts everything in my mailbox. She's a rock star. So, yeah, I'm easy, easy to find, very easy to find.
Speaker 2:Kudos to Mary, the rock star right. A hundred percent. She's awesome. Yes, well, Chris, it's been a pleasure meeting you here today, sir, and thank you so much for all the education and the time and the explanation that you put into this podcast recording today. I'm sure the listeners are going to really enjoy it and be very informative about everything that you've put out to us.
Speaker 3:So thank you, yes, scott, grateful for you and your time and allowing me for this opportunity.
Speaker 2:My pleasure, chris, and thank you for that as well, and to all the good neighbors of the Chattanooga region. I know that Chris hopes, after you've heard him go into explanations in detail, educating us about not only buying and selling our home and how the market is now, but also some things about real estate investing that he can help us with and teach us about and guide us through. I know he hopes that you'll keep him in mind when these things come about in your life, that you have that interest and reach out to him. Check out his Instagram, his Facebook pages, you know, keep his phone number, put it in your phone, keep him on speed dial, whatever you want to go by and see Mary and drop him a nice gift card for lunch or something you know. I'm sure he won't deny you that there.
Speaker 3:But keep him in mind. I was going to say you guys especially towards the investing side and return on your money. As far as lending man, you guys have got some value today for free and I don't have any books or CDs to give out that tell you different. But you can come to me direct and I'll give you lots of direction.
Speaker 2:Yeah, see, that's worth a gift card. That's worth it For sure. Definitely, Chris. We appreciate it so much, and you know and of course, I want to say to all the listeners out there thank you all for taking the time out of your day to visit with us today at the Good Neighbor Podcast. Always remember to support the locally owned and or operated businesses in the greater Chattanooga region, from Cleveland to Dalton, from Jasper to Benton. They're all important to us. This is Scott Howell of the Friends and Neighbors Group. Everyone, go out and make this a remarkable day.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the good neighbor podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNP Clevelandcom. That's GNP Clevelandcom. Or call 4, 2, 3, 3, 8, 0, 1, 9, 8, 4.
