You expect to find real estate brokers touring properties or preparing contracts. But what about after hours? Two local brokers share their rather surprising hobbies. More than pastimes, these activities bring the agents home within themselves — which could be the key to unlocking successful home buyer and seller transactions.
Angling for Patience
Knee-deep in a river, Cinnamon Kasnoff is at peace. “I took a fly-fishing class in my early twenties, and I loved it!” she says.
To be a successful angler demands patience, as well as a deep understanding of someone else’s perspective — namely, a fish’s predilections in a body of water.
These skills transfer directly to Kasnoff’s three decades of work as a broker. “I’m not pushy,” explains Kasnoff, a Broker Associate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “I’m a listener, not a talker — which is huge because I hear my clients and what they need, and I ask questions.”
When in Doubt, Get Cranky
Clambering up rocky terrain on two wheels… brain churning… muscles screaming — this is Zen enlightenment for Hal Lott. The Associate Broker for Sotheby’s notes, “Being in a three-hour mountain bike race above 9,000 feet — there’s a drive. Don’t give up. Find the best way to navigate through whatever the next obstacle may be.”
Lott applies this mindset to navigating home buyer and seller negotiations. When the path gets bumpy, Lott gets cranky — meaning he keeps cranking the pedals.
“You can often find solutions and get everybody to that finish line if you understand what people’s needs are and just keep going.”