10/26/2026
🏡 12 YEARS IN REAL ESTATE! 🎉
October 2014, I officially became a Realtor. Hard to believe it's been 12 years already!
Rather than just patting myself on the back, I thought it would be more fun to share some of the things I've seen, experienced, and learned along the way.
12 things from 12 years in real estate...
1. You never know what you're going to encounter at a showing. 🦝
I once showed a house that backed up to a creek where the raccoons had apparently gotten VERY comfortable around people. One casually walked up and touched my client's leg. Apparently the neighborhood wildlife was part of the welcoming committee!
2. Vacant houses aren't always empty. 💪
I once walked into a vacant house and found a stuffed moose bench pressing in the basement. No explanation. Just Bullwinkle getting in his chest day. (Yes, there's photographic evidence.)
3. Family support comes in all forms. 😂
Back when Rachel and I were doing open houses together, her dad would regularly stop by. If other visitors were around, he'd make sure to loudly announce on his way out, "I'll send that offer over tonight!"
Nothing like your father-in-law trying to drum up a bidding war for you!
4. You never know what a house is hiding.
We once started knocking down walls in one of our own homes and discovered an entire fireplace that had been covered up! Every house has a story, and sometimes it's literally hiding behind the walls.
5. Being right doesn't always pay.
I've lost listing opportunities to agents who suggested a higher asking price, only to watch those homes sit on the market and eventually reduce to where I originally recommended.
But I've learned that being right doesn't do anyone much good if I can't effectively communicate WHY. My job isn't just knowing the market. It's helping people understand it well enough to make informed decisions.
6. Other Realtors aren't my enemies. They're my colleagues.
Omaha is a big city with more than enough opportunity to go around. Some of the best things I've learned have come from other agents, and I try to share just as much in return. The better we all become, the better we can serve our clients.
7. Real estate is less about the art of selling and more about the art of communication.
Listen. Ask questions. Understand what people are actually trying to accomplish. Sometimes that even means helping someone figure out what they really want in the first place.
Then it's about finding the smartest, most efficient path to get them there.
8. You can choose your house, but you can't choose your neighbors.
I've encountered some interesting neighbor situations over the years, to put it mildly! 😂 Do your homework beyond the property. Visit the neighborhood at different times, explore the community, and get a feel for what everyday life might look like there.
9. You can build a great house almost anywhere, but you can't recreate a great community.
You can remodel a kitchen, finish a basement, or even build your dream home. But you can't pick up that house and move it closer to your friends, family, or the places you love spending time.
Sometimes finding the right home is more about finding the right place to build your life.
10. Sometimes the biggest limitation is what you believe is possible.
I didn't grow up with much money, and looking back, I think that created some limiting beliefs about what I could accomplish financially. Before Rachel, I honestly hadn't even considered that I might someday own a home.
Real estate completely changed that perspective.
Not only have we been fortunate enough to become homeowners and help others do the same, but we've also had opportunities to purchase investment properties, renovate homes, and learn firsthand how real estate can help build long-term wealth.
It's changed the way I think about money, opportunity, and what's possible for our family, hopefully for generations to come.
11. The numbers are pretty cool, but the people mean more.
Twelve years of helping people buy, sell, build, and invest in real estate. Hundreds of transactions, countless showings, negotiations, inspections, and relationships along the way.
I'm proud of what we've accomplished, but it's the people who've trusted us with some of the biggest decisions of their lives that make this career worthwhile.
12. None of this happens without Rachel. ❤️
Above all, the biggest thank-you goes to my wife and business partner.
Back in 2014, Rachel saw qualities in me that made her believe I'd be good at this business. She encouraged me to get my real estate license and take the leap into working alongside her.
And it was a pretty significant leap. Two people relying entirely on commission income. No guaranteed paychecks, no employer-provided benefits, and plenty of uncertainty.
We were betting on ourselves and each other.
She believed in me before I fully understood what I was capable of, and we've spent the last 12 years building something together. From those early open houses to our investments, our business, and now raising our two boys, it's been quite a journey.
I'm incredibly grateful for her belief in me, her experience, her hard work, and everything she's contributed to what we've accomplished together.
And to all our clients, friends, family, fellow Realtors, and everyone who has trusted us, referred us, supported us, or simply cheered us on along the way, THANK YOU!
It's been a heck of a ride. I've learned a lot, made plenty of mistakes, met some incredible people, and hopefully become a little better at this job every year.
Here's to the next 12! 🏡🥂
