Monday Morning Match is a simple post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
A Cooler Full of Conversations
My clients moved over a month ago, but between some unexpected life issues and travel commitments from each side, we just haven’t been able to connect since the closing on their new house. We have traded texts and phone calls and tried to work out the miscellaneous issues and details that every new homeowner encounters after moving in, but just couldn’t find a time to catch up.
It’s always a treat to me to see my clients in their new “home” once all the boxes have been emptied, the furniture is set up and in place, and they are starting to feel like “part of the neighborhood.” One of my favorite things to do for a “house-warming gift” is to stop by with a local pizza and some local craft beers because nothing says “welcome home” like a fresh pie from a local pizzeria and some suds from a nearby craft brewery. Something I hope is that the new homeowners not only enjoy the food and drink but might enjoy it enough to “adopt” the pizza shop or craft brewery as ‘one of their own local favorites to share with guests and new local connections.
I finally caught up with Lee & Marla in their new home south of downtown Columbus this past weekend. It was a beautiful sun-splashed day in Central Ohio but the mid-afternoon time we were all available was probably a bit too early for pizza but never too early for a tasty local craft beer. I did bring some chips and salsa and some amazing store-bought street tacos that I had discovered a few months ago – they are a “can’t miss” when it comes to the perfect compliment for the cold craft beers. (Message me if you want to hear about these secret delights)
After I arrived, Marla gave me a quick tour of the house and I observed the personal touches they have made since moving in. The way they had converted “the house” into “their “home” was amazing and reminded me of the importance of my role as a guide in the real estate journey. I was excited that they had invited their daughter Sarah and son-in-law Jay and newborn grandson Charlie to join us, so we would have plenty of topics to chat about beyond the stereotypical subjects; real estate and weather.
Unique & Different
Knowing my clients had well-tested palates for both wines and beers, I excitedly opened up my cooler full of assorted beers*. I couldn’t wait to offer drinks to my hosts, hoping I would have brought a few that they hadn’t tasted before. I had selected a local beer from Columbus and another from an outstanding brewery in Southern Ohio, along with a few “special favorites” from breweries I had recently visited in South Carolina, New York, and Tennessee. I even had one “wild card” that most beer drinkers have only heard about or read about on websites or craft beers apps.
Over the next few hours, we enjoyed hazy ales and IPAs, a fabulous mocha blonde stout and we even shared one of, arguably, the best beers in America – Heady Topper from Alchemist Beer in Vermont. We also enjoyed the chips and salsa and street tacos, but most importantly, we enjoyed taking turns answering questions, listening to everyone’s stories, and simply engaging about life. Any lull in the conversation or moment of silence was greeted by a new beer to taste and that fired up another story-telling session.
We talked about real estate, we talked about travel, we talked about family, and we talked about life. You know…the same things people talk about every day. It was such a rewarding few hours that I only wish we would have done it earlier, but hopefully, we will all do it again soon. We connected to celebrate a new chapter, to remember our journey in this new place, and to envision what might come next.
Just like every craft beer is brewed in its own unique and special way, so too is each client relationship. Of all the ingredients – barley, hops, and malt….or personality styles, behavior characteristics, and a mixture of wants and needs, there is no “perfect” blend but, there certainly are some craft beers and client relationships that you’d love to grab again.
Here’s to more discoveries of new flavors and new friendships. Whether it’s beers or buyers, street tacos, salsa. or sellers, you never know what might be waiting to surprise you tomorrow. Just be sure to approach the day with an open mind, and empty cooler, and a desire to build relationships, solve problems and have fun.
*Beer served included…
Huger Street IPA – Palmetto Brewing Company
Hop Perfect IPA – Yazoo Brewing
All-In IPA – Druthers Brewing Co.
Who Cooks For You? – Jackie O’s Brewing
World Court Mocha Blonde Stout – Legal Remedy Brewing