Selling the Dream: A Podcast for Resort & 2nd Home Real Estate Agents
Ep. 143: Shawn Clayton Shares How Business Has Thrived Since 1930
More than 60 years and counting - at least, that’s what I thought before I started talking to Shawn Clayton.
Turns out, Clayton and Clayton was founded in 1930, and the family-owned real estate business has been going strong in the Jersey Shore area ever since!
But how can a business thrive so long? In an industry plagued with burnout, and a short lifespan, any small business that has spanned generations must be something special!
You’ll be amazed as Shawn is sharing his strategies that a lot of what he does is implement the practices we’ve been talking about, and being consistent for years.
Shawn is here this week on the Selling the Dream podcast to share how he has stepped into the family business, and he pulls back the curtain to share some of his best strategies to continue to build a business to last for future generations.
Want to be inspired how your actions today can create a legacy business? Don’t miss this week’s episode of the podcast!
Before we dive in: start your new year with an amazing network of the best second home agents. Make sure that you create your free profile on the Second Home Agents website? Go over and get started: it’s FREE to join. Click here to register, fill out your profile and get listed today.
Highlights of this episode:
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Tom introduces Shawn Clayton and his business.
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Shawn is a 4th generation agent! The family business has been active since 1930.
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Since they are less than an hour and a half from New York City, Shawn is able to work with many leads from the city.
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Go after the loyalty business: when you’ve been around for a while, you’re able to capitalize on connections that you’ve spent years building!
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Shawn shares a little bit about how real estate has changed during nearly a hundred years of business: for 3 generations, nothing really changed in how the team marketed, and in the last generation, everything has changed!
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Trying to keep up with all the changes? Put yourself in places to get educated! Go to conferences, tradeshows - anything that will help you learn and grow and keep up!
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You have to be patient to work a secondary market: the gestation period can take years.
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Go to places that help you connect with people. Those connections that will bring you business are intentional. You have to get into communities where you can get to know people.
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Be intentional about keeping in touch with your leads: you never know when you’ll get a followup from someone who had a family member purchase from you years ago.
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Make yourself a resource: build trust so that when people have a need, they will reach out to you.
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Every transaction you make will direct and lead you to where you’re supposed to be.
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Creating a family business can build a lot of loyalty.
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When you’re around for generations, people trust that you will still be there in 10, 20, 30 years.
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Shawn shares how they are using social media to market themselves: the key is to keep it real and don’t be afraid to fail.
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Tom and Shawn talk about the reality of working with your spouse: it can be rough, and there is a learning curve.
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Shawn has structured his team to be a SEAL team: every member is cross trained.
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Offering new services can bring in a new clientele! Shawn shares how they expanded their services to include short term rentals.
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Those renters can often be turned into leads for future purchases - it’s all about the follow up!
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Shawn shares how the business has survived through all the ups and downs in the market.
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Shawn’s #1 piece of advice for new agents: connect with someone who knows what is happening so they can be your mentor and help you learn and understand the business.
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Make sure you subscribe to the Selling the Dream podcast so you don’t miss any new episodes: we’ve got great plans for 2020! Leave a review: you never know when it will be read on the show!
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As always, thanks for listening. Don’t forget, you’re not selling a home: you’re selling the dream.
See you next time!