Meet Dave
For most of my life, I have had my head in the clouds, both literally and figuratively. At a very young age, I dreamt of airplanes and flying. Piloting remote-controlled airplanes was one of my favorite pastimes, and as soon as I was old enough to legally get my private pilot certificate, I did. I followed my love for aviation all the way up to the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, North Dakota where I earned a degree in Aerospace Sciences, majoring in Commercial Aviation. After my time in Grand Forks, a flight instructor position took me to Santa Monica, California. Flight instructing allowed me to truly appreciate the value of my knowledge and skill set that I had attained and cultivated through my time in North Dakota.
Unfortunately and fortunately, life plans change in unforeseen ways. In 2006 at the age of 26 I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. At that time the FAA had a “Blanket Protocol" against insulin-dependent diabetics (such as all Type 1's), so I lost my ability to receive and maintain a 1st or 2nd class medical. So there went my career in Commercial Aviation. This loss was devastating to me at the time. After a hard year of self reflection and trying to figure out a new career path, in 2007 I "landed" on Real Estate. Coming from a family of independent business owners both in real estate sales and home construction, along with a deep desire to help others, real estate was a natural and clear choice for me.
The Learning Law of Primacy:
“Primacy", the state of being first, often creates a strong, almost unshakable, impression. Things learned first are very difficult to erase. Therefore, “unteaching" something taught improperly is considerably harder than teaching a concept properly the first time.
It was imperative to me as a flight instructor that I taught my students with the utmost degree of accuracy, professionalism, and humble understanding. The stakes can be high when teaching someone to fly, and if a student is improperly taught, it could be the difference between life and death for them.
A similar set of circumstances exists in real estate. Fortunately, nothing that I can do as a Real Estate Agent should cause the loss of life, but it can be stressful. Real Estate is personal, it's financial, it's tactical and it's a whole lot of complexity in moving parts. It has been stated by a variety of sources, that buying or selling a home is one of the most stressful events in a person's life. An incorrect series of decisions in a transaction has the ability to transform an experience that, otherwise, has all the ingredients to be a wonderful one.
In my opinion, there is a right and a wrong way to buy and sell real estate. Every transaction should be a collaboration between many different parties with the client intimately involved at every stage. I feel it is at the root of my professional responsibility to teach my clients the right way, the first time. Through setting realistic expectations, communicating diligently, and clearly understanding my client's objectives, buying or selling can in fact be enjoyable!
“Hire a Teacher, Not a Salesperson." - Dave Ramsey
A true professional values education. I value that my participation in your real estate experience has benefited you and potentially propelled you into a better personal and financial position in life. I value being your trusted advisor and a visionary with sight of, and insight into, your “big picture." Solving problems and setting a plan of action to achieve a common goal via a logical process is what I do. I am a people person through and through, and I am mindful of the responsibilities I have to my clients in every transaction and with every referral I receive. My clients continue to bless me through their willingness to refer to me as "their" Real estate agent, and I can proudly say that 100% of my business is by referral or repeat business. I am in this business for you, and I am committed to being your life long real estate resource.
