Richard Miller - Realty Executives Elite Ltd, Brokerage

Description

I grew up on what I call a combination farm. We raised milk producing cows, meat producing cattle, work horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys, cash crops of hay and vegetable crops of potatoes. During my 20 years as a full time farmer I learned a great deal about what commodities were, well before I heard the term. The meaning quite simply, is something of use, advantage or value. We never raised or grew anything for fun, there always had to be a use or a value. Raising livestock meant calves in the spring and potential of good market value in the fall. If all went well, one could count on a return of some kind that would in time turn a profit, allowing the farmer to either increase the herd or increase their lands.
Today’s farmer is not so different from yesterday’s farmer. An increasing challenge, though, is that the small farmer has a difficult time making a living for his/her family. As demand for larger amounts of crops, livestock, vegetables and other valued commodities goes up, so does the farmer’s need to become larger or perish. Some can afford to grow, while others cannot. Today, as a Realtor and Farmer, I see the similarities and changes that have taken place in the world of farming, bringing a new dimension that shows the future an uncertain part of our plans. My interest is to provide a common sense approach to the Seller and the Buyer of farms here in Ontario. I am not the expert in every kind of farm and sometimes need assistance regarding operation and procedure. Where I am a professional is in the value of your farm and what you can get out of your farm now or in the future. This section is dedicated to providing you, the farmer, with a genuine, honest approach to selling or buying a farm. What will I do for you? -Understand and listen to what the farmer has to say about his/her farm -Dig deep for all the information, so as to be able to convey this information to the next farmer. -Walk the farm, feel the sand, record the crops that grew in the fields. -Measure the yields of each crop -Provide a documented account of the crop management system -Tiled systematically or randomly -Develop a relationship with the farmer. -Understand their goals now and in the future. What makes me a successful seller? This is usually phrased a different way to me, such as, “Why should I hire you to sell my farm?” My answer is always the same, I would suggest that you find two other Realtors to compare my services with, and then you make the decision as to which person you want to hire. Most don’t go through the exercise, but a few do. After a week or so the answers are usually very similar: ”Richard, we want you to sell our farm.” Bragging or telling someone, especially a hard working farmer, that you are the best is really meaningless to a farmer. If you tell them that you will try your best to sell their farm and you will give it 100% effort, that means something to them, for that is all anyone can ask of anyone. Most Realtors can sell a farm in their own neighborhood, given the time, patience and a connection with someone who wants to buy. But when the farm is a hard sell; price might be too high; farm not a great producer, then that same Realtor can fail miserably and may resort to a price change. In doing this, they usually cut the price more than is necessary to sell the farm. A better approach is to market to the masses. Realtors know that advertising and marketing cost money, money they may never get back in their pockets, if they don’t sell the property. Some would simply not spend it and ask you, the seller, to take the hit by lowering the price. Simple mathematics states that the more people that know your farm is for sale, the more buyers will be available to buy it. How has my experience allowed me to excel to my current status? Farm experience and knowledge are key when it comes to – planting crops, harvesting crops, raising livestock, selling and buying livestock. Unless you have driven a tractor or a combine, and harvested crops, you cannot understand the life of a farmer. This experience is something that cannot be learned from a book, but rather, the school of HARD KNOCKS, which can be trying and unrewarding at times. Farm work is hard. Not all people want to work on a farm and in the last decade or so, you can see a simple graduation away from the farm. Few of us want to work that hard. Even with the innovation of new technology and machinery, farming is still one of the hardest jobs that needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week attention. It needs dedication, strong backs, perseverance, and a drive to succeed. You have to love what you do. Real Estate is what you make it. Yes, you have to love it too. All the aspects mentioned in the above paragraph as a farmer, relate similarly to the profession of a Real Estate Agent. Some attributes of a good Realtor would include; being professional, ethical, a good listener, an understanding delegator, a negotiator and someone who truly cares about the well-being of his or her client or customer. Hard work means getting the message out to the public and insuring that they understand what you can do for them – today, tomorrow and in the future. Also, being educated not only in farming but in the Real Estate industry, in law, in regulations and procedures, valuation, pricing, the market and other aspects of the sale of the property. Society may think farming is easy, it is not. People think real estate is easy, but few are successful. As a Farmer and a Realtor, I have worked in both fields and will tell you first hand that you need a little bit more than luck – you need perseverance.