Big Canoe Caravan: Competitive Cooperation Benefits Local Community
Big Canoe Caravan
From Left to Right: Chip Perry, Tana Brewster, Karin Elliott, Chris Fries, Dave Burlingame, Shelby Collins, Doug Hosmer, Kay Born, Tom Beechler, Kelly Beechler, Carolyn Littel, Lou Ellen Dean, Linda Travis, Jack Camprini, Rosemarie Heindel, Margo Vallone, Peter Vallone, John Rasmussen, Nicki Milligan, Mike Yelle, Pat Thuman, Charlie Ragonesi, Linda Carrig, Bert Sellars
I am proud to say that I am part of the Big Canoe Caravan with a regular weekly crowd of around 20 plus agents. Every other Tuesday agents from the local area real estate companies meet to view the newly listed Big Canoe homes for sale. Nine participating companies take turns organizing and planning the routes for the Big Canoe homes (average number of around 8 homes) that we see during each caravan. The purpose of the caravan is not only to view the new listings but to give honest feedback regarding price and appearance. We all try to squeeze into as few cars as possible to eliminate a traffic jam and we head over the mountains and valleys of our gated green paradise. Since all the homes here are so unique it is always exciting to see the latest and greatest homes on the Big Canoe block. From cozy weekend cabins to fabulous full time estates, the agents have an ever changing biweekly sample for all their customers. It is not uncommon for agents to walk out of a home and start dialing the phones if they find the perfect fit for a customer. The last home on caravan often has a lunch where we get to sit back and catch up with each other in a peaceful mountain setting.
Working as an agent in a community like Big Canoe is unique in many ways. In keeping with the serene environment that makes the Big Canoe Community as wonderful as it is, real estate signs are not permitted in yards or windows. This poses a challenge to many outside agents who are not familiar with the roads and numbering system here in Big Canoe. Trust me, I speak from experience! Working with the agents up here is a pleasure because we all depend on ourselves and each other to sell these homes. We all share a spirit of competition which I like to call competitive cooperation. Don’t hesitate to ask the following questions:
- Do they live in the community or visit often?
- Have they sold many homes in Big Canoe?
- Are they affiliated with the Big Canoe Caravan?
- Do they have a lot of listings in the Big Canoe Community?
Whether you are looking for your Big Canoe dream home or ready to list your current Big Canoe home, it is so important to work with an agent that knows the territory and works well with the surrounding companies. You will know you have the right agent if he or she is comfortable answering these questions. Chances are they will know the Big Canoe home inventory and will help you find the perfect home in half the time of an agent who is unfamiliar with this neighborhood.
Happy House Hunting!
Karin Elliott
IBA Mountain Homes
May 18th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
AWESOME!! Thanks Karin.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Who wouldn’t want to buy a home from this distinguished group? Great job Karen!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Thanks Chip and Jack! It is a pleasure to work with you both!
May 18th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Karin, nice blog about the local agents working together to sell homes in Big Canoe. I think it’s a very positive statement about the local brokerages/agents. Well done!
May 18th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Thanks Dan,
XOXO
~Karin
May 19th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Hi Karin,
Even though we’re happily taking a few days vacation in Yellowstone, I couldn’t help but send a big HOORAY to you for your great blog and for being the first clever Agent to think about sharing our co-op caravan story with others. Sometimes, we may take a good think for granted and forget that our Big Canoe RE community is the “exception”, rather than the norm.
Margo and Peter Vallone
May 19th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Miss Karin, I have always known that You Are Wonderful”. You have so much energy and really work at this. Thank you for posting this picture and writing such a nice piece about the caravan and agents. Big Canoe is wonderful and as Margo said “The Exception” and so are you. You go girl!!!!
May 19th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Karin, nice job! Clever and well done! Keep up the good work!
May 19th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
@ Margo-Have a great vaca! How do I fax a contract to Yellowstone, via smoke signals?? HA!
@ Lou Ellen- I purposely put your smiling face front and center! Thanks for the kind wirds Lady!
@ Tana-Our “nearly pending” deal proves that we’re all in this for the long run and we might as well work together on it!!
It’s great to see my agent friends posting on here. Thank you all so much!
May 20th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Karen,
Thanks for the article about our awesome Big Canoe Caravan Agents. It is so unusual for real estate agents to work together for the “Good of the Community”. It has been my pleasure to be a part of the Big Canoe Caravan for the past 7 years. The network of “resale agents” in Big Canoe is amazing.
Marty Anderson
May 20th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Marty,
You are so right!
I also need to mention that not all of us are featured in this picture. It is tough to get everyone together at once. Marty Anderson is a regular along with Babs Price, Sandra Jones, and many other agents too!
~Karin