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Michelle Sandlin

Back to Basics

October 20, 2010

By: Michelle Sandlin
Director of Global Relocation Services

I recently wrote an article for MOBILITY Magazine (the monthly publication of Worldwide ERC), which appears in this month’s publication. The article is entitled, “Strategic Planning–Back to Basics.” In the article I address the fact that as organizations continue to modify budgets in response to the economic downturn, that greater emphasis has been placed on getting back to basics. This can be seen throughout the real estate and relocation industries as a whole. And by “basics,” I mean refocusing on the fundamental business elements and habits that may have been neglected or overlooked during recent times of business hardship…you know, the ones that made us successful.

I think that this all starts with strategic planning and the idea that you need a road map to get you where you want to go. In so doing, companies evaluate where they are, where they have been, where they want to go and the steps needed to get there. Strategic planning often calls for a SWOT Analysis, in which you look at an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. You have to look at what is working, what is not, what changes need to be made, etc., in order to begin taking steps in the right direction, which should be is towards your overall goal, whatever that may be. Remember, a failure to plan is a plan to fail!

For many organizations, back to basics means placing more value on their clients and customers in the form of renewed customer service and service delivery. It is often much more difficult to keep a client or customer than to get a new one. Thus we have to provide the highest quality of customer care, and continue to differentiate ourselves from the competition and always look to increase our value-added proposition in the eyes of our clients.

Back to basics also means that we need to look at the ways in which we train within our companies and organizations, and the ways in which we can partner with our clients to provide their teams with training and educational opportunities. I don’t think that there is anyone out there who would not benefit from additional training, no matter how seasoned they are in their profession. Especially with all of the technological advances being made everyday, keeping your skills sharp and keeping current on technology is more important than ever before. For example, as I write this, our company is conducting an iPad training class for our agents. We recognize the importance of staying on the cutting edge of technology, but at the same time we have to provide the proper training to make sure that our team is effectively using the technology.

Darren Moore, Web Marketing/IT Manager (John Daugherty, Realtors)

If we continue to re-commit ourselves and our companies to the fundamental practices that have made us successful, then I feel strongly that we will be poised for continued growth and success.

To read the full article, please click here: “Strategic Planning–Back to Basics.”

To view my other posts, please click here: Houston Relocation Blog.

Interview with an Expat on Moving to Houston

October 17, 2010

By: Michelle Sandlin
Director of Global Relocation Services

Tim Hartley

I recently had the opportunity to visit with Tim Hartley, an Expat from the U.K. who relocated to Houston with his family earlier this year. We are both members of the British American Business Council (BABC) Houston, as well as members of its All StARS Group, which meets monthly for breakfast to discuss business opportunities and ways in which we can help each other from a business and personal standpoint. I always enjoy speaking with Tim and hearing how he and his family are adapting to life in Houston, and thought it would make for an interesting post on my Houston Relocation Blog.

Tim works for Harvey Nash International Search organization, which was established over 20 years ago and has grown to be a distinctive force in international Executive Search and Leadership Services across the key territories of North America, Europe and Scandinavia. Tim leads Harvey Nash’s Global Energy and Infrastructure Practice, which accounts for their business in Energy and Utilities, Transportation and Civil Infrastructure. Their clients include some of the largest multinationals worldwide and also specialist start-ups in the high technology sectors.

During our candid conversation, Tim shared quite a bit with me about his move to Houston and the impact it has had on him professionally and on his family personally. Here are the highlights from our conversation.

What was the reason for your move to Houston?

He said that it was a mutual decision between him and his employer, Harvey Nash. According to Tim, “We saw an opportunity to develop our international energy and utility practice in the United States and specifically in Houston. It was an existing business that we had, where we didn’t have a focus on Houston, which is the largest market that is open to us from an energy perspective. I was chosen and also volunteered for coming over here and setting this business up for us.”

When you first arrived, what was the most challenging thing for you and/or your family?

From a professional standpoint, Time said, “It was challenging to develop the deep relationships that are needed to succeed in business here. It is very much a relationship driven environment where people tend to go with what they know. So being an existing organization with a strong track record didn’t mean as much as being the person who has always done it for a particular company.” On a personal level, Tim said there are a lot of things to do when you move to a different country, especially like the U.S., such as new schools, doctors, dentists, social security numbers, driver’s license. Then there are little things like not knowing what stores to go to when you need something specific. Tim said, “What we have found is that everyone that we have come in contact with has been friendly, has been helpful and supportive of what we are trying to do.” He said that fortunately too, there is a really strong Expat community from which they have been able to draw support in Houston.

What was your first impression of Houston?

“Everything takes longer to get to than you think it should because of traffic and the fact that you are covering some fairly large distances to go someplace that seems comparatively close,” Tim said.

What do you like best about living in Houston?

He said that he likes the weather this time of year. More specifically, Tim said, “I like the fact that I can get home at a sensible time to see my children. I like the sense of opportunity here, and while it’s a challenge to break into this market I feel that once you have, that people start to recognize and respect the things that you do for them. If you live up to your word and live up to the things you say you are going to deliver, then people really respect that.” Tim said that there is also the commute time, which is 3 miles compared to 3 hours on a train round trip back home.

To read more, click on: Houston Relocation Blog

John Daugherty, Realtors Participates in Houston Relocation Professionals Events

October 11, 2010

By: Michelle Sandlin
Director of Global Relocation Services

Michelle Sandlin & Julie Hoopingarner

John Daugherty, Realtors recently participated in back-to-back Houston Relocation Professionals (HRP) events. The company was a Gold Sponsor for HRP’s Third Annual Golf Tournament at Willow Fork Country Club in Cinco Ranch. As an HRP Board Member, I was asked to be the event photographer, while one of our agents, Julie Hoopingarner, played in the tournament.

As in previous years, this year’s tournament benefited Candlelighters, which is a charitable organization that provides emotional, educational and practical assistance to children with cancer and their families treated at the Texas Medical Center and/or who reside in the 13 counties of the greater Houston area.

Cheri Fama & Michelle Sandlin

On the morning following the Golf Tournament, HRP held its September Event, entitled “Get Elevated.” John Daugherty, Realtors’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cheri Fama served as a panelist for an open discussion on home sale programs and trends affecting the relocation industry.

Cheri had just returned from the LuxuryRealEstate.com Fall Conference in Seattle and shared her insight regarding the current Houston housing market as compared to other areas of the country. “Depending on where you are in the United States, you can have a completely different view of the housing market,” said Cheri. In Houston, we have not had the plummeting prices and depressed markets as seen in other parts of the country.

Cheri said that that when agents meet with transferees, factual information delivered in a business-like manner is much more effective today than a fluffy marketing presentation.

She also stressed the importance of having agents who are specifically trained to handle relocation business and who intimately understand the relocation home sale process. “Relocation is not for every agent and never has been,” stressed Cheri. As I have always emphasized, agents who are specifically well trained in relocation should only be handling relocation business in a real estate company. These agents have to stay on the cutting edge of the training needed and required by the relocation companies to truly be “relocation agents.” As a company, we take this very seriously.