Real estate, like any business, is about numbers – listings, showings, sales. But more important, and more abiding, than the stats are the relationships we build with our clients. Young professionals buying their first homes, growing families excited about upsizing, retirees excited about downsizing, and, sometimes, families moving on after the loss of a loved one. Our agent, David Steele, located the perfect Craftsman bungalow for his clients, a pair of first-time homebuyers. In conversation with the listing agent, he learned that the family selling the property was dealing with a personal tragedy. Based on David’s guidance, the buyers wrote a letter to the seller to tell her about their family and how much they would treasure her home. Second, they offered to handle all the labor and expense to pack the seller’s home and move her at no cost. They also offered to store her belongings for three months until she found the right place for the next chapter of her life. Those gestures distinguished their offer from the many others the seller received and led to a successful sale. For the integrity, compassion, and expertise David exhibited throughout this transaction, he was honored with the 2018 Customer Experience of the Year Award from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® — a global community of more than 565 independent real estate firms. The prestigious award honors the brokerage and agent who deliver the most exceptional client experience of the year. At Blanchard and Calhoun, we value smart, strategic, and empathetic agents, because making deals isn’t always about the dollars. You’ve got to bring your head and your heart to the table.