Volunteering: 5 Reasons Why You Should & 5 Easy Ways to Get Started

Why You Should Volunteer

1. Networking
   The number one reason to volunteer is to network with others. Getting out in various neighborhoods is your opportunity to meet lots of people. And these people can become future buyers, sellers, and business partners for you.
2. Exposure
   When you meet people, you have an opportunity to get your name out, talk about your real estate business, and what you know about the state of your market. No amount of flyers, e-mail or Facebook posts can equal the impact of in person interaction and exposure.
3. Bonding
   Many times people participate in an organization because it’s near and dear to them. When you meet people who like the same things that you do, you feel closeness with them. And people feel comfortable doing business with people who share their interests.
4. Goodwill
   Volunteering creates goodwill; never underestimate the power of goodwill. It creates positive feelings all the way around. And people feel better doing business with people with whom they share goodwill and good memories.
5. Skills
   Volunteering often involves the soft skills of customer service, working with many people in a team, and communicating with those people. Volunteering can help you develop these skills which are crucial in business… and in life.

Easy Ways to Get Started Volunteering

1. Join the Chamber of Commerce
   Become active in your local chamber of commerce. Through events such as mixers and networking luncheons, you can gain exposure and develop local business contacts that could be helpful to your business.
2. Provide a First-time Home Buyers Seminar
   Even with all of the Internet resources available, first-time homebuyers are usually a little overwhelmed with looking for a home, and what to do when they find it. Why not provide a free first-time homebuyers seminar for those potential clients.
3. Collect donations
   Find a local charity that is in need of supplies, like a food bank or the local animal shelter. Regularly let your current clients know that you collect supplies at your office and drop them off. You will garner a lot of goodwill from the organizations and be able to make that personal connection with people who feel strongly about the charity you support!
4. Organize a town clean up or other service(s)
   No matter where you live, there is always something that needs to be done: from picking up the trash on the main road, pulling the weeds in the town square, or painting walls at a township building. Contact your local municipal government, town historical society, or the parks and recreation committee. It will beautify the area and make it a more desirable location for new buyers!
5. What do you do?
   We know that you many of you volunteer in your own areas, so I thought you could give me #5. If you know some ways to get involved, share them in the comments!

As I said in the beginning, volunteering is its own reward but in a business where personal interaction is paramount, let potential clients, current clients, and former clients see how much you care about the community. Hopefully they will remember your good nature, be repeat clients, and even refer more clients to you!