4 Ways Ranching Helps You Be A Better Real Estate Agent
4 Ways Ranching Helps You Be A Better Real Estate Agent
He left the Mckinney-Anna area to escape the sprawling progress where city limits encroached on once rural properties. Over 23 years ago, Tom Hendricks sold his grocery store, moved to Hopkins County, and settled on his ranch. Since exiting the grocery industry, he turned to real estate and has become a successful agent at the office of Janet Martin Realty.
Waking up at the crack of dawn, Tom checks on his herd of cross bred Angus cattle then promptly reviews his appointment calendar. With 40-plus years of experience as a rancher, he’s a modern cowboy that combines down-home, salt of the earth values with his tech savvy marketing genius as an agent working for his sellers.
Tom jumped into real estate with both boots. His love for Northeast Texas land and a passion for integrity drives him to loyally serve his clients and do right by them every day. As someone who is known for his candor, Tom is certainly the straight shooter you’d want in your corner.
In addition to raising beef and working pastures, Tom travels several counties across East Texas showing properties for his buyers or assisting landowners in selling their property. His expertise helps his clientele find the one that meets their needs. Throughout it all, he has also learned a few things that ranching and real estate have in common. ⤵️
Trust goes a long way. Developing true relationships with ranchers or sellers in marketing property or handling new buyers, starts with honesty. “I believe we are only as good as our word. You live by your word and the decisions you make,” states Tom. Referrals and word of mouth work best for both getting a good reputable herd of cattle and for reliable real estate services. In both real estate and dealing with neighbors, trust goes a long way. 🫂
Flexibility is paramount. Choices must be made on the fly in both areas, which also means being open to constant change. Finding ways to enhance a ranch and animals requires decisions that involve a multitude of ever-changing variables. From weather predictions, water quality and cattle genetics to soil types, Army worms and pond treatments. “This experience is also very helpful in determining property values with a changing market, shifting results for advertising for sellers, and good informed decisions.” Tom accredits his ability to make nimble ranching decisions for the efficient capability of assisting his clients. Flexibility is an asset. 🏠
Both require knowledge of land. When time allows, Tom enjoys sitting on his back deck watching the deer. “On a ranch there is always something to do outside,” he says, “I encourage everyone to get outside be it working the land, fishing at Lake Fork, a picnic in the woods, hunting or just mowing the yard.” Tom spends most of his time outdoors for ranching and realty work. Working a ranch gives him an edge in knowing about types of grasses, what is required to maintain pastures, soil types, etc. As a rancher and real estate agent, he uses this knowledge to help his sellers and buyers see the potential in a tract of land or ranch. 🌱
A good work ethic serves you well. Tom’s sunup to sundown principle works in both professions. This instilled a way of life that serves him well when he is out helping his neighbor mend a fence, traveling to show a client a 200-acre ranch, or touring a city home with buyers. He also feels, “Just as no pastures are the same, no two homes are either.” Tom’s determination creates an outside-the-box mentality that means he is always ready to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty. And a good work ethic benefits his clients. 🌾
As the sun slips below the horizon at the end of a long day, Tom doesn’t need a big cowboy hat or a southern drawl (though he may have the drawl down). His ranching background proves he is a tried-and-true cattleman. His wealth of knowledge and hands on experience benefits every client he encounters. As a principled agent and dignified rancher, Tom has happily found success on the farm and with his clients. And he takes what he’s learned from working the ranch and applies it in his work as a real estate agent. 🌅
More about this agent: Tom Hendricks Real Estate Services combines his extensive experience and knowledge to get the results his clients deserve. He tackles real estate with integrity that earns his client’s trust as he credits all his success directly to those who continue to place their repeat business with him at Janet Martin Realty. Tom covers a large area from Paris to Longview to Greenville to Texarkana. Working as a seller’s agent and a buyer’s agent, he shows homes, farms, ranches, and acreage throughout North East Texas. Tom, along with his wife Patty, operate a successful cattle ranch in southeast Hopkins County in the Greenpond Community.
