All REALTORS® Could Learn Something from Joanne Knapp

Newton's third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In some ways, this couldn't be more applicable to the past week I have had.

The week started off with a bang. Technically it was the prior week, but who's counting? You see, on Saturday, April 14th, 2011, at 10:58PM, my wife and I welcomed our first child into the world. We finally got to meet our son, Michael for the first time, and the entire experience was amazing, exciting, and at the same time the most humbling experience I've ever had.

It was the most wonderful experience that I truly can't describe. I suddenly understand all those people that for years have told me, "You'll understand once you go through this amazing experience."

What an amazing week this was. I got to take time off work, spend time getting to know my little guy, and the topper was that my birthday was this Sunday, the 22nd. Life was great and I was enjoying every minute of the week and the weekend.

As we were getting ready to cut the birthday cake though, I got a text from a friend that was going to change things in a most terrible way. The text said that Joanne Knapp had passed away.

Joanne Knapp was a REALTOR® at Sereno Group, in Los Gatos, California. Joanne, and her son Roger were a very successful Real Estate team that truly cared about their clients, putting their needs first and foremost, doing it "the right way", even if it meant that they may not necessarily get that next commission, or make that huge pay day.

Joanne Knapp started out as a client of mine. Over the years we knew each other, though, she became so much more. She became our friend, and she also became our REALTOR®.

I never told her this, but many times, over the years that I've known her, I would think about how her way of doing Real Estate is how "it should be," and how she could be an inspiration to REALTORS® everywhere.

Sadly I never got to tell her how I felt about her. I can, though, share with you my experiences with her, as a vendor, a client, and a friend. It is my hopes that you will read this post and embrace even one piece of how Joanne approached life and business.