Published May 4, 2022
Live Life 360 | Kelly Nicolaysen
Folks search the entire state, nay, the entire country for what we have here in Bellingham, but with no such luck. Ever heard of the Bellingham curse? Yea, go ahead, try and leave. We may not see you for a few years but we'll be seeing you.
I became a Realtor with the delusion that I would be a catalyst to the Bellingham curse overnight. Wrong. Real Estate is more than just casually slangin' houses, it's solving people's problems, it's building that relationship where the other person can TRUST you.
Bringing some holiday cheer to our client Nikki B.
Ever Googled "Real Estate Agent"? The auto-fill search results are cringey and quite frankly- what everyone is thinking. Let's be honest, it's what I was thinking going into the game.
BOOM. Cue recruiter for the Rick Moore Group. Listening to Rick talk about "reciprocity" and "philanthropy" I thought to myself, "this guy can't be for real what a load of bullhonkey."
Don't let the photo fool you. Nugget loves to work.
The idea of a Realtor (especially one who has been in the game as long as Rick) doing something that wasn't rooted in self interest was a foreign concept to me. Sure, I joined the game to change the stigma but it never crossed my mind that this charismatic first-gen agent was already blazing that trail.
Flashback. Scene: Downtown Bellingham early March it's raining (shocking). Our team is handing out coats. Rick saw a gentleman in an obviously drenched jacket. Rick approached the man with a callused face and said "Here ya go, take this coat it's nice and warm."
To which the man suspiciously replied "I have a coat, and I'm warm."
"That coat is soaked through, this one is dry, please have it," Rick said convincingly.
"I have a coat and I'm warm," the man repeated a little bit louder.
"I am not leaving this spot until you take this coat, here let me help you," Rick said as he gestured to help the man with his drenched jacket.
The man winced as if Rick was reaching over to wrench away his one true possession. As his drenched jacket was being replaced with a dry one, you could see the look of horror and protest being replaced with an overwhelming look of peace and gratitude. The man hugged his torso and looked at Rick with twinkling eyes and whispered "warm."
We handed him another dry coat and his original jacket back, and nothing else needed to be said. We all understood.
That's when the "is this guy for real?" turned into holy crap this guy is genuine. He DOES care about his community, he WANTS to collect coats not in self interest but for our fellow humans experiencing hard times. And isn't that what we all want? People who make this community WORTH living in? A community coupled with a beautiful place is why I think the Bellingham curse exists. It's that charisma that calls you back to the best place to live.
Kelly Nicolaysen (left) & Rick Moore (Right) collecting coats in Ferndale, WA.
The point is, we all have our preconceived notions in regards to what real estate is all about. No, it's not just selling houses, it's not just spouting bullshit until we get what we want. It's not about blowing smoke up anyone's perspective crevices. It's service to clients, community, your team and then lastly self.
It's financial, lifestyle and community problem solving. I joined the real estate industry to change the stigma, but was pleasantly surprised to find it was already being worked on. Having spent hours in the cold door knocking, collecting, and delivering coats, it really put into perspective how important this event is.
We host our coat drives from October to June and your participation is what we ask above anything else. Whether you own a home, rent, or are experiencing homelessness you deserve to be treated as a valued member of the Bellingham community.
As Bellingham grows and changes, it is our responsibility to care for our full community. If you're looking for authenticity with real information for when the time is right, join us. We look forward to your partnership.
