We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachael Osborne a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rachael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

In 2020, I discovered real estate investing. I had grown up in a family of inspiring doctors, engineers, and project managers. But, this led me to believe that following a traditional career path was the only way to generate income. Real estate opened a whole new world to me. I got my start in vacant land investing. For the next few years, I spent all my free time learning everything I could about negotiating, evaluating properties, and financing. All while working full time as a software engineer.

I was in real estate just like I thought I wanted. But something felt like it was missing. 

I’ve always had a heart for helping others. Putting deals together for investors helped me learn, grow, and hone my negotiation skills. But I wanted to use my expertise to advocate for others in a different way.

At the end of 2022, I moved across the country to Denver, Colorado while I was working remotely and running my business. If I hadn’t had family to help with the process, it would have been unimaginably stressful. As someone who’s trying to balance work, relationships, and your health, it can be hard to juggle everything. Sometimes moving can feel like the straw that broke the camel’s back. It’s a common reason why people feel reluctant to get the process started even when they want to move.

And not everyone has a support system to help them make the transition. This experience along with my passion for real estate led me to my mission: to provide a wrap-around support system to help busy professionals find a house that genuinely feels like home–without the stress. I understand what it’s like to live somewhere that doesn’t feel right. I understand what it’s like to move when you don’t have time to move! And now I get to advocate for others who either don’t know or don’t have time to navigate the complexities of real estate on their own.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in Northern Virginia. Back in 2020 when we were quarantined inside with little else to do, I picked up some books on real estate and was hooked! I took courses and learned everything I could to start my own company. I worked with investors to buy and sell properties. When my husband received a job offer from a company in Denver, the city of sunshine and adventure, we knew it was the right place for us. But as I mentioned, the move wasn’t easy, even with help. We moved-in during one of the worst winter storms! We navigated our moving truck through icy roads and frigid temperatures. I was still working as an engineer and was on a time crunch to move-in without taking too much PTO or falling behind on work. This is what inspired me to specialize in working with busy professionals as a real estate agent.

As an engineer, I was a problem solver. I was known on my team as someone who was always willing to lend a hand or explain a concept. My work as an agent and advocate is no different. I problem solve, I educate, and I go above and beyond. I make sure clients feel supported through what’s often the most significant transaction of their lives. This is why I developed my Thrive System specifically for busy professionals who are looking to upsize, purchase their first home, or sell their first home. As part of my system, I offer unique services like virtual showings and previews to save my clients time and energy. I curate property lists and find off-market properties to give them more choices. And as I know from my own experience, the actual move-in can be just as stressful as the home search or sale if it’s not handled right. So I’ve accounted for everything from planning to purchasing, moving in, and home care. Everyone deserves white-glove service and my Thrive System delivers that.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

As a service-based business I use two guiding principles to foster brand loyalty. First, I always lead with value and empathy. For example, I’ve been working with a client for over four months who’s still a few months out from purchasing. She’s exploring the idea of buying something to renovate. But as a first time home buyer, she has lots of questions about the process. I regularly send her information on everything from renovation and material cost estimates to vendor recommendations and market updates. I check in regularly to see what questions she has and how I can be of more service. I focus on providing immense value upfront. Not only does this way of operating provide clients with a good experience, it is also SO fulfilling! And as simple as it sounds, I’ve mastered the skill of active listening. I’ve won clients over simply because they felt heard and could tell I genuinely care about their journey. 

My second guiding principle is the Platinum rule. We’ve all heard of the Golden Rule: treat others how you want to be treated. The Platinum Rule says to treat others how they want to be treated. A simple example is this: Different people prefer different communication styles. So I use a custom approach to everyone. I have a number of clients who don’t like phone calls. So I text them whenever possible. And for clients who don’t like texts, I focus on phone calls and emails. It’s a small change but it helps them feel more comfortable and shows them that I care.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I am a huge book worm! I am constantly reading books that help me grow both personally and professionally. Alex Hormozi’s “$100M Offers” has had a huge impact on how I’ve built my business and services. Focusing on exceptional service and providing immense value to my clients is my top priority as I mentioned. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Steven Covey has helped me clarify my values and my personal mission statement. Covey’s time management matrix is a practical tool that I always keep in the back of my head to help me prioritize tasks. And finally, “Psycho-Cybernetics” by Dr. Maxwell Maltz has had a significant impact on my mindset. It taught me the importance of inner-work. You can only act in ways that are consistent with your self-image. It’s an old book but I recommend it to everyone I can!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://crystalco.us/link
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachaelcrystal
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011490580004
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-crystal-bynoe-osborne/

Image Credits

Avante Garde