Volunteering in their communities nets CRSs many rewards.

By Mary Ellen Collins

“When people see you out working for their children or their schools, it shows your personal side — that you’re more than just a REALTOR® looking for the next buck,” says Rita Driver, CRS, CRB, directing broker/owner of RE/MAX All Stars in Memphis, Tennessee.

Like many agents who do volunteer work, Driver acknowledges that the public visibility positions her in a positive light among people who could become clients.

Volunteerism has become a way of life for many people in the U.S., and it brings with it a range of benefits. Aside from the satisfaction of helping someone less fortunate, volunteering puts your own problems in perspective, offers opportunities to make friends and business connections and can even lower your blood pressure.

According to the 2014 NAR Member profile, 70 percent of members volunteer in their communities. CRSs agree that it’s not a matter of giving back if and when they have spare time. Lending a hand to charitable causes is an ongoing priority and responsibility.

Serve the Children

Driver credits her father with instilling a spirit of giving back and says, “My dad will give you the shirt off his back. We’ve always given to charities, especially for kids.”

She chairs the city of Barlett’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and also combines her hobbies with raising money for children’s causes. As a former police officer and an avid motorcyclist, Driver is very involved with Law Dogs, a group of law enforcement officials who do charity motorcycle rides for organizations, including Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals. She also plays on about a dozen softball teams and has organized numerous charity softball tournaments for Baptist Children’s Home and for children with special needs.

Driver says she can’t specifically track the substantial number of real estate referrals that have resulted from her volunteer work, but she knows when one should take precedence over the other.

“The respect and acknowledgment that comes back to you is priceless … But sometimes I’m volunteering and someone will pull me aside and want to talk about real estate. I share my contact information with them and say, ‘Let’s schedule a time to talk when I can really focus on you. Right now, this is about the kids.’”

Elevate Everyone

Rita Driver helps host a charity softball tournament that raised $13,000 for a 20-month-old baby boy who is currently beating brain cancer.

He recently walked 120 miles across Cape Cod for the Harwich Ecumenical Council for Housing in a fundraiser for homelessness prevention. He walked to honor the memory of his mentor, Bob Murray, a well-known volunteer who founded the Family Pantry of Cape Cod.

“Bob was such a big part of the fabric of the community, and we need to keep his spirit of helping other people alive.”

As the current chair of the board of the Family Pantry, Waystack says, “We provide food for 1,200 families a month. We have a seasonal economy and it’s tough for people who live here year-round. Housing is very expensive in a resort area and to have a sustainable, diverse community, you’ve got to embrace people from all walks of life.”

Connect to Community

“I can’t imagine there being a defense for not being involved in one’s community,” says Sandra Nickel, CRS, owner and founder of the Sandra Nickel Hat Team REALTORS® in Montgomery, Alabama. “This is my home. I must care.”

She serves on the boards of the local Landmarks Foundation; the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless; and the Low Income Housing Coalition of Alabama. She also volunteers for the Garden District Preservation Association, which includes cleaning hex block sidewalks or trimming hedges.

Although she has gotten occasional business as a result of her volunteerism, she adamantly believes, “One should not join a civic organization to make business contacts. One should join to make a difference.”

However, she does recommend that new REALTORS® enter the volunteer ranks in an effort to get to know residents better and learn more about their needs. “Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet people and to learn about the community. We are community ambassadors, and the more we know about the community, the better we will be able to help our clients. It enriches one tremendously to know all members of the community.”

For Nickel, Waystack and Driver, volunteering comes from a desire to make a difference. New business and new clients are simply the icing on the cake.

Mary Ellen Collins is a writer based in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Learn more about volunteering with CRS chapters and the good works they do.