What was your most interesting job before going into real estate?
I sold commercial landscape service on a big scale, including the new Cowboys stadium, Hunt Oil and the Modern Art Museum, to name a few.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in New Orleans, but have lived in DFW since I was 10 years old.
Growing up, what did you want to be?
I wanted to sell something where my earnings were commensurate with my abilities and my value to others.
What do you do to relax when you’re stressed?
I love landscape projects and have designed and built pergolas, stone fireplaces, stone walking paths, landscape beds, etc. I also love muscle cars and have owned many as well as motorcycles.
If you could meet any well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why?
No cliché … I would love to sit down and have a conversation with Jesus to ask him how to become more like him. Then I have some bible heroes I would like to meet such as Samson, Paul and Noah. I don’t really have any earthly heroes other than my dad, who taught his children well and instilled the importance of a relationship with the Lord.
What is Dallas-Fort Worth’s best-kept secret?
Grapevine is a unique gem, as well as Sundance Square.
What do you love most about the industry?
Seeing the fulfillment in a client when we find their new home or selling the old one. It’s rewarding to facilitate all of that.
How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents?
I answer my phone. So many agents don’t. I have a strong sense of urgency … so many just don’t. No one is too important for anyone else — answer your phone, and be reachable and accountable.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
Agents who don’t respond, have no sense of urgency, or are hard to deal with. Some make every question or comment personal. They take offers below asking price personally. It’s not personal … it’s business.
Also, many agents don’t leave feedback after they see a home. We owe it to our clients to let them know what buyers are saying about their home. Be a complete agent, not just a house show-er!
What’s your best advice for generating new leads?
Become a billboard … within reason of course. Never be afraid to speak up and let strangers know what you do. Weave real estate into your conversations. Answer questions about the current market. Work open houses every chance you get. And if your office offers desk time, take it. Work it. I have made many new sales — buyers and sellers — by doing so, especially when first starting out.
What are you binge-watching/reading/listening to lately?
I read the bible and Christian books that encourage growth in a Christian life. I also listen to Dave Ramsey and a variety of great preachers.
What’s your favorite meal in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Probably Perry’s in Grapevine and Moxie’s in Southlake. Mi Dia in Grapevine is also the best patio in DFW.
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Dallas-Fort Worth?
The Hunt Oil building on Woodall Rogers in Dallas. The Cowboys stadium is amazing as well.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you on the job?
I sold a 41-acre ranch in Weatherford. Two years later I sold it again … then 30 days later, the buyer decided not to keep it and I sold it again for the same amount.
What’s one thing people are surprised to learn about you?
I am a great cook of almost anything. I make restaurant-quality soups, and I am a singer and a published author of gift books.
What is your favorite vacation spot and why?
My wife and I love the mountains, so Colorado or Tennessee.
What is your favorite city after Dallas-Fort Worth?
Franklin, Tennessee, Vail, Colorado or Wimberly, Texas
In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry?
Work it religiously. Fake it til you make it.
What’s your favorite real estate iPhone/Android app?
A mortgage calculator is priceless. I have sold homes standing in a kitchen to show a buyer what they can afford.
What are your social media handles?
Instagram: @ronbrownrealtor
Facebook: Ron Brown
LinkedIn: Ron Brown