Brian R Kelly

Tag: Liberty Homes Chattanooga

  • Working on About Me Brian R. Kelly

    Working on About Me Brian R. Kelly. My current About Me Page is like many. It expresses the victories and accomplishments of what is mostly a successful real estate career path. (can you say Resume?) But if you really want to know About Me, then I need to tell some additional stories.Brian

    A biography of my life would read like home town kid done good. At least up until 2007. The circumstance of the real estate market changed. My decisions became more challenging and I made multiple bad personal, money and real estate decisions. A stupid decision was to enter into credit card debt to pay bills in the short term. Instead of being realistic about my current situation I turned to my entrepreneur heart and started businesses outside my acquired skill sets. More poor decision making. That lead to $140,000 in un-secured debt.

    My best decision was re-dedicating my life to God and surrendering my prideful spirit. I left arrogance and my selfish spirit at the foot of the cross. God was able to start using me again to help others.  Real estate is a fairly deep skill set for me, so I  started Liberty Commercial Real Estate Company with a partner in 2008.  I started Liberty Homes Chattanooga in 2012.

    I have been able to serve home sellers and buyers recently. The unsecured debt of $140,000 is down to $80,000 and falling. God is very good!

    Why do I work? What am I passionate about?

    I love challenges. I am creative. I love thinking about the vision of a better future. I love encouraging people and families. Leaving good things behind for future generations gets me excited. I love research.  So helping people market their house to sell and helping folks dig to find their new home is something I enjoy.

    I believe that marketing and advertising is changing dramatically.  In order to best serve serve my clients and customers, I am creating massive content.  Exposure to smart phones is quickly becoming the “game” for maximum marketing punch.  Too often I am seeing owners really wondering “Why” are they spending so much money on real estate agents.  Realtors are comfortable in patterns.  We all are.  But let’s face it, the way we find information about homes is changing Quickly!

    I really believe God challenged me to write a blog post for 45 days straight. He built me, so He knows how to lead me where I can help others.

    A few childhood stories so you know my spirit.

    Failure event in life: I failed to make the second cut on my Junior High basketball team. Coach Hawkins, of the Signal Mountain Eagles, came back to me in science class two weeks later and offered me a spot on the team because some folks left team. I told him no. Basically, with the attitude you didn’t want me then, can’t have these mad basketball skills now. Bad decision – ruined a great NBA career.

    Success event in life: I made the cut for the Chattanooga Youth Symphony as a trumpet player. I remember the first time walking into the practice hall and hearing the strings play Christmas music. I thought I was in a living recording (a record – for the older than iTunes generation).

    Failure event in life: First day on the job clearing trees with a Stihl chain saw. I failed to understand that standing 4 feet in the air on a partially felled tree while cutting a tree above my head was a bad idea. (Visions of Wiley Coyote are appropriate here) I wondered why Hercules (honest – his Mama named him, and trust me he was most likely a very large child) stopped work to watch me cut a simple tree. A few seconds later I realized he was watching mostly for entertainment value. Fortunately for me I still have all my appendages and all that I lost that day was the wind in my lungs and my pride. (Wish pride had stayed there…reference story above).

    Success event in life: Senior class beauty of Red Bank High School 1981, Mary Dee, asked yours truly to the Sadie Hawkins Dance. Saying “Yes” changed my life forever for the better.

    I am approaching 5 decades of life. Failures and successes are behind me. I will wake up Lord willing tomorrow. I am excited about the possibilities and so hopeful about the younger generation coming up. I will surrender my will and report for duty and my orders. I will still be working on About Me Brian R. Kelly.

  • LegalShield Small Business Plan Protects Real Estate Brokerage

    LegalShield Small Business Plan Protects real estate brokerageLegalShield Small Business Plan protects real estate brokerage. Broker/owners have a lot of risks. We are dealing with the public and emotional property and transaction issues. Many problems are covered after the fact of lawsuit. Legal problems are prevented with my Legal Shield small business coverage plan.

    The greatest value of LegalShield’s Small Business Plan is the ability to pick up the phone and ask questions regarding hiring and firing, worker’s compensation, contract review, joint ventures, city zoning, vendor issues, etc. I do not have to worry about choosing the correct attorney for the question and then dealing with the aggravation of paying an unknown amount for the advice. I know what the bill will be each month and I know if the lawyer does not know the answer they will research the issue and get back with me. I was amazed at the research completed by the Tennessee law firm for an issue related to an unlicensed investor purchasing an option. The law firm did a great deal of research on Tennessee law as it related to previous court cases and specific language in the state real estate code.

    My real estate company has general liability and errors and omissions insurance. The Legal Shield policy accomplishes a few things for me as a business owner, which are as follows:

    1. Valuable research and answers to unlimited questions during business hours. Prevention of future problems.
    2. Review of agreements and signed contracts.
    3. Legal correspondence. Writing letters to get things accomplished.
    4. 75 Hours of Pre-Trial and Trial Defense if company is named defendant in civil action.
    5. 25% discount on any additional legal fees if needed.

    One of my agents and my company was sued by an investor purchaser this year. My E&O company and Legal Shield worked together to help me defend the suit. The suit was dismissed and I was a relieved broker.

    I grew up around the real estate business since the 70s. I have been serving in the real estate brokerage business since 1991. The family real estate business has seen thousands of property transfers. In 2006 the company had 14 office locations and over 400 agents and over $20 Million in commissions collected. I am not saying this in a boastful way, I am saying I know what it is like to see 5 figure legal bills on your Profit and Loss statement. In have been in court representing a seller defendant and I have had to go to court to sue a developer/builder to collect earned commissions not paid. Hind sight 20/20, I could have saved much money using the Small Business Plan of LegalShield.

    But, no time like the present. I started a small real estate brokerage firm and now I do use the Small Business of Legal Shield plan to protect it. I found out about the plan from an investor attorney who has the plan for his property management business. I purchased a family plan to protect my son going away to college. I liked it so much, I bought the small business plan and then decided to sell it to others as an extra income. LegalShield does not solve all your business problems, but used well, they can save you lots of time and money in legal fees. Check out my website to find out more about the plan. Call me if you want to find out why I choose LegalShield Small Business Plan to protect my real estate brokerage.

  • Chattanooga Home Sales Up 16% Over 2011

    The Chattanooga residential market is up in 2012 over 2011. The number of home sales reflects a 16% increase so far this year to date compared to same period last year. What is interesting is that lower priced homes did not increase in sales as much as the higher priced homes. The number of homes that sold between $250,000 and $1M increased from 807 last year to 1,066 in 2012, or a 32% increase! The number of homes sold between $100,000 and $250,000 increased 19%. The number of homes under $100,000 increased only 6%. That probably means that first time home buyers are still struggling to get on their feet. The good news is that there are good jobs for the middle class in Chattanooga and the borrowers are strong enough to pick up great deals in a very affordable market!

  • Realtor Old School Goes New School SocialMedia in Chattanooga

    Old school real estate agent, Marilyn Jennings, from Calgary taught classes in Chattanooga in the 80s and 90s while on her way to her winter home in Florida. Her marketing campaign existed of door knocking in the winter just before her trip South. Door knocking in the snow showed her sellers that she was willing to go the extra mile for them. They remembered her when it came spring and time to sell their home.

    This story always reminded me of Lamar Alexander and his walk across Tennessee. Who would not vote for the man in a plaid shirt shaking your hand in your home town. The same human spirit is alive today in social media. It comes in the form of caring, listening, responding, and providing good content. Humans are the same, the smartphone is the game! Time to tweet like you care!!