” Hello Nicole, my name is Mr. Malone. I’m calling in regards to your listing Preston Hollow. I’m prepared to make an offer based on the description online, but I do want to see the property before proceeding. I have a few hours between my last meeting. I hope that we can arrange to meet for a walk-through at 7:30 pm. If that will be possible for you, please return my call, and I’ll look forward to meeting you tomorrow.”

That is the only message on her voice mail when she arrived at the office Monday morning. Nicole is new to the real estate business in Dallas, and is still waiting for her first sale after getting started. When she originally thought of getting into real estate, the market was incredibly hot, and she was sure it would be a great way to make money and a career without having to put in too many hours. Unfortunately, things have cooled down since then, and she didn’t yet have any sales to show for her enthusiasm and hard work.

Needless to say, she immediately followed up on this lead. It wasn’t every day that someone like John Malone called out of the blue, ready to make an offer! She knew my reputation for investing in real estate around the world in luxurious residential properties and in commercial properties. She normally wouldn’t agree to meet a new client for the first time at such a late hour, she decided to go ahead with setting up the meeting. She returned my call, and when I didn’t answer, left me a message confirming that she would be delighted to meet me at 7:30, and gave me her cell phone number in case anything came up.

Monday had dragged on after she placed that call and after a few hours of work, she turned her focus to the meeting, and the potential of her first sale. Nicole wanted everything to be perfect, and decided she should arrive at the house on Woodland Drive early. She grabs a quick dinner on near the office at about 6:00, and then went back to her apartment to pick out the perfect outfit. Since getting into real estate, she had quickly learned that appearance is critical. Some people talk about ‘location, location, location’, but appearances – of the house, of the neighborhood, of the realtor – can make or break a deal.

She is proud of the careful staging she had done of the vacant house on Woodland Drive, asking the sellers to leave certain pieces of furniture and decor. Now it is time to present herself appropriately to this particular potential buyer. From conversations with other agents, she knew that I was a confident, self made Billionaire businessman, professional and no-nonsense. Currently single after my sixth divorce with a group of beautiful women for companionship around the world. It is rumored that I’m looking for a real estate agent to be my exclusive real estate broker to handle all my residential and commercial business. Nicole changed out of my her work attire into the one suit she owns, a fitted black jacket and matching knee-length skirt. She chose a red silk blouse to wear under the jacket, and then settled on black stockings with a subtle fishnet pattern, and black heels. As She stepped in front of the mirror to do her hair, she enjoyed the feeling of confidence that washed over her. She looks professional, on par with what she expects from this wealthy mystery man, but she also looked hot, her 46-year-old body filling out every curve of this suit perfectly. My shoulder-length red hair now pinned back, she headed out to meet me.

She arrived at the house at 7:15 – plenty of time to do a quick walk-through to make sure everything is in order. She turned on lights here and there, lit a few candles, and turned on some music in the living room. She made sure that the windows on the south side of the house were closed, to keep out any road noise that is the only negative about the house’s location. Everything is ready, so she stood by the front window, watching for me to arrive. At exactly 7:30, she saw a nondescript sedan pull up in front of the house, and watched as I emerged from the driver’s side. Dark as it was, she didn’t see me clearly until I stepped onto the porch into the light from the house. Damn, he is ruggely handsome! She is glad she had decided to wait inside and let me ring the doorbell, because it took her a moment to regain her professional demeanor. I’m tall, probably 6’4″, with a athletic body which looked spectacular in my designer suit. I had striking green eyes and close-cropped gray-black hair, with a bit of gray in my five-o-clock shadow. She guessed I’m probably in my mid 50’s, and that’s as far as she got with admiring my appearance before I rang the doorbell.

Taking a few deep breaths and walking slowly the few steps towards the door, she greeted me with a welcoming gesture, inviting me into the house as she said, ” Mr. Malone, I presume?” ” Yes, thank you for meeting me here, Nicole – I recognize your picture from your website.” ” My pleasure, it’s no problem at all,” and then, trying to sound a little less ridiculously eager, ” please, take as much time as you’d like to look around, and let me know if you have any questions.” ” Well, I reviewed the listing thoroughly online, and saw all of the pictures, so I think all I need is a quick walk-through to make sure I’d like to go ahead with an offer.” ” Great, well, let’s start by going through the main level, and then I’ll show you the upstairs, with the wonderful master suite.”

As we walked through the house, she is again impressed with my confidence. What she had sensed in my voice mail is obviously accurate – here is a man who knew what he wanted, and had the intensity to get it.