Written by Matthew Lindsay
Before starting Precision Home Group in 2017, I spent quite a few years in wildland firefighting. Most of that time was with Pioneer Peak Hotshots based in Palmer, Alaska. Pioneer Peak is a 20 person wildland firefighting crew. We fought wildfires all over Alaska, Canada, and the lower 48. This job took me to many of the interior villages of Alaska, the Northern Territories of Canada, most of the western states, and even some states on the east coast!
It was one of the most rewarding jobs, as we got to protect villages, small towns, and even some larger metropolitan cities. I spent more days throughout the year in the woods than I did at home -- averaging 16 hour shifts with about 2 to 4 days off a month. It was tough, as we worked long hours away from home, hiked in and out of work from our camp, and cut firelines all day.
I loved every second of it! Working here, I built some of the best relationships with the guys on the crew -- we literally became brothers! I also learned some of the best life lessons, skills, and leadership roles from my time fighting fires. I started as a rookie member of the crew, and from the beginning we were taught to be both thinkers and doers. To take charge, lead by example, and train those under you to master not only their job, but yours as well. By the time I left the company, I was leading several different crews, providing them with ample resources, and carrying out strategic missions by implementing the knowledge and experience gained over the years.
At the end of 2016, I decided to make the switch to business by taking what I learned from wildland fire, and implementing it into the professional world.
I have always loved real estate. Growing up, my parents used to buy older properties and live in them as we fixed them up. During the off season of fire, I also worked for a commercial property management company in the maintenance and operation sectors, which is also where I learned some of the trades of real estate prior to getting into the industry. Getting into real estate was an obvious and logical choice for me to make at the time, and I have loved every second of it!
Additionally, I knew that I wanted a commission based job. I loved the idea that I could earn a commission only when a job was completed -- that if the transaction did not close, I did not get paid. This allowed me to gain the control that I was looking for in a career. The better I became at handling situations, difficult transactions, and helping clients successfully achieve their goals, the more I knew I could do. The way I have always looked at it is when my clients succeed, so do I!
As soon as I could, I found a class to take for my real estate license. I took the class, passed the test, and was off to start my new venture! I began on a real estate team for a short period, quickly realizing that I wanted to start my own team, and eventually my own brokerage. After about a year, I started to build things out -- reinvesting back into myself and my company as quickly as I could. We hired our first assistant within a year, our first agent the next year, and things have been quickly growing ever since.
Last year, I became business partners with Cliff Goughnour, and his management company, Alaska Management Group. With his company and my sales team, Precision Home Group, we were able to successfully launch our new brokerage -- Precision Real Estate.
It's been a wild ride so far, and we aren't even close to realizing our full potential! I am so excited to be able to continue doing what I love. One of the biggest rewards for me, is the people we are building with. Not only are my agents and admin staff learning the ins and outs of the industry, but my company also aims to provide the best work environment possible, and share any and all resources to make them more successful and able to give back to their clients in the best ways possible.
- Matthew Lindsay, Founder of Precision Home Group
If you are interested in buying or selling with Matt, or want to learn more about his venture in becoming a Realtor and starting Precision Home Group, contact him at 907.302.1011, or by email at matthew@precisionhomegroup.com.
Precision Home Group is based in Anchorage, and provides real estate services to Southcentral Alaska. We will keep you informed on current trends and market dynamics to help you make the best informed decision. If you are interested in purchasing a home, get in touch with our experienced real estate agents! Our team of experts will negotiate great deals for your home and help you navigate the buying or selling process every step of the way. If you are looking to get into a property that makes sense, or need help analyzing a potential property, reach out at 907.302.0024.
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