Q 1. Please give readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Pella Real Estate Services is a full service locally owned real estate brokerage firm located in historic Pella, Iowa. We specialize in assisting buyers and sellers, and assist owners in property management. Our mission: Investing In Lives Through Real Estate.
Q 2. Please provide a brief description of yourselves (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major personal and business achievements).
Ans: Sarah Buchheit, Real Estate Broker / Co-Owner. Mother of 3 grown children, wife of Mike; investing in real estate since Sept. 1996. Business Management degree from Central College in Pella, Ia.
Q 3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: Desire to assist others in achieving their goals (buyers, sellers, agents); Desire to have Freedom in life doing what we enjoy.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Pursue what you enjoy and are passionate about; Educate yourself; Find trustworthy mentors
Q 5.What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Perseverance; Educated spirit; Drive
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 8-10; varies
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Relationships built in the community. Mike and I offer a good balance on skills that work well together.
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Radio ad, Newspaper ads, various websites
Q 9. Where did your organizations’ funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: no investors, fully self-funded
Q 10.What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Mike is our visionary and planner, for that I am grateful. Planning and Goals are instrumental
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: Steady growth is hopeful through the next years.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Theisens’ (their dedication, beliefsand giving spirit in communities they are located)
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Very important, anyone that joins our business will need to be aligned with our values and ethical demeanor
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: I don’t give up too often; if it’s a worthy idea, try to continue with it.
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: Life itself and helping / serving others; Husband / Family
Q 16. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: Reading, seeing what other successful people do
Q 17. How do you define success?
Ans: Do something each day that you enjoy; serving others.
Q 18. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Providing Honest, Ethical service to those we serve.
Q 19. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Flexibility on time somewhat; and being able to pursue and serve others as we want. Being unique and different in the marketplace.
Q 20. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: We get several moments; helping buyers and sellers getting to close on a place they are excited about calling HOME.
Q 21. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: Desire and Drive each day. Each day is different, and it is what you make it for the most part.
Q 22. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Blessed…to do something in conjunction with my spouse; doing what we enjoy.
Q 23. In three words, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Service, Freedom, Gratitude
Q 24. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: Saved more,
Q 25. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: It has offered some great discussions and perspectives for our children, family and friends.
Q 26. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: Fear…False, Evidence, Appearing, Real. I have always been a bit nervous and fearful on certain aspects, especially when it comes to family; safety of our children. I just heard something the other day, that having fear is insult to God; Trusting in Him fully that He has my life direction; that is what I strive for each day. I’m very grateful to God; and I strive to live for His purpose while here on earth.
Q 27. How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: It’s a property we owned, and had housed a business previously, so to be able to give ourselves a debt-free start, here is where we are initially.
Q 28. If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Ans: I’d like to talk and see my grandparents who passed when I was young. I’d like their perspective as an adult today; they were successful farmers; as was their parents.I think it’d be great to hear their life story and better comprehend today what they all went through in life.
Q 29. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: My husband, Children; My parents / family
Q 30. What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
Ans: Rich Dad, Poor Dad; (allowed different perspective and thinking going forward)
Q 31. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: spend time with family if possible
Q 32. What makes you happy?
Ans: living simply; starting day in prayer for others; and gratitude for what we have and are able to do for others.
Q 33. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Lots of hours, weekends, days fixing up homes initially; while raising our children; and trying to keep a good balance.
Company Detail:
Company : Pella Real Estate Services, LLC
Contact : Mike Buchheit
Address : 1017 S. Clark Street
City : Pella
State : IA
Zip : 50219
Phone : 641-628-1289
Email : pres@windstream.net