“Digital nomad” and “Realtor” are two terms you generally don't hear in the same sentence, but Brandon Alfriend of OwnerLand Realty in Grandview is defying conventional wisdom. He is truly an agent without borders.
In 2018, Brandon sold his Worthington home and set out on a year-long adventure with his wife and one-year-old son. After a 10-week cross-country road trip, they headed to Europe, followed by an extended stay in Mexico City - all the while working as a real estate agent. Between visiting family, AirBNBs, and even pet-sitting for complete strangers in the UK, Brandon and his family traversed the world doing what many believe to be impossible. But travel has always been an important part of his life, so he made a point to bring his family and business along for the ride.
"People often asked me how I could work and travel at the same time", says Alfriend, "but this wasn't vacation for us - it was life, which made it surprisingly simple. We generally stayed in the same city for a month or more, which allowed us to develop consistent routines just like we were home - work during the week and site see on the weekends".
Unlike many agents, Brandon designed his business, which he calls "Common Cents", with the intent of becoming location independent. He delegates many responsibilities to his team in Columbus, including photography, sign installation, and even showings, while Brandon focuses exclusively on the contract negotiations, online marketing, and overseeing the entire process.
"It's the twenties", says Alfriend. "Much of the work we do nowadays is online, so the need to physically be in a set location is becoming an archaic practice".
But perhaps the most unique aspect of this idea is the discount price. At just $2,500, his flat-fee listing service is a fraction of the 3% industry standard. While he currently only represents sellers, Brandon is planning to roll out a flat-fee buyer rebate program by May of 2020.
Though no longer living overseas, Brandon is still the only location independent Realtor in Central Ohio. In 2019, his family settled down in Nashville and still makes travel one of their top priorities.