Joel Barber

Originally from Western New York, Joel Barber is a staple of the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina real estate market. Joel has been involved with real estate in and around Myrtle Beach since 2007, and has consistently been ranked as a top producer in sales. Prior to that, he worked as a High School teacher and has a master’s degree in education.

Joel sees his vocation as one of service; looking out for the needs of his clients in order to assist them in finding their dream home. His primary personality traits are consistency, persistence, and working hard, starting from the beginning of his workday at 8 am right through until the day’s end. Before that, you will most likely find him working out, either in a local gym or at his home, because he believes physical activity, health, and wellness are the keys to longevity, and he aspires to achieve longevity in both the physical and professional realms.

More about Joel Barber and his professional philosophy can be found at his company’s official website, LivinginMB.com, which is also a useful web address for anyone interested in buying property near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to know and browse.

Where did the idea for LivinginMB.com come from?

LivinginMB.com comes from being in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where I do business as a Realtor. The ‘MB’ stands for Myrtle Beach. I started the website in order to reach a greater number of people with my business, and the results have been fantastic so far.

I was inspired to become a Realtor when I realized, during some of my previous interactions with real estate agents, that I could give better service than I was receiving at the time. Now, just as then, I want to give my clients the kind of service that I myself would like to receive in their place—that is to say hard-working, persistent, ‘go-get-em’ service! In short, that’s why I left my position in the education system to become a Realtor.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My typical day starts with a thorough workout. Then I prospect and service leads for the rest of the morning, usually from about 8 – 10:30 am. After that, I meet with my assistants, and then follow up with clients in the afternoon. The other really important aspect of my job is to show properties, answering questions from prospective buyers as they arise, meeting with clients and negotiating offers. I tend to do that in the afternoons, as well.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life by helping people to achieve their dream of owning a home. And not just any home, but their dream house. I start every one of my client meetings off with a discussion about what is important to them and why. Armed with that information, I can help to make owning their dream home into a reality. The same goes for selling a property, it’s not just a transaction but in many cases a lot of equity and I am committed to helping my clients get what they want in the time frame that they need.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One trend that I’m really excited about is the use of video technology to view homes, such as through virtual tours and YouTube. Of course, this trend was greatly accelerated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but real estate was trending in that direction regardless. Marketing a property correctly is one of my main goals as a listing agent.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Hard work. There is absolutely no substitute for it. Besides that, I’m not the type of person to stand by, wait for things to happen, and then simply react. I’m proactive. I’m going to make things happen through my own hard work and persistence.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Do not be afraid to fail. Failure is not only an inevitable part of life, it is a valuable learning experience.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

I believe that the Buffalo Bills will win the Super Bowl.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Try to do the hard things first. Call your leads first thing in the morning before doing anything else. Leads are the lifeblood of the real estate business, so it pays dividends to call them promptly. If you do, good things will happen.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Client care. As I said before, every morning, I start my day by calling my leads. I don’t deviate from that, no matter what. However, my current and past clients are always the priority and I strive to make sure they know that I am always happy to be a resource for them.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Failure is an event, not a person. I need to remind myself of this daily. Over the years, I’ve had some deals fall through due to forces beyond my control, and that used to really bother me. However, I’ve since taught myself to accept that these things happen and will always happen. It’s simply part and parcel of being in the real estate industry. Now, when an unanticipated event happens that sours a deal, I take a deep breath, then stand back and analyze the situation. I ask myself, ‘Is there anything I could’ve done differently to encourage a more positive outcome?’ Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes the answer is no. So, I guess my response to the original question would be that I’ve overcome these failures by accepting them and treating them as teachable moments.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

If someone can raise enough capital to fund a new property development in scenic Myrtle Beach, I would definitely recommend it! There is no more surefire investment.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently spent a little more than $100 taking my wife out to dinner. She is incredibly important to me and I am blessed to have her by my side for better or worse.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

My customer relationship management software (CRM). It allows me to keep up with my customers and record all my interactions with them, as well as any important details about their case. I think it’s worth its weight in gold.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I wholeheartedly recommend The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. I realize that it’s a children’s book, but I believe in the importance of perseverance and that’s what that story is all about.

What is your favorite quote?

“There is no substitute for hard work.” — Thomas Edison

Key Learnings:

• There is no substitute for hard work. So get to work.
• Failure is a lesson. Learn from it, but don’t fear it.
• Failure is an event, not a person.