I had the opportunity to take a good look at real estate from a different perspective last weekend - from the seat of a bicycle riding from Seattle to Portland. During my 10 hour and 49 minute ride, it occurred to me that biking the “STP” with a team is not unlike completing a real estate transaction. The group I rode with was comprised of a team captain and five team members. During the 203-mile ride, we would all take turns “pulling” the other team members by taking the lead biking position. This “pulling” creates a draft for the following riders, and gives them a bit of a break for a short time. Interestingly enough, the same is true in buying or selling real estate. Your team is comprised of inspectors, lenders, escrow and title officers, lawyers, contractors, and real estate agents to just name a few. During your transaction, your team works together. But at any given time, a different member of your team will be “pulling” the other members. The real estate agent, being the captain of the team, keeps track of the team members, timelines, and condition of the team, and signals when its time for a new lead rider to take his place. Another bike analogy has the real estate agent as the hub in the wheel, keeping all the spokes on the same line moving together in the same direction. Interesting comparison? I think so.