Inman

StartPoint Realty founder well versed in Web leads

Jeffrey Bastress is president of StartPoint Realty, a new concept in real estate lead generation and converting online consumers into clients. StartPoint affiliates are top-ranked Realtors, loan officers and closing attorneys from different firms.

Bastress soon will unveil StartPoint HomeServices, which will match new homeowners with home service providers such as roofers, plumbers, baby sitters and yard caretakers.

Previously, Bastress was president of Back Roads Real Estate, a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in Internet lead generation and conversion, developing and using a virtual office Web site. He also owned and operated several of the largest RE/MAX Real Estate offices in Massachusetts.

Bastress will speak during Real Estate Connect in New York City, Jan. 11-13, 2006.

Here are his answers to a set of questions posed by Inman News:

Panel or session at Connect: Technology That Works.

What kind of house did you grow up in and where?

Contemporary deckhouse in Lincoln, Mass.

What style of home do you live in today and when did you buy it?

A post-modern Colonial bought in 1993. It’s a total renovation of the historic “Sawyer” farm, of the famous “Mary (Sawyer) who had a little lamb” poem.

What worries keep you awake at night?

I sleep fine. I never worry at night, as each day brings its own worries. So I worry only during work hours. On the other hand, my wife worries enough for us both.

Describe your dream home:

West-facing beachfront home in Port Royal Naples, Fla.

What lesson did you learn in the last year?

Learning how to say no and mean it!

What’s the strangest thing you ever packed in a suitcase?

$500,000 cash from a group of doctors for a cash purchase of land.

Who is your hero?

Jesus Christ.

What is your favorite technology device?

Cell phone.

Which daily newspaper do you read and which section do you read first?

Inman News, online. That’s all I have the time for!

Where did you spend your last vacation?

Naples, Fla.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Helping truly deserving, hard-working first time home buyers secure their first home!

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