CONTINUOUS CONNECTION

WELCOME

Welcome to this week’s newsletter. Now I want y’all to buckle up because it is officially my birthday week. Not my birthday day, not my birthday moment… it’s my birthday week. I firmly believe that if something is going to be celebrated, it needs to be celebrated big! (I won’t push it and request a whole birthday month. That would be excessive.)

I kicked things off exactly the way any self-respecting birthday gal with a flair for the dramatic should: at the hibachi grill with my whole family. Nothing says “another trip around the sun” like a chef flinging shrimp at your face while your grandbabies cheer and create core memories. The only thing better than a birthday week is being surrounded by everyone I love, so I am feeling truly blessed!

Now here’s the thing—nights like that remind me why connection matters so much. Not the quick, transactional “just checking in” kind of contact, but the steady, genuine, keep-showing-up kind. And that’s exactly what we’re diving into today: why continual connection beats plain old follow-up every single time

A QUICK REMINDER

My Birthday Wish

It’s my birthday, so I can get away with another quick reminder that I’m fundraising in support of the Alzheimer’s Association. My goal is to raise $75,000 by April 1, 2026, which is when I strap on my dancing shoes and put on a show.

If you’re feeling moved to give, your contribution will fuel care, support, research, and hope for families navigating this devastating disease. Because there’s nothing more precious than memories and our goal is help people hold onto theirs longer.

👉 Donation Link

Every dollar truly makes a difference, y’all. And I could not thank everyone more for their generosity.

STORYTIME WITH GLENNDA

Let’s Connect

Let me start with a confession: I, Glennda Baker, Queen of Real Estate and Queen of Getting Things Done, am absolutely terrible at follow-up. Oh, my stars, if real estate handed out report card and “Follow-Up” was a subject, I would get one of those N’s for “Needs Improvement.” My saving grace is that I usually close the deal right at the appointment. But circling back days later, nudging, reminding, checking in? I will admit this is not my strong suit.

Task Vs. Relationship

But here’s the twist... even though I fail at being the Follow-Up Fairy, I’m a die-hard believer in something far more powerful. And that is continuous connection. Follow-up, at its core, is a task. It’s a reminder you set, a box you check, a line item on a to-do list. I admit that I do not love a task. Continuous connection, though; that’s a relationship. I love a relationship because relationships are alive. They breathe. They expand and contract with your client’s life. I promise you, that makes all the difference.

Elizabeth: The Relentless Connector

Nobody does it better than Elizabeth, my Diamond Squad teammate, who’s just a force of nature when it comes to staying in people’s lives. She doesn’t fool around with the “Just checking in to see if you’re thinking about selling” nonsense. She calls everyone because she genuinely cares. She asks how your mama’s doing, how your holiday plans shook out, how the new job is going. She’s always in the know. Because she’s so relentlessly present, she becomes the first person people think of the moment life shifts. Life’s turning points are where the magic happens in real estate. We all know real estate decisions follow the 5 Ds of life events: diamonds, diapers, divorce, death, and disparity. (Obviously, the ones with rings and babies are the most fun.)

A few years back, Elizabeth reached out to a past buyer in December, just a warm holiday-season hello. She had no script, and there was nothing salesy about her genuine effort to connect. That woman told Elizabeth, “Actually… I’m getting married.” Diamonds! Then came the news that she and her fiancé were going to sell his house and buy a new one together. A casual December call turned into a $1.4 million listing. Later, the same client shared that she was pregnant. Diapers!! And immediately, they needed a bigger house. The power of connection puts you in the right place at the right time without ever needing to push or prod.

The One That Got Away

Now, not every story has that happily-ever-after element to it. A few years ago, I went on a listing appointment for a home worth about $6M. Everything felt like a slam dunk. The sellers were nodding and excited. They were practically asking where to sign. However, life stopped them in their tracks when a medical emergency delayed their timeline. In that pause before I reconnected, someone else reached out to them first, and I lost the listing.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still smart over that loss. A million times, I’ve asked myself, Would a simple automated home-value update have kept me top of mind? Should I have invited them to client events? Could a thoughtful check-in have kept the relationship warm? The answer is yes to all of it.

That loss taught me something valuable: even when the relationship feels solid, you must intentionally nurture it. Real estate isn’t target practice. You don’t just fling a handful of darts and hope you hit something. You ask, you listen, and you have to tailor your communication to what people want, rather than what you assume. When I sit with clients now, I find out how they prefer to be kept in the loop. That might be weekly updates, monthly check-ins, market data, texts, emails, or calls. Most agents shoot in the dark, but continuous connection starts by turning on the lights.

This is why I say that 2026 is the year of relentless implementation. Not shot-in-the-dark follow-up attempts, but more thoughtful, more intentional connection. There has never been a better time to embrace this practice than the holiday season! The holidays give you the ultimate excuse to reach out to people for absolutely no reason other than kindness. Call them and ask what they’re doing for Christmas. See if they’re hosting family or flying solo. For once, reach out without trying to sell a thing. Trust me, people can tell the difference. A genuine holiday hello matters far more than another templated real estate email.

Invite Them In

One of the most powerful ways to build that connection is to bring clients into your world. Something shifts when someone sets foot inside your home. And the more you invite them, the more they move from client to friend. That’s why I host events throughout the year: Thanksgiving pie pickups, summer celebrations, movie nights, even a potential Cinco de Mayo party next year. You wouldn’t take food from a stranger, right? Well, once you give people food, they stop being strangers!

After they’ve been to my house, I like to give them a little reminder of that time we spent together. For example, after the event, I’ll pop by with a framed Santa photo from the Sweets with Santa event. There’s no logo, no branding, nothing about me on it. Just a memory they’ll keep in their home. Yet I’ll wager that every time they look at it, they think of the person who gave it to them.

That gift is the perfect example of how connection works. It isn’t about plastering your name everywhere or inserting yourself into people’s inboxes until they cry, “Uncle!” Connection is about giving something real, something meaningful, something unforced. Connection isn’t loud or pushy. Instead, it’s steady and warm. Because real connection is earned.

While I may be terrible at follow-up, I am a champion of connection. Follow-up reminds people what you want. Connection reminds them who you are. Follow-up keeps you in the inbox. Connection keeps you in their life. In real estate, the agents who build relationships (not databases, not pipelines) are the ones who thrive. So this season, I hope you put down the script and pick up the phone. Call someone because you care. This is an opportunity to be warm and present.

The truth is, success doesn’t come from the follow-up. Real success is the relationship you’re brave enough to keep building, long after the paperwork is done

@glenndabaker

When it’s all said and done, I don’t want to be remembered for the houses I sold, I want to be remembered for how I made people feel. If y... See more

GLENNDAISM

Today’s Words of Wisdom

GLENNDA BAKER & ASSOCIATES

Number One for a Reason

Welcome to 4807 Abberley Lane, in Johns Creek, GA. (Why, yes, this is the same Johns Creek rated the #1 Best Place to Live in America by U.S. News & World Report!)

This is a light-filled charmer, tucked inside the coveted gated community of Abberley Township. (Who doesn’t love a gate?) This beautifully maintained, move-in-ready home lives easy and elegant, offering over 2,600 square feet of thoughtful updates and timeless details, from scraped hardwoods to a chef’s kitchen that opens to your own private fenced courtyard—perfect for morning coffee or evening grilling.

Upstairs, the spacious primary suite feels like a true retreat, with soaring ceilings, a sitting area, and a spa-like bath. With major systems replaced in the last five years and unbeatable proximity to Avalon, Halcyon, Downtown Alpharetta, premier parks, top-rated schools, and the Big Creek Greenway, this lock-and-leave home delivers comfort, convenience, and Johns Creek living at its absolute finest!