Before I get to the backstory. This book was never devised to be a bestseller. Nor was it devised to check the bucket-list item of "author," for any of the many collaborators. This project, also, was not the result of any one person's research or idea. Who is Ryan Fletcher? I am simply the ghostwriter hired to bring the thoughts and convictions of these collaborators to life. Of course, you might ask, "How can there be 100+ authors for a single book?" There can't. But to squeeze 100+ names on the front cover of one book, trust me, looked ridiculous. The solution? Create a replicated version, for each collaborator, for distribution to family and friends in their local market. I remind you, this book is not about who wrote it. But about the ideas contained inside.  

The approach outlined in this book was inspired by the ISO-9000. The ISO-9000 is a globally adopted, quality business management standard used by huge brands with support businesses located internationally. The reason it exists is so stakeholders can believe with confidence that a manufacturing plant located in another country will produce exactly what the contract says, without having to travel to the plant to conduct a huge inspection. If the plant is ISO-9000 certified, then they know it will perform to standard. For obvious reasons, this kind of certainty is attractive. To know something is going to perform to standard, alleviates much stress and frustration. 

The question was asked, "Why does nothing like that exist in real estate?" If the ISO-9000 is based on 8 quality management principles, and trusted by huge companies such as GM, Chrysler, Boeing, General Electric, among others, then why couldn't a similar approach/protocol be created for the sale of real estate? Do homeowners not deserve to know that their home sale will perform to standard?

This led to a massive amount of research. And sense a home (in its simplest form) is just an investment, one person's name kept coming up. Who's the world's greatest investor? Of course, Warren Buffett. After all, here is a man following the principles set out by Benjamin Graham, amassed a multibillion dollar fortune mainly through buying stocks and companies through Berkshire Hathaway. Those who invested $10,000 in Berkshire Hathaway in 1965 are above the $50-million mark today. But, more important to us, Buffett's investing style; of discipline, patience and value has consistently outperformed the market for decades. Said different, "Those who invested their money with Berkshire Hathaway, thanks to Buffett's approach, built on the investment principles of Benjamin Graham, knew their money would perform to standard."

The next logical question, "Based on Buffett's investment philosophy, could we devise an approach for the sale of real estate that could consistently beat the market?" That is to say, "Consistently sell homes at a higher price point, to maximize profit." If this were possible, then homeowners, no different than if a plant were ISO-9000 certified, could have total and complete confidence that their home sale would perform standard. The end result of that research, and testing in 100+ markets, is this book. 

That's how The Value-Driven Approach came to be.