Jack Haymes is a Realtor with United Real Estate in Houston.

Every week, we ask a real estate professional for their Short List, a collection of tips and recommendations on an essential topic in real estate. This week, we talked with Jack Haymes, a Realtor with United Real Estate in Houston.

8. If your getting worried about where your next great lead is coming from, it might be right in front of you. We all know that you have to develop, work and re-work your inner circle and it’s fringe but I still like going back to basics. I’m a name-tag Realtor and have it on every time I’m out and about. Some of my favorite places for finding my next clients are:

7. Lowes/Home Depot – Introduce yourself to the manager and contractors throughout the store.

6. Grocery stores – While in line, strike up a conversation with the person in front of you so they have to look back to talk to you and see your name tag.

5. Banks – Stop using the ATM and go inside to have a cup of joe.

4. Post Office – Make use of the long lines and unbearable waits.

3. Starbucks – Try to get half of a table and spread your papers out like you’re working on a client’s marketing plan. Get ready to start fielding questions.

2. Veterans Administration – Stop by and drop off your card to the administrative staff and advocacy groups.

1. Car dealer – Drop by your local dealer’s service department waiting area, have a coffee and start a conversation. This becomes a normal routine after a while, but get ready for the question from the service writer – “Why do you bring your Lexus to a Nissan Dealer?” I tell them that I like his customers better.

A jazz musician who trained at the famed Berklee College of Music, Jack Haymes also enlisted in the Navy and worked in the logistics industry as an electro-mechanical technician for 25 years before entering real estate. Because of his unique background, Jack has the knowledge to look at transactions in a different perspective and level of understanding than most.