There is so much to be learned from David Brenton.  He has been involved in real estate sales for over three decades, but he worked as a builder before that.  Some could even say that he has forgotten more than most of us will ever know, but it would behoove all of us to gain insight into his inner thoughts and musings.   Life has handed him some great opportunities and a few lemons.

David has exponentially enhanced the opportunities, made the most of the difficulties and learned from it all.  He is quick to teach you that failure is an event and not a person.  The agents that work with him are fortunate to work with someone who is interested in their successes and not afraid of anything that needs to be fixed.

David has had great success also working with builders, and his experience with spec homes, contracts to build, and guaranteed sales with builders since 1993 have really helped builders and clients alike.   Over his career, he has guaranteed the sale of a home (or he will buy it) over 450 times.  He is very busy helping with listings and sellers, and he loves building relationships and helping clients navigate the often-tumultuous waters of real estate.  First-time buyers are very fun, and David loves to educate them on home ownership.

Whether a family is down-sizing or right-sizing, David feels confident that he can listen and respond to their needs and provide the right kind of solutions.  His saying “put our experience to work for you” is a promise and an encouragement to select the right kind of agent experience for the right kind of home.   For him, success is about results, and he knows that he may not be a fit for everyone.  From the very start of his career, he wanted to sell over 6,000 units and over one billion in volume.  He may have worked seven days a week for a time and two jobs (building and real estate) at one point, but as of this year, David has passed his milestones!

His launch into the professional world came as a small custom builder, but to his admission, he grew too fast.  That experience did not end as he wanted, but it was an experience that shaped him for the future.  He has seen over time that the best agents keep the interests of the customer ahead of themselves and do what is best for the clients.  He teaches his team to treat everyone as they would treat their family and always use such core values as honesty, loyalty, and hard work.  

For newbie agents, David encourages them to understand their “why” and to recognize that they will work many years to develop their skills.  He teaches them about selecting a mentor / coach and to always take advantage of real estate education.  He notes that 80% of agents fall out of the industry in the first 18 months, and he thinks that it is important to invest in team members for the long haul.  He sends his team to conferences, and he does not mind helping to make them better – besides, his name is on the sign.

David and his wife, Jane, were married in 1978, and they have two daughters who each have two children.  His parents are 88 and still living in Greenwood, and David places a high value on his family.  Early on, Brenton had a motorcycle, and when he met his wife (1977), he asked her to take a ride with him.  He had a cast on at the time, and she told him she was not riding until it came off.  When it was removed, he went to the hospital where she worked, showed her the removed cast, and asked her again to go out.  She gave the affirmative, and David told her to be ready at 7pm.  The rest is history.  

Ten years ago, he thought he would want to get another motorcycle, and Jane agreed. Now she has one also, and they have traveled 80 thousand miles since. This summer, the Brentons are taking a motorcycle trip to California and then to Canada (7,000 miles in total). They love to travel with friends, and sometimes they will ride with 14 other bikes.   David also enjoys his time at the lake and the accompanying activities such as fishing and boating.  He also enjoys cars, and in the past, he has worked on them even restoring Fords with his dad when he was younger.

Some of David’s staff has been with him over 10 years, and he loves the opportunity to help them both in their careers and in their personal lives.  In 2009, an organization called Star Power that conducted interviews with top performers in the nation shut down.  It was disappointing to Brenton as he was on the short list for recognition.  In 2022, it launched again, and David was the first to be selected as a star of the new group.  “I have learned a lot from the other agents that I have met there, and I am glad that opportunity never passed me by,” says David. “Also, I appreciate Howard Brinton who started it and the many ways the other stars have impacted me.

David Brenton is an “education junky,” and he has earned over 15 designations that could appear behind his name – too many to mention.  His commitment to the industry is exemplary, and the only other local agents to surpass one billion in sales are Dick Richwine, Bif Ward and Matt McLaughlin.   It is great company to be in!  He trusts his legacy will be defined by his ability to treat people like family and to give the same advice to people as he would his mom, sister, or daughter.