I'm realizing I need a good elevator pitch describing what I do and how I can help the person with whom I'm speaking. 

I don't mean completely..but don't launch into your elevator pitch, don't read from the pre-made script you have.

Brandon, you could hire a door knocker to hand out fliers and give an elevator pitch/question.  

†Here are five methods that you can do today to get the prospects you want.Five Ideas for Building Referrals.1.Learn you elevator speech and be prepared to say it to at every opportunity.a.Always state your name b.What it is that you do. ( I am a real estate Investor)c.Who you can help. ( I help people who need to sell a house because of foreclosure, divorce, probate, unwanted houses, bad tenants, houses with a lot of repairs needed.

Learn your elevator speech inside and out and how do deliver his scripts when on the phone talking with sellers.  

That's a reasonable take regarding the lack of used home inventory keeping prices elevated and I agree.

Two weeks later, he called 311, the NYC hotline, to report our super for smoking cigarettes in the elevator, which called attention to the fact that I was renting out a coop, without the board's permission.

But sometimes we would call at the same time to have 5 pizzas delivered to different dorm rooms, then tie up the elevators and not answer the door when the delivery guy came.

Or is it the price one pays to elevate the 'fear factor?'

The actors involve in the transaction can help you and elevate you to greater heights.