Real Estate is Hard Work

I’m not kidding.  It is a common misconception among the general population (formerly present company included), that realtors get paid a lot of money to do nothing more than socialize and look at houses with their clients.

Oh my!  There is so much that goes into this business behind the scenes in order for a realtor to be successful for his or her clients!  For starters, our education does not end once we have successfully completed the class and taken the state licensing exam.  In the beginning there is so much to learn, and if you are an over achiever (once again, as in present company!), you will work 24/7 to learn it all immediately in order to provide your clients with the best service possible.  But even for seasoned professionals, they have to be constantly educating themselves.  We are paid to be experts in our field, and to do that means to stay up on changes in the marketplace, what is happening in our community, and trends in the industry.

A good realtor also has to be an expert in social networking and all marketing strategies available today.  Homeowners have services such as Zillow available to them to place their homes online without a realtor.  We have to be working hard to provide our clients with social media and other marketing tools that go beyond what they can do for themselves.

A good realtor is also very active in the community and in professional organizations.  There are countless hours spent attending meetings and working on committees in both our professional organizations and the non-profits and community events that we support.  We work hard to contribute to our community because we care about it and because we know that it will carry over into the service that we provide our clients by increasing their home’s visibility through our contacts.

Perhaps one of the most important services a realtor provides to his or her clients is protection.  Protection of the homeowner’s rights and home value, protection against litigation, and protection against theft and personal injury.  Your typical homeowner is not familiar with contracts, the laws that must be followed in the sale of a home, or what their rights are.  They are not equipped to know the value of their home the same way an expert is.  A realtor also performs important due diligence before bringing a buyer into a home.  Unfortunately, the world we live in is full of people who would take advantage of the opportunity to get into a house for numerous dishonest – and possibly dangerous – reasons.  A good realtor will always ensure that a buyer is a legitimate, pre-approved buyer before bringing them into your home.

Since starting my real estate business, I have worked almost every day.  In fact, I believe that Thanksgiving has been the only day that I took an entire day away from my business.  I understand that not all realtors work that hard, and we have probably all experienced a realtor where we felt that we could have done better ourselves.  But I can assure you, since starting my business, I have met many realtors who are good people working just as hard as I am.

So why do we do it?  I can only speak for myself, and in my case, it is a passion beyond anything I have ever done before.  A passion for helping people.  Helping homeowners sell their homes while meeting their needs.  Helping buyers find the house that is going to be the home in which their family memories are created.  Using my artistic talents to help both to achieve the best version of their home where they may lack the same creative vision that I can provide.  I have design abilities that can help sellers in staging their home for sale and help buyers to see how they can create the home of their dreams in a house that they can afford without exceeding their budget.  This business allows me to marry my passion for helping others with my passion for design, and I cannot think of a better place to be.  God is good.

Shalom!

Real Estate With Soul

I just finished reaching Prospect With Soul for Real Estate Agents by Jennifer Alan-Hagedorn.  When searching Amazon a few weeks ago for an informative yet inspirational book as I started my real estate career, I was so happy to find Jennifer’s book.  Those who know me know that I am not a “salesperson,” and I was glad to hear from a successful realtor and teacher, confirming that I don’t have to be one.

 “You need to let who you are define what you do, not what you do define who you are.”  Jennifer Alan-Hagedorn

I love this quote.  In fact, while speaking to Florida Southern College students last week about the twists and turns of a business career, this was a strong point that I tried to make with them – if you try to be like everyone else because you think that is who you have to be to be successful, (1) you won’t bring your unique qualities to the organization, and (2) you will be miserable, because you won’t be your authentic self.

 “Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of somebody else.”  Judy Garland

Different types of personalities relate to each other.  What Jennifer talks about (coincidentally, Olive Branch Realty’s core value), is the Gold Rule.  Personally, if someone has a pushy or aggressive personality, I am going to run fast and far, because I do not want that negative aura in my space.  Especially if I am buying or selling a home, I want good vibes going on.  There are enough stressful things that can happen during the sale or purchase of a home without partnering with a confrontational personality.  That doesn’t mean being a pushover, it just means having a positive attitude, putting my clients’ needs before my own, and taking the high road in dealing with any negativity that is presented by any parties involved.  In other words, I intend to be the realtor that I would want to be represented by during the home buying / selling process.

 “In about the same degree that you are helpful, you will be happy.”  Karl Rieland

I had a realtor like this once.  She was actually the broker of her company and a wonderful lady.  Her calm demeanor and kind heart did not indicate a lack of intelligence or business acumen.  In fact she did very well for us, buying and selling three homes and never disappointing.  She was the perfect fit, and her personality and abilities earned her five closings from us in just three years.  I don’t think I ever told her how much I appreciated her.  I think I’ll give her a call, and let her know that it is her example that I intend to emulate.

Shalom!

Happy Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving morning I have so much to be thankful for.  I am sitting in the beautiful art studio that Danny created for me, and everywhere I look there are things that touch my spirit.

Note cards and books surround me on my writing table:  The Complete Photo Guide to Textile Art – Architectural Drawing Course – The Freelance Writer’s Bible – The Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal – Living Your Life Out Loud – Creative Paint Techniques – The Glass Artist’s Studio Handbook … you get the idea!  There are paintings in different phases of completion, clay forms that have been created and are waiting to be put together as jewelry and strings of beads hanging on the wall waiting to be added to them.  There are piles of clay waiting to be plied to create more jewelry pieces.  Next to me is a tabletop I created with tile, waiting to be grouted. Outside my door in the music room, there is a beautiful ivory baby grand – another gift from Danny – and many guitars calling my name.  I am grateful for all of this, yet I allow it to bother me that I can’t give my attention to everything all at once.

I have a habit of allowing myself to feel pulled in so many directions, feeling frustrated that I can’t do all that I want to do, and always anxious for everything to be accomplished now.  I want to paint, I want to finish some jewelry and that tabletop next to me, I want to work on some music, and I want to work on my real estate business, all right now.  Oh – and of course, I want lots of time to spend with my beautiful husband and loved ones too!  Nothing is more important than that!

I think many of us have this habit – we know that life is about the journey, so why do we get so caught up in the destination?  We want to live in the moment, but we aren’t always so successful at doing it, at least I’m not.  Instead of  slowing down and enjoying what I am doing at any given moment, I am worrying about everything else that I need / want to do.  So as I sit here and give thanks for all of these gifts that surround me, and my new career that I am so grateful for, I focus on learning the art of being, of needing nothing more than to exist in the present moment in harmony with my environment and my husband, knowing that everything will be done in good time, just when it is supposed to be.  It is so liberating, this letting go of the need to do everything today.

As I open myself up to this idea, the world around me suddenly explodes in full color, like the Wizard of Oz.  The instruments of my passions are no longer laughing at me, taunting me with my failure to put them to use.  Instead, they sit beautifully and patiently waiting, ready to be enjoyed again when my heart draws me to them in a moment of creative ecstasy.  The ivory baby grand smiles at me, a beautiful work of art, letting me know that her ivories are not going anywhere and will resonate with their familiar beauty whenever I am ready and able to stroke them.  The guitars no longer mock me but allow me to enjoy the sweet smell of their varnished wood, even if I am not able to take the time to strum them today.  The unfinished canvasses in the art room remind me of the peace I felt when I plied them with color and give me comfort in knowing that I will again be ready to layer on more oil, when the time is right.

I am no longer fraught with worry that I am not currently able to take the time to create music and art in this beautiful haven, but instead smile in knowing that when I am ready and able, all of the tools for my creative pleasure are but an arm’s reach away.  For right now, I will focus on my other passion, my real estate career, and ask all of these other gifts that I am so thankful for to wait patiently a little longer.