Special offer

Real Estate Has It's Ups and Downs But Failure Should Not Be An Option

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lizette Realty - Richmond KY 205403

Zen headWhen you work in real estate not every day has a fantastic outcome.

  • Not all offers are accepted but you still have to do all the work to make it happen. Traveling to and from clients, agents, court house, deed room, PVA and loads of faxes (sometimes for days!)
  • Some agents, lenders, inspectors and attorneys with big egos or bad work ethics can difficult to work with.( I know I don't like to talk about troublemakers but there are a few out there) Deal killers! 
  • Properties look better in pictures on the Internet and clients are disappointed after they arrive at the house they fell in love with.
  • Financing falls through because of bad credit, new banking guidelines, underwriting requests or lender that doesn't seem to want to work or pick up their phone.
  • Home inspection uncovers something that will kill the deal. Sometimes its too big to fix.
  • Open houses that have no visitors after all our prep work, time and money spent to advertise. It really does take a lot of effort.
  • Our signs get vandalized, or get stolen and are expensive to replace. Not all brokerages provide signs. Agents have to buy their own.
  • We can get injured while touring houses and we have to be sure clients stay safe too. MLS instructions might neglect to say that there is a big dog running loose in the backyard or the deck is in disrepair and could fall down when all the buyer's family steps out to check out the view.

It's a mine field out there but those of us REALTORS and Brokers that are dedicated, are determined to stay in the business and keep promises to clients.

It really makes my day to hear my clients are happy with their relocation or my service.

It's easy to get overwhelmed and want to quit. I went into this profession 6 years ago with a failure is not an option attitude and that has not changed.

I applaude all those tireless individuals that I call upon daily to make deals happen and work to make my dreams come true. You really are angels sometimes when times are rough.

Comments (16)

C Tann-Starr
Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Featured @ Club Chaos

Jun 06, 2009 02:22 AM
Elizabeth Benefield
Montana Country Real Estate - Libby, MT

Real estate can be hard, we work for our money and sometimes we do want to ask ourselves what we do this for . The things is yesterday might have been a bad one but today will be a good one.

Liz

Jun 06, 2009 02:24 AM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

Thanks for the feature Carolyn!

Liz - It's true we do have ups and downs like that. I know I'm happier now that I work as a broker. I do put a lot of pressure on myself though. I'm a micro-manager! LOL

Jun 06, 2009 03:28 AM
Laura Gray
RE/MAX Realty Group - Gaithersburg, MD

Lizette - Very positive spin on the pitfalls of real estate , keep your head down and look up every once in awhile to jump over those hurdles that get thrown in our way. Just when you think you have had the worst day , something happens to turn the next day around.

Jun 06, 2009 03:32 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I used to say that Real Estate was like golf - it's all in the follow-thru!   But now I realize it is more than that.  Just like in golf, that one great shot keeps us coming back to the game.  That one great deal, that one great client, that one great experience and yes, that one great commission cheque!

Very nice post and congrats on the feature!

Jun 06, 2009 03:36 AM
Monica Hess
Feng Shui This - Murray, KY
Kentucky's Feng Shui Master

No joke...there are some real deal killers out there, but we do need to hang on for better times.  And try to find the humor!  Whew...

Jun 06, 2009 04:00 AM
Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Great post!    Hope everyone reads it.

Jun 06, 2009 04:34 AM
Barbara Flannery
USA Realty,Inc. - London, KY
"Homes for Everyone In London Kentucky"

Fantastic Post Lizette, Sure sounds like the last 17yrs of my life!! But I love it!! Thanks for sharing

BARBARA

Jun 06, 2009 11:31 AM
Jim Valentine
RE/MAX Realty Affiliates - Gardnerville, NV

Failure is not an option.  This is a very special business, not for the faint of heart, and very rewarding in so many ways.  Nice post.  Thanks for the awareness.

Jun 06, 2009 12:09 PM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

Laura - That pretty much sums it up! Tomorrow is another day.

Susan - Sometimes it is hard to get over a disappointment especially when we have bills to pay. It's the strangest job I've ever had.

Monica - You know what I'm rtalking about! You are doing a great job.

Jun 07, 2009 12:36 AM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

Thanks Li, I do too!

Barbara, Wow! 17 years is a long time! I know you've seen it all by now. I'm so glad you are one of my real estate friends closeby.

Jim - It's a good thing we don't know all this crazy stuff before going into real estate school. They wouldn't have any takers.

 

Jun 07, 2009 12:40 AM
Andrew Haslett
Van Warren Home Inspections, NAHI CRI - Fort Knox, KY
Heartland of Kentuckynulls, Best Home Inspector

Lizette, thanks for the reminder that failure is not an option. Down days can obscure that concept!

Jun 09, 2009 03:25 PM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

You are so right.  Failure is not an option..

Ginger

Jun 10, 2009 08:31 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Lizette,

Real estate, being related to sales, is just flat going to have a number of good deals go south. No two ways about it. Those involved need to make more happen than not happen.

 

Jun 12, 2009 01:58 AM
Bettina Settles
Greenwood, IN
Your Indiana Connection

Great post and no matter what job you are doing ..it has it's ups and downs. You have to take the bad with the good and the grass is never greener on the other side......

Jun 14, 2009 01:00 PM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

Ups and Downs....we have to be flexible and know that it will eventually turn around.

Ginger

Jun 17, 2009 08:14 AM