It is very common for people to ask if I am really making any sales in real estate and then to give me that look as if to say, "poor thing. How are you surviving?"  I suppose this is understandable when you look around and see all the for sale signs; some having been up over a year.

Yesterday, the question came up several times, starting with a visit to my financial consultant, next, running into someone in the store and then again during a telephone conversation with a friend I had not spoken to for a while. Don't get me wrong, I do send out information when I list and sell properties.

My usual response to such a question would be yes, and I am presently working with buyers and sellers.  My problem is, I hate tooting my own horn, although my husband reminds me that real estate is a sales business and a little tooting does go a long way.  I am the type of person who would not show up for an award if I knew about it ahead of time, so tooting my own horn is just something that is uncomfortable for me.  I prefer providing a a good experience for my clients.

I admire the way my friend Bill Gassett always does a blog after selling a property, so yesterday I decided I would expand on my answer to those asking if I was actually making sales.

And this is how I responded. Yes! I am selling real estate, as a matter of fact, October is not over yet and  in the last 3 weeks I sold a property on Elm Street and do you know what was great about that? I saw more properties like the one on Elm  St that were priced over $ 400,000 moving; actually a couple pending right now  were listed over $700,000.

I sold a ranch in Gallatin on a large parcel and over the last couple months I had many calls from people interested in purchasing it, some who had look at it months before.  This too showed me that there were many people who still wanted to own real estate.

Next, I told them about my listing that I had an accepted offer on in 40 days althouugh the days on the market for the area exceeded 100 days.

 I thought about it for a moment, and then I  said, those 3 transactions in October would account for over 1.2 million dollars of real estate sales.  And the reposone to that was: Wow! I guess you are selling real estate.

I failed to mention that these were all non-distressed and cash sales.

So, I just have to drill it into my head that people really like to hear your success stories.

 Jennifer Fivelsdal- Associate Broker- Keller Williams Realty Team - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com  and www.jfivehomes.com