When you read my title, you may have been under the impression that I list and sell real estate on the weekends and in the evenings: AFTER I finish my "Real" job. You know, the one where I make a steady paycheck, receive benefits and get paid vacations.
Wrong.
I list and sell real estate every day, at least 9-5, and usually on the weekends and in the evenings too.
This post has been prompted by a phone call I received Sunday morning. An agent called to question me about one of the listings in my office. She had a buyer who desperately wanted to see the house, but must sell his current home before purchasing another. "I have a REAL JOB," she claimed. "I don't have time to chauffeur people around who can't actually buy a house at this time!"
Apart from her attitude, which was disagreeable to say the least, the part that truly irked me was that she was implying that my chosen profession of Realtor is somehow NOT a real job???
Not only do I come to my office every weekday, but I also show property in the evenings, attend home inspections on the weekends, write offers, list homes, answer client questions, take pictures, prepare advertising materials, install signs and lockboxes, etc. whenever necessary!
I work hard at this "job," and its more than annoying to have others who ought to know better disparage me and my job. Very frankly, if that's how you feel about the profession, you clearly shouldn't be a part of it.
Don't get me wrong, there are lots of capable and thorough "part-time" Realtors out there, I know, I've worked with some of them. Everyone needs to do what is necessary to provide for themselves and their families.
Unfortunately though, I see things like limited information in the mls, a couple photos of a new listing instead of the potential 30 that could be included. Then there's the vanishing addendums, missing signatures on the contract, or inspections that don't get ordered on time because "I'm sorry, I'm at my real job...I just don't have time to handle the details of this real estate transaction."
So who ends up taking care of everything?
Me, the one without a real job.
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