"I Simply LOVE to Look at Houses. I Think I'll Become a REALTOR!!"

Geri--Yes, they will have a new appreciation for what we do, but there is a part of me that just hates losing a client to another realtor---even when the other realtor is the client!!

Nathan-- It is the rare agent who is successful and does it only working 40 hours per week.  I am still trying to conquer that skill!!

Maureen--Good for you that you stuck with it and were not scared off by reality!!

Curt--Absolutely serving in the military would be a life altering experience one way or the other.  That retirement check is not nearly enough compensation.  Athletes are amazing.  They do make it all look very easy and we know the commitment it takes to be the best.

Don--Maybe there should be a pre-licensing class class----where they start out with, 'You already know all of the positive of being in real estate, now let me tell you some of the negatives!'

J.Philip--Your comment brought to mind agents who spend their time socializing at the office and attending any luncheon with door prizes.  These are the hobbyists!!

Julia--Glad it worked out for you.  You must be one of a minority who get in for the wrong reasons and wind up making it!

William--Maybe agents should be required to work as assistants before diving in head first!

Betty and John--I agree.  I did not get a lot of encouragement starting out.  I think many of the agents in my area did not want more competition.  I think there is enough business to go around!

Yvette---and all Olympians!!  I want to do what they do!!

Alan--Maybe we need someone to make a documentary--A Day in the Life....

Andrew--Maybe if we got comfortable we would not be as good at what we do.  I say all the time how glad I am that I know all that I know.  How did we ever do it when we were new?

Brian--Exactly.  Not inexpensive just renewing the license, board and tech fees annually!

Gary--Maybe the 56 hours are not enough.  Something like student teaching would be great!

Caroline--People quite often are surprised to learn that I have a college degree.  It is time that the true professionals are recognized.  There are good and bad apples in any profession!

Claudette--Especially in these unusual times we are living through right now.  Only the toughest will survive!

Wendy and St. Cloud--So true!  Though we do all we can to try to qualify our clients, things happen which we cannot control. It is tough until you have a pipeline going.

Jeanne and Ralph--Now I have been lucky there---while I have had clients become agents and sometimes those clients had become friends, I have never had any friends become agents.

Debbie--Always nice to hear from someone outside the profession who appreciates us!

Brien--Now that is a good point!  I spent a day doing yard work once and sold the home that weekend----I do not do that anymore. :-)

Michael--I just interviewed a new agent who wanted to join my team. First words out of his mouth were, 'How in the world are you supposed to get business anyway?'

Earl--We need to keep getting the word out there!!

Jim--That is a riot!! We have all had folks like this!  Pleae Mr./Ms. agent, we need some cheap entertainment!

Missy--I have never thought about that, but you are right---no one ever says they want to be a realtor when they grow up and very few people major in RE in college!!

Joetta--Thanks for reminding me of that!!

Mary--We still only need 16 hours of CE in Indiana----those of us who care about what we do are always taking classes and learning.

Donna--Yes, even our families sometimes do not fully understand.

Jonathan--Those are the sweethearts!  I have had a few of those myself!

Renee--I have heard more and more heavy hitters are hiring agents just to show homes.  It makes a lot of sense.

Stephanie--I appreciate what you do too!  We work hard for our money!

Jenna--It is one of those things that some have to learn the hard way.

Lindsey--I really appreciate it when someone from outside the profession 'gets' what we do and how hard we work for what we earn.  Thanks for your kind comments!

Sandy--You knew what you wanted and you went for it.  Someone with your determination and work ethic will always make it!!

Jason--Well said!

Susie--What a good point!  FSBO's do not know what it is like to have to tell someone else their home does not show very well.  They have not experienced the reality.

Tammie--Ten years in and I am not rich yet!  I will get there though!!

Maria--I love my lenders.  They go through as much or more!!

Art--You have been around to see lots of changes and lots of everything mentioned in the comments here---and you stayed with it!!  Congratulations!!

Jill--They may be one of those things that have to be learned the hard way!

Danielle--You are very wise.  The fact that you have found your way onto AR speaks volumes about you.  There are over 6,000 agents on my local board and only a few hundred are AR members.  To be successful, we must always be open to new ideas and searching for knowledge!

Sandra--And it is not easy to say discouraging things!

Brent--Ya know, you are RIGHT!  I hadn't thought of it that way exactly.

Charita---Yes, learning the hard way.

Michelle--Maybe I can call myself an Olympian?  I make it look easy? :-)

Manuel--Good luck!!  Keep participating and learning on AR.  It will be a great tool for your success!!

Patsy--Thanks for the compliment.  I am going to start hoping for a gold medal----or maybe just more commission checks? :-)

Vickie--We have certainly had some scary years and we are in one now. Survival of the fittest!

Patricia--My first bookmark!!

Corinne--And that is only the tip of the iceberg!!

Jerry--Maybe periodic testing to make sure we are staying current.  I recently had an agent tell me e-mail is just a fad.

John--They definitely will have a greater appreciation!!

Donald--Great points.  I have always wanted to write books because I love reading so much---but I am very realistic about my talents, strengths and weaknesses.  You will not find me writing books or competing in the Miss Universe Pageant!!

Eric--I think some of us just get tired of working both sides of a transaction and only getting paid for one.  I just finished a transaction with an agent who met none of the deadlines and came to closing without having even seen the HUD---because he wouldn't know if a mistake had been made if it bit him on the b___. I felt sorry for his client.  Doesn't happen a lot, but it happens and the innocent victims have no idea their realtor did not know how to represent them.

Ted--Yes, current conditions are definitely not ideal!

Damon--But we do hear it, don't we? :-)

Stan--Over the years I have seen other agents write up a summary of our expenses, hours and pay.  It might be a little tacky, but might not be a bad page to include in a listing presentation!

Kathleen--One of my past clients does work as my director of marketing and I love her! Thanks for the kudos!

Bryan--I don't know Bryan.  It might just create more confusion for the pronunciation of the word REALTOR....re-al-i-ty.....real-i-tor. :-)

Sanna--So are you saying you got intot the business or the freee lunches? :-)

Street--Yes, I think I may have actually lost money on a few of the short sales I have done, but I guess my reward on those was helping the home owners!