It was crunch time. I had less than a month to study for my exam to obtain a Texas Real Estate Broker's license, while still having the demands of taking care of three children under the age of 9 in my household. Between cooking dinners, dealing with sick little ones, and answering a phone that just would not stop ringing, I wasn't sure that I would ever find the time to learn everything I needed to know before my big test.
To add to the chaos, February was a very busy month at my real estate brokerage, and I had seven major contracts to deal with this past month alone. To put it gently, it was a hectic beginning to the year! (Please be assured you I am not whining, just crazed!)
However, I was able to work through it all, and I am thrilled to announce that I passed my exam in Houston and have officially earned the right to be a licensed real estate broker in the state of Texas. One of many real estate career goals - CHECK!
Although I was already a successful professional real estate agent in the Galveston area, I decided to take the next step and get my state broker's license for various reasons. I wanted to increase my knowledge of the industry, become the best agent I could possibly be, and make sure that I represent my buyers and sellers in the most professional and effective way possible. I have a high level of commitment to Galveston's second home market, specifically Pointe West, and continue to have a strong desire to be as fully educated as possible in my line of work. My highest level of loyalty, commitment, and advisory role during any real estate transaction, whether it be a year lease on an efficiency or a beachfront home listed for over $1M, is ALWAYS to my client. 98% of my clients are my friends long after the deal is done...there are even a few ladies out there (you know who you are) that I consider mentors, confidantes, and second-moms!
Many of us know what it's like to try to balance a career with our home life, and I am certainly no different. Between studying (OK, cramming) for the exam and managing a very busy month at Pointe West, I also had to take care of my family. This meant spending a lot of sleepless nights hunched over the books after cleaning up the house and putting the kids to bed.
Fortunately, through the process, I not only gained important knowledge about the real estate profession, but also learned some great "soft skills" like time management and study techniques. I was able to find a way to really budget my limited time well, and used things like flash cards, online practice exams and taking diligent notes as I went over some very dense material.
Most of all, the key to my success was taking things on one at a time and not getting overwhelmed. It was critical for me to regularly take a step back with a deep breath and attack major tasks with a sound battle plan. In fact, I really feel that these skills will help me in my career, as time management is something that all real estate agents can certainly benefit from!
As a result of passing the "dreaded" exam, I am now a fully licensed real estate broker in the state of Texas. I look forward to continuing to work with all of my clients with another certification under my belt!
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