Although it's impossibly hard to believe, this month marks my 25th anniversary as a Realtor®. It has been a very good career for me and for that I am so grateful. So indulge me in this short trip down memory lane.
My very first deal (actually I lost it in multiple offers) I drove to the buyer's home at 1:00a.m.. Yes, that is 1:00 AM! Nobody had a fax machine in their home, including me. Scan and e-mail? I don't think so! I cried when I lost the deal, but to my credit it was the first and last time I cried over a lost real estate deal.
I followed an agent in my office around for about 2 months.....still, IMHO, the best real estate training!
Whenever someone in the office received a bouquet of flowers, it meant their client bought a FSBO.
I was once asked to come list a home that had 12 cats. I was standing in the basement next to the washer and did not notice one of the cats jump onto the washer until I felt it tapping me on the shoulder. I referred the listing to someone else in my office.
One fall I made 2000 cold calls...got a few listings and a couple of sales from it....but it was like nails on a chalkboard.Instead of a computes I had the criss cross directory!
Once in the winter, I took out someone's mailbox, which I of course had to replace.
One of my first "showings" was of a vacant lot....because I thought there was a house there. I never made that mistake again.
Just so you don't think it's all been negative....
After 25 years, the majority of my business is referrals.
I have some wonderful clients that are now my friends and some of them have given me really lovely gifts.
I still love what I do!
I am still learning, growing, and am challenged every day.
So to all of you that are in it for the long haul, keep the faith. It's a great career!
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