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WHAT DO I DO NOW???....How Do I Go Forward On This Roller-Coaster Ride??

By
Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate 30HA0800896

HEADLONG..INTO THE WINDWHAT DO I DO NOW???....How Do I Go Forward On This Roller-Coaster Ride?? 

I asked myself that this morning---after I ran through my day in my mind and thought about the things that have not happened even with all my hard work and effort... 

I asked myself: "What can I do now? What can I do that will create a more stable and concrete business for myself? I came to some conclusions that I thought I would share here on ActiveRain..maybe it will help some other agent who is wondering the same thing right now. Maybe with all the chaos, the unrest, the calamities that are happening, we can take a deep breath and a new approach to our businesses in this brave "New World"!

 

Now that we have all arrived in the 21st century, and are fully engaged in the "Changes" that we were promised and warned about, it is quite shocking to feel the vibration of a major shift in this bold, new world. This is a world filled with  happenings we can do little or nothing about. We are seeing "change" in a way we did not expect.

THE WORLD HAS BEEN TURNED ON IT'S HEADWe have entered this new place where nothing is settled, nothing feels concrete except for the changes that have taken hold of our lives.

The world has been turned on it's head! Is this what we are faced with for the long term???

Is the world we live in now a place that we need to embrace--or are we going to fight our way to a better one?

We DO have an obligation, a human requirement to face it all and manage it.....manage it in such a way that we don't harm ourselves, or others. As I watched the news reports on the concert in Indiana, where disaster struck and thousands of people did not turn run away; they stayed; they approached the disaster head on. They all, without flinching moved in to help in any way they could. That was encouraging to me; --there is hope in the world after all!

We are on the leading edge of a new way of life; we have choices and we are more aware than ever that we can not do quick and easy things to get things done. Our businesses will have to reflect this new way of being, or we won't last!

In this "new" world, we are in a field that just got much harder. No one HAS to own a home--many people are renting now and there is a new trend toward that way of life. This brings to me to the thought: "What do I do now???..How do I go forward on this roller-coaster ride??

I think it is time to examine the way I handle myself and my business---am I doing all that I can do to make the public trust me? After watching the Today Show a few weeks back and hearing the hosts say:"You know you can't trust the things the real estate agents tell you when they are trying to sell you a house---They get paid more commission on a higher priced property! Of course they are going to try to get you to pay a higher price!"WE NEED TO EXAMINE HOW WE HANDLE OURSELVES AND OUR BUSINESSES

"YOU  KNOW YOU CAN'T TRUST A REAL ESTATE AGENT"I was set back by this comment---Totally taken off guard, I was ready to make a call but then thought better of it. Ignorance about our business is well known and it is getting worse...how many people watch the Today Show? I don't know, but that dialog certainly did us no good as a profession!

  • Times have changed and what used to be whispered behind a hand is now out there on Prime Time TV---anything goes when it comes to criticism of our profession!

 

JUST A FEW THINGS I CAN DO TO MAKE THE RIDE EASIER:

  • Make sure I follow all the real estate laws to a fault
  • Do everything in my power to leave a positive impression on ALL those I come in contact with
  • Use the tools of technology to better inform the public about the local real estate business
  • Keep a written record of all my clients and customers so that I can see how I can improve or correct my approach
  • Handle all of my dealings with the public in the utmost confidentiality 
  • Create a list of local events and share them with the public through my own website
  • Give back to the local community by volunteering and donating more of my time and money

Maybe these things will help to leave a more positive impression on the public's impression of our profession; won't you do the same???

 

Alan Gross
PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company, Equal Housing Lender - Bethesda, MD
Loan Consultant

Sounds like an unfair comment was made on the Today Show. You can't paint all real estate agents with the same brush. That's a great list of ideas.

Aug 16, 2011 12:34 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Paula this is a wonderful list of ways to improve your real estate business and your life.  It should be front and center for all of us.  Thanks for sharing.

 

Aug 16, 2011 12:36 AM
David Burrows
Classic Realty - Fairfax, VA
No Pressure, Just Seriously Devoted to Real Estate

Paula, this is very well written and I really agree with you. These are challenging days to be a Real Estate Agent. The Today Show has slammed our profession more than once, however, like you have stated, I must accept responsibility to be the best that I can be in Real Estate.

Aug 16, 2011 12:38 AM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Alan: Yes, it was really a low blow, and I am suprised we didn't hear any back lash from it. That made it even more upsetting to me---nothing was said to correct such a bold faced lie!! 

 

Aug 16, 2011 12:41 AM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Cindy: Thanks--I felt it was time to re-evaluate, especially with all the negatives out there about this profession. I don't know if it will help on the grand scale of things but no one can tell me there is not a  need to make changes even on a small scale...

David: You are so right--it starts with us and the Today show has lost me forever as a viewer after that one!

Aug 16, 2011 12:45 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Paula, that was a nasty comment, I am afraid it can be the perception however. You have provided a great list, good food for thought, something very tangible to add to the list of how to improve myself and my business. Thank you!

Aug 16, 2011 12:45 AM
Adrian Willanger
206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA
Profit from my two decades of experience

Paula-I agree with you that we in the real estate business are being scrutinized a bit more than usual, these are some very good tips to practice going forward in this new transparent economy.

Aug 16, 2011 12:46 AM
Jose Rivas
Nottingham, MD

It is unfortunately that very few agents out there behave this way, maybe because they are greedy, maybe because they need the sale to keep their homes and are desperate, maybe out of ignorance or even some one with no ethics. But most of us are good decent people. I am sure that for one talking head slaming our profesion there are several past clients who will refer us business because we did a great job helping them and we are honest and profesionals, the biggest myth in our profesion is that we sell houses, in my opinion the houses sell themselves, we sell our selves to our clients, this is a peoples business.

Aug 16, 2011 12:54 AM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Andrea: It was a comment that I can't get off my mind--it is a warning I think and if it means that we are taking it as such, then we CAN do something about it! So, from that outlook it is a positive and I will think of it that way..tanks for sharing your comment.

Adrian: In this new "transparent" economy is a good way to put it; if it's not transparent, it can be very dangerous for allof us...therefore, transparency is one I want to add to my list too!!

Aug 16, 2011 12:54 AM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Jose: You said it: it is a peoples buisness! That is a good thing to keep in mind---I think I will add to my list that we are all good and decent people, with a few exceptions--and keep that foremost in my mind! Thanks for giving me that suggestion...

Aug 16, 2011 01:00 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Paula. Timely post indeed! I agree with you. The only thing we can do is what we can do to the best of our ability. I wish you well.

Aug 16, 2011 01:31 AM
Margie Kopp Sorrell
Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty and Lake Country - Greensboro, GA
Lake Oconee Real Estate

Paula- oh do I ever feel the "pain" you are talking about. I wake up every morning wondering what more I can do to improve my business and make my day as busy as possible. I want to be just like all the other agents out there who are slammed right now. Some days it's so frustrating and difficult to remain optimistic that everything I am doing is going to eventually pay off...

Aug 16, 2011 01:33 AM
Karen Poss
Coldwell Banker Pinnacle Properties, Florence Alabama - Florence, AL
Realtor - 256-366-6292 - Search Florence Al Homes For Sale

Nice list of things to do to endure and improve.  We all need to pay attention to the changes taking place in our "new world".

As far as the comment...I have had people say that to me on more than one occasion.  I have come to the conclusion that some people are suspicious by nature.  Explaining fiduciary duty, ethics etc until you are blue in the face will not change their opinion. 

Aug 16, 2011 01:34 AM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Sheila: That's so true! If we apply ourselves and do the absolutely the very best we can, then we have helped alot in getting the bad reputation to begin to fade!

Margie: I think it will...I have been in the business for so long that I know that it will open up again and I will reap rewards from all my hard work.  It doesn't always come to mind though in those early morning hours when the fear seems to have it's way!!!

Karen: You are so right--some people will NEVER trust real estate agents. I have discovered that those people are usually the most difficult and never offer much in return if you ever get a listing that belongs to them...It becomes a very unrewarding project and can even be a devastating experience to any agent worth their salt--best to stay away from them; meanwhile, there are a lot of people out there who do trust us and those are the ones I am focused on now.

Aug 16, 2011 02:10 AM