I was out in the field all day yesterday, and I came across a low water bridge just 
outside of Front Royal, VA. The water was literally inches below the top of the bridge. The river was up and rushing. The bridge was narrow and old. I was driving a heavy vehicle at the time, and it was a little uncomfortable, but I couldn't help but stop in the middle and take a few photos.
In these rural areas, things like a low water bridge are just as much a part of the landscape as the homes it leads to. The people who live in the area zip across the bridge like it's a four lane road. They wave to you as they exit the bridge and off into the distance they go. Not being a native, I'm a bit slower.
Real estate is one of the few businesses that has a few perils of its own. Like a low water bridge with water lapping against its sides, this profession is full of contracts and forms that spew legal language just waiting for an agent zipping through a form to make a mistake. It doesn't take much rain to push the water over the top of this bridge, and it doesn't take a very big mistake to cost a brokerage its commission and potentially more. Every contract and form should be approached with a healthy respect and a certain amount of caution.
An agent who navigates through a deal must always make sure he/she has every thing lined up just right to make sure that deal gets to closing. Just like a large vehicle crossing this bridge. A little off to one side and you're in the water. A forgotten addendum, a missed set of initials, an overlooked lead disclosure can slow a deal down to a crawl and potentially kill it.
Some deals should never be entered into from the beginning. When a light skiff of water is crossing that bridge it's a sign that bad things can happen in an instant. Some clients, some homes and some deals need to be avoided because they are froth with perils. It really doesn't take much water to make a vehicle hydro-plane. If you've ever done it, I bet you were shocked at how little water you saw before your vehicle started sliding across the top of the water. It can wreck your car very quickly. And, the wrong client, house or deal can damage your career. Heed the warnings.
As intimidating as these bridges can be to a city dweller (me), they are fascinating in other ways. It's about as close to being in the water as you can get without getting wet. They always lead somewhere. People see them as the link between the life they've been living all day (work) to the life they want to live (home). They are a less expensive alternative to a major bridge project. Those who build them are willing to sacrifice a little bling for simple functionality. They get the job done.
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