Last New Year's Eve, I was dressed in sequins and high heels - set for a party. A snow storm and a long talk shifted my career from a small 2 person firm dealing with primarily one investor's portfolio to the broader world of Coldwell Banker RE.
It is not a resounding success financially. I learn a lot but earn little. There are sellers who are arrogant, sellers who are greedy, buyers who are picky. The market tanks and marketing only goes so far.
But then, yesterday, a landlord/client and her new tenant meet for the first time.
When I spoke on the phone with her this morning, the new tenant said - I know its just a rental but You don't understand, a week ago my life fell apart.
A week ago, the woman learned they were being forced out of their home by Jan 1, and she feared the worst - that her 3 kids would have to be split up and sent to relatives for awhile, pulled from schools they knew, friends they relied on. Then she saw an ad I had placed on-line for this home for rent or for sale. The lease is signed, she is starting to pack and she tells her new landlord that her prayers were answered, it is like an angel intervened. She tells the landlord that at service this morning, she vowed to treat the house as her own.
The single-mother landlord with a more-than-full-time job who feared an empty house through the winter is relieved to not have to come up to shovel snow, check pipes, etc... Hugs and tears all around. On Christmas, the new family heads out for lunch and stops at a home with a red bow on the door. Inside are balloons and a cake saying "welcome home". "Mommy, are we moving?" the 4 year old asks? "Merry Christmas" she shouts when she learns the answer is yes. Small miracles make a difference.
That is my memory of 2007. I could have focused on how I get less commission, I could have focused on my boyfriend breaking up with me the day before. But I choose my memory of the day to be a hug in a kitchen between grateful giving women who, as my client and friend said "make Christmas happen". That is what we as Realtors do, make things happen - holidays, homes, happiness.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Comments(3)