This Is Why I Do What I Do: Lifting Hearts~Building Dreams
Thank YOU Melissa Grant for your inspirational contest to write “This Is Why I Do What I Do”. While I was
reading the requirements for the contest, instantly my thoughts went into overdrive and my emotions shadowed a flood of tears because that very profound statement takes me to where my story begins..
It was a spring day in 2007 and a day that would be filled with brightness, love and a Happy Birthday X2. My twin boys had just turned 14 the day before and we decided to celebrate with a party at the bowling alley on Friday with pizza and a fun night full of laughter.
With all the many hats to wear, being mom and wife had to take precedence over everything else once the clock hit 4:30 on Friday because I had a date with my family and I knew I must be on time because any disappointment from my loved ones would fill my conscience for days. I did it! I wrapped everything up with my clients and my files and headed out to meet my family. Shewwww...balance!
There they were, the 4 of them eager to grab a hold of my hand and have a great time as a family to celebrate 2 very important birthday’s. Then my cell phone rings! The grumbly expressions on the faces of my two boys caught my attention, but I still proceeded to answer the phone, “hello this is Julie”. My sweet hubby stood in patience staring at me and my little girl, well her innocence kept her at peace. I have to admit, at that time I was just approaching my first year in the business and my ability to turn off my phone before 10 p.m. hadn’t been figured out yet, nor did I take into full consideration what affects this was having on my family.
As my loving family made their way into the bowling alley I sat on a bench outside visiting with the sweet voice on the other end of the phone. The caller said, “Hi my name is Mary (name changed to protect my client) and I received your letter in the mail and wanted to know how much you could sell my house for”. Kindly I responded by asking her a list of questions to get started on selling her home.
It didn't take long before one of my boys ran outside, "mom are you coming"? I was surprised when Mary said, “Oh Julie, are you with your family?” I responded with a “yes, we are celebrating my boys' birthday’s”. She immediately jumped in and said “Julie, my dad was a REALTOR® for 21 years and it was horrible growing up with him attached to a phone or leaving us all the time. I want you to take my number and call me back when you are done being with your family. Please hear me Julie your family will appreciate your presence there”. WOW! That hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn’t know this kind lady on the other end of the phone and felt as though God placed this angelic figure into my life for a very profound reason. So I listened intently and made my way to be with my family, however before hanging up I made sure we set an appointment, which was for Monday.
Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. ~Swedish Proverb
Monday arrived and the excitement of meeting Mary really set in, especially because of her kindness by reaching out to me and putting me in check with BEING with my family. As we were going over my listing presentation, she opened up and began to tell me about her story of being a single mom and all the responsibilities that go along with that title. Her words were followed by a painful flood of tears and that’s when I reached my hand across the table to hold hers so that I could let her know “it’s going to be OK, I’m going to help you through this”. She became embarrassed by her tears and kept apologizing. I’ll tell you, growing up with a mom who raised me on her own until I was 12 had me in a position of understanding where she was coming from and although it was difficult to hold back the tears I wanted her to know that she had nothing to be ashamed of. Again, I held her hand and said, “please don’t apologize, it’s really OK, you can spill your heart out to me all you want”. She said, “where did you come from"? A smile crossed my face and I told her, “I’m not only here to sell your house and help you find a new one, I’m also here to be your friend”.
We completed the listing packet and within a couple of days we had her home under contract and we were out looking for another home for her to buy. Before long we found her a new home and so very soon we were sitting at the closing table as she was making her last step to starting a new life. With every signature Mary attached to the documents, she also had a great big smile across her face and with that smile that so brightly lightened the room, I thankfully said a prayer in my heart to thank God for allowing me to be in this profession that I so truly love.
Every client that I have had the privilege of helping to date has truly been a blessing to me. Whether it was their specific situation, a story they have shared or the illumination that filled the room when they entered into the house they would now call home, I can look back with pure fulfillment and say that there is no where I'd rather be and This Is Why I do What I Do~Lifting Hearts~Building Dreams! (my tag line)
Where could I possibly go to fulfill so many of my life's passions? God laid the foundation for me,
now I will continue to build upon it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Julie Neerings, GRI- Heart of Utah Real Estate Copyright © 2008- If you are considering buying, selling, military relocations to Hill AFB or relocating to Utah, you deserve local expertise and advice to be provided by a professional in real estate. Julie Neerings is a Utah REALTOR® providing full time, professional real estate services to buyers and sellers in the cities of Layton, Bountiful, Woods Cross, West Valley, West Jordan, South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman and all surrounding cities.
;)
;)
