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March 1st is the worst day of the year for real estate.

By
Real Estate Agent

I own a real estate brokerage that is not doing very well right now; in fact it has lost a lot of money over the last 4-5 months. So much so that I have been quite stressed about it recently, and found myself outpouring my stress to my father today over the phone.  During the call he responded with the expected condolences and then we hung up. 

However, a few hours later the magic happened.  He called me back up and told me that he had been thinking about the stress I was under and the situation that I am in.

His thought was "Don't worry about it!" He said that "March 1st is the worst day of the year in real estate. It is the very last day before things start to turn around. 

Although you may not have that many pending deals on the books right now, starting next week, the business outlook will start to get better.

In Fall you have very little new production, but you are still fat from all of the business closed over the summer. You sleep the Winter, and right now you're just starting to cook again.

Mark my words, starting next week things will get better. 

So like many "know it all twenty-something sons", I said, "Thanks dad for the encouragement, but I don't think you understand the complexities of the situation."

As you have already guessed, and as has occurred many times before, I realized the wisdom of what he was saying a few hours later, after it had a chance to sink in;

March 1st is the worst day of the year, but at the same time it is also the best.  It is the end of the road for the toughest times, and hope is the only thing to be seen going forward.    

Comments (50)

Nancy Brenner
Referral Associates of Georgia, Inc. - Roswell, GA
Roswell Georgia Real Estate Agent
You dad is a very wise man!  Each day is better than the one before it!
Mar 02, 2008 12:19 AM
Jay McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH
Real Estate Broker
Always remember the glass is half full and "The man who sold hot dogs". Maybe this story will help a little too.
Mar 02, 2008 12:26 AM
Andrew Trevino
ADT Real Estate - Wilkes Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre Homes For Sale

Jonathan,

It sounds like you have a wise father. I'm glad you saw the wisdom there and took heart because of it. The worst thing we can do, in any situation, is lose hope. That's the beauty of real estate. There's always a ton of new opportunities around the corner. If you stop moving, you'll never get to that corner.

Mar 02, 2008 12:58 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Gee.  Thanks for the great news.  I'm so glad to find that things are now going to pick up.

Actually, they have. 

Mar 02, 2008 02:29 AM
Jon Washburn
Seattle, WA

Sally asked if today is a better day for me on another post and I told her I would answer here:

I have been aggressively starting businesses since I was 15 years old.  It is always challenging.

I take big risks with my businesses. I do my best to ensure they are smart and calculated, but either way I do not shy away from risk. 

I am able to do this and still sleep comfortably at night because I trust God and accept whatever he has planned for me.

Mar 02, 2008 03:29 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Jon: You took big risks .....with AR and look where it is today...I'm one to be calculated as well.. although more risks at this point in my life than when I was your age.  I know one thing...if I don't try I'll wonder the rest of my life. I'd rather know the outcome from trying.

I'm glad you sleep well ... that's another thing I wasn't able to do in younger years...I worried too much for hypothetical situations. No longer have troubled sleep and wake up to a new day.

In any case, we move on. :)  Have a wonderful Sunday....

 

Mar 02, 2008 04:39 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time
Jon, I thrive on adversity. When my business is going too well I get bored. The last year or so has been very challenging and this year is not looking good thus far. But I like it. It forces me to reevalute how I do things and make changes where necesary. Everytime I thing I'm going down something good comes along. For me getting too comfortable is a bad thing. 
Mar 02, 2008 08:08 AM
Antoinette Scognamiglio, GRI, ASP
Coldwell Banker Realty - Mountain Lakes, NJ
There's no substitute for EXPERIENCE!

Jonathan Washburn, you need to aquaint yourself with the power of attraction.  Use your e-MOTION for the business you want to create the energy that draws it to you.  There's so much written on this and it works.  One of the other awesome REALTORS we have on A/R wrote of SCRIPTING.  I don't remember his name but he's a nice dude in Florida.  Search "scripting" in A/R blogs.  It isn't crazy-ass nonsense; it WORKS. 

You're so lucky to have your dad encouraging you.  He sounds like a great guy!  God bless and sell!  :)

Mar 02, 2008 09:48 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
Even though the business is changing and technology has moved in, there are always things that are consistent.  That is where age and experience has an edge.
Mar 02, 2008 12:25 PM
Midori Miller
Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals
Jonathan-we all have days like this even at my age!  The beautiful part...you bounce back..stronger...smarter and better...yes your father has wisdom and I can bet you learn each time he speaks.  I bet today you do not the feel the same as yesterday!  Everything changes including our feelings.
Mar 02, 2008 12:34 PM
Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
AHWD
Jonathan - What a great post! Indeed, the future is bright for all of us!!!! You are lucky to have such a wise father! Remember to let him know it! They don't stick around forever - I lost mine over a dozen years ago -
Mar 02, 2008 01:03 PM
Michelle DeRepentigny
Success Realty - Athens, GA
Broker Athens, GA
AMEN!  From your dad's mouth to God's ears.  I went from 0 (pending) to 5 houses under contract in the last 10 days.  All it took was a lot of attitude change on my part and several warm days in a row in Georgia.  I'm really praying for a great spring market.  I've been listening to a few of my agents whine about being broke and decided I have to prove to them that the business is out there.  My guys had better watch out next week, we ARE going to have a great year - whether they like it or not, lol.
Mar 02, 2008 04:53 PM
Jill Wente
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | Gary Greene - Spring, TX
Realtor, CRS, MCNE, CHMS
Your father is a wise man. Sometimes it takes some one the outside to be able to show us the way
Mar 03, 2008 03:32 AM
Fran Gatti
RE/MAX Integrity - Medford, OR
Managing Principal Broker - RE/MAX Integrity
Yep, I had my first closing of the year a few days ago, but there are more to come in the next few weeks, and dad was right, things are picking up.  Yippee.
Mar 04, 2008 06:04 PM
Ryan Martin
Pacific Continental Realty, LLC - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Commercial RE Broker

Jonathan - Your brokerage isn't suffering because your agents aren't working hard. I ran into one of them while I was showing a vacant house this weekend Bellingham. I am not sure if I was more surprised that 2 agents were showing the same house at the same time or the fact that the other agent had driven 2 hours (through Everett no less) to show a couple of homes.

BTW: I was chatting with your cousin Rob this morning about the web and your name came up. 

Mar 11, 2008 10:52 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Jon- I loved what you said about a 20 something son.......I also liked how your father put it....I took a big risk last year in Jan. and opened another Office....oh my has it been a challenge.  I darn near lost everything, but then again I can't really lose everything as long as I am an Optimist :)  thank you for this Post.
Mar 16, 2008 01:02 PM
Sasha Miletic - Windsor Real Estate
RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - Windsor, ON
Your dad is right, When I read your post the heart warming message of a father to a son came through louder than the frustration over the real estate market.
Mar 22, 2008 05:07 AM
Susan Zanzonico
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services - Morristown, NJ
Sellers/Buyers Agent, Morristown NJ Real Estate

Hi Jon, your dad has a great outlook.  Its like having the outlook that tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life and a whole new opportunity.  I really think its a state of mind in alot of ways.  I try not to watch the negative news on TV because it just sets the stage.  Thanks for the story!

Apr 07, 2008 12:11 PM
M. Suzi Woods (Gravenstuk)
NOW Sharing the life and spice of the GC one day at a time - Grand Canyon, AZ
Suzi Woods, Prior Independent REBroker in MS
Jonathan, With your awesome photo, I thought at first you were talking with the "Dad" that many of us have in common. The Law of Attraction works and will not fail you.
Apr 15, 2008 02:30 PM
Christine Hooks
Pino Agency - Pennsville, NJ
Celebrating 25 Years in Real Estate!

I loved this post.  I'm wondering how everything turned out and if Dad was right?

Mar 15, 2011 04:31 PM