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Inappropriate Attire Failed Me; Agility did not!

By
Real Estate Agent with Cherimie Crane & Associates
All jobs require a specific skill set, a particular professional swagger, an acquired air of ability that translate into an unquestioned competence. The world of real estate is no different. Unlike the thirty minute episodes of HGTV, pairing home seekers with a new home doesn’t always consist of a seamless path from point a to point b. More often than not it is as easily navigated as the thickest of thorn laden thickets. Instead of gracefully sashaying right to the front stoop of the perfect home, signing a few documents and calling it a day, the real world offers the occasional unexpected obstacle. 
 
The ability to manage the unexpected with some amount of grace separates the successful from the well rested. Contrary to the capacity to think prior to speaking, enthusiasm comes easily for me. Pairing home seekers with new construction is a mental exercise of which I never tire. Assisting a family in transforming a floor plan into a family plan brings me almost as much joy as red velvet flavored anything. Being so passionate, so enthusiastic and so excited can often lead to being so blind. Prior to meeting the winter weary travelers from some snowed in city of the North, I must have overlooked one simple step. Actually, I overlooked exactly five steps. The steps into the home had yet to be built. 
 
Typically, I am dressed for the journey through sawdust and sheetrock. My well worn boots have hopped, climbed and traveled through countless construction zones. My excitement and innate talent of always being overdressed at the most inopportune times, served me no favor. Standing at the front of the home in progress it became clear there was little hope especially in high heels. Having only moments before the clients arrived, I began searching for anything to assist in my vertical misfortune. Of all the skills I have acquired, growing three feet in ten minutes eluded me.I suppose it is an occupational hazard. I did the only thing I could do. I kicked off my shoes, prayed no one was within video range and reverted back to my running long jump days of yore. Inappropriate attire failed me, agility did not. 
 
Once I finally gained entrance, sans shoes, I was able to devise a suitable ramp so that unsuspecting clients could forego ninja type tactics. HGTV just doesn’t show the good stuff I suppose. The winter weary travelers walked through the framed home, room by room noting construction, discussing room layout and commenting on the ease of living in our sweet little town. With dirty feet and an accomplished smile, I answered their questions. 
 
Again, all jobs require a specific skill set, a particular swagger and that acquired air of ability. Some jobs also require ninja moves, creative thinking, and occasionally dirty feet. After all, if it was easy everyone would do it. 
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1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Cherimie Crane , I'm so glad that you were good at the long/high jump.  I'm getting a little older and the hips and knees do not want to jump and run the way they used to.. I did recently have to park my derriere in the house (no front steps) and swing the legs in and then stand up.. it worked.. and then tossed down a five gallon bucket from the construction, for buyers to use as a step.. We do what we have to!  Nicely written, great read. 

Mar 23, 2015 12:02 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Cherimie, the older I get, the more the issue of challenging footwear disappears. I now wear geezer shoes, and they can pretty much handle pretty much any challenge that new construction can dish out.

Mar 24, 2015 12:20 PM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I try to be ready for most anything and have extra clothes and shoes at my disposal

Mar 24, 2015 12:33 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

When I was working with development, I used to keep a pair of "mud" shoes in my trunk.  Just like the boy scouts, it's good to be prepared.  Always.

Mar 24, 2015 12:42 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Cherimie-  while I love my flip flops, they don't work for staging , especially when you find yourself throwing mattresses over the balcony down to the first floor!

Mar 24, 2015 12:43 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I think I remember you posts of years gone by of selling whole subdivisions at a time.  I loved reading your antics.

Mar 24, 2015 12:51 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Cherimie  You were amazing   " Some jobs also require ninja moves, creative thinking, and occasionally dirty feet."  Talk about thinking on your feet!

Mar 24, 2015 01:18 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Great story! The HGTV shows do portray a certain amount of poise and grace that doesn't always come with the job.  I showed up to a foreclosure before my client to open up the house for them. Upon opening the door a rat came running out, ecstatic to be free!  I was grateful I was able to ungracefully freak out on my own time, and not my clients! 

Mar 24, 2015 01:27 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I guess agility has multiple meanings In this case! Keep at it and keep working hard! Love and light!

Mar 24, 2015 02:25 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

HGTV has a certain level of production that can never happen in real life and shouldn't be able to happen with real life, I think.

Mar 24, 2015 02:27 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

That's why I carry a small ladder in my car. :) and besides I threw away ALL my heels 20 years ago.

Mar 24, 2015 02:59 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Cherimie - I have quite the picture of your day in my mind, and you got the job done.

Mar 24, 2015 03:50 PM
Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farm & Commercial Land Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
Farm & Commercial Property For Sale 308-627-3700

Hi Cherimie Crane   Thanks for the laugh this morning...I can visualize the long stretch from one side of the deep chasm filled with alligators and spiked boards!!

I am glad you made it over...can you imagine your clients walking up and you standing in the bottom...with hair slightly amuss...and a smudge on your clothes??

By the way...my long jump, high jump, and dancing jump are about gone...but I can still get a wee bit of daylight between my feet and the ground!! The picture to the left probably is self explanatory as to why I am vertically and horizontally challenged!! Have a great week!

Mar 24, 2015 11:23 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Cherimie, you did what any good agent would do. You improvised. Good for you for thinking outside the box and making a good showing happen in spite of obstacles. A true pro!

Mar 24, 2015 11:33 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Best investment I made was a pair of steel-toed boots to change into. I agree with Alan May 

Mar 24, 2015 11:55 PM
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

Great story Cherimie Crane . Improvise, improvise.... it's part of life and being a pro. Nothing stops you. Ok, now you have learned to carry additional clothes and shoes, boots, etc... maybe even a hard hat in your car. I do.

Mar 25, 2015 12:57 AM
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -

HGTV misses many of the amazing things we do in the course of our duties as real estate professionals!

Mar 25, 2015 02:33 AM
S. Leanne Paynter ☼ Broward County, FL
United Realty Group, Inc. - Davie, FL
Davie, Plantation, Cooper City & Weston Specialist

"After all, if it was easy everyone would do it."   ... ain't that the truth!  We do what we must.

Apr 06, 2015 12:03 PM