I had to smile when I read a blog post written in February 2007. My youngest son had recently returned from Iraq after two tours of duty. He worked as my assistant as he adjusted to civilian life. I changed my work environment to accommodate our change in office space requirements. Little did I know the real estate market was about to crash and recovery would not occur for several years.
As the market declined to depths not seen since the Great Depression, I was resolute in my determination to survive and even thrive. If my son could survive the challenges of being in a war zone and cope with the after-effects of post traumatic stress, surely I could find the willpower and courage to ride out a faltering real estate market.
I'm happy to say not only did we both survive the challenges we faced, my son is now a college graduate and doing well, and I'm now the broker/owner of my own real estate company. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!
The Veteran and The Graduate 2015
Original article of 2007:
Six months ago I moved from a "boiler room" office setting to my own private office, complete with conference room, (Yes, it's small, but it's mine.) mini kitchen and private bathroom. I must admit it was an impulsive decision. Let me explain.
My youngest son had recently completed his tour of duty with the Marine Corps. Two tours in Iraq certainly took its toll on this Marine Mom. My focus for the past four years was supporting him, his squad and platoon. Real estate slipped to a back burner. I showed up at the office, returned calls and attended to the business that came my way. But, I also shopped for bulk food for his squad and on holidays treats for the entire platoon. I became good friends with the ladies at the post office, wrote lengthy daily emails, checked Myspace for any new postings, and waited for the sporadic phone call.
When he stepped off the military plane and entered civilian life, I knew my life was about to change too. I felt truly blessed to have him home, and as a transitional job, he agreed to work as my assistant. We needed more space and privacy. I wanted him to be able to speak freely as he disengaged himself from the fog of war, and after living in crowded quarters in the military he was not anxious to work in a cubicle.
Presto! A "For Rent" sign appeared in the office building across the street. Two days later we were moving in. It was a fresh start for both of us. Within a week the office was furnished down to the artwork on the walls.
Now for the pros and cons of working in your private office:
+Time Management: I'm a self-starter, so without the office chit chat, questions and conversations I accomplish more in four hours than I previously did in eight.
+Client Satisfaction: My clients stop in more frequently and feel free to sit and chat longer with the absence of other agents on the premises. I'm moving toward having clients come to the office rather than carrying documents to them, and a private professional setting is helping me establish this procedure.
+Better Work Environment: I've personalized the space with my artwork, my plants, a couple of great antique desks and I love walking into my office each morning! My files are all in one location. My signs and other real estate equipment are in the storage room. My assistant son and I can talk freely with disturbing anyone. When I'm searching for a solution to the latest real estate issue, or deciding how to respond to a counter offer, I can indulge in gardening, preparing a cup of my favorite tea, listening to some soothing music, or even pull out my yoga mat and send some extra blood to my brain!
-Cost: It is definitely more expensive, but since I needed to rent a second desk for my son anyway, the benefits outweigh the added expense. I calculated I needed to make one average sale for my area to cover the additional costs. So, I'll work a little harder.
-Isolation: This could be an issue, but my previous office is just across the street. I still pick up company mail, drop off paperwork and mingle with co-workers when time permits. I've noticed I attend more classes, seminars and educational opportunities offered by my company. I also call my clients more frequently. I seem to have more time.... or perhaps I just waste less of it now.
My home office is where I spend most of my working hours, but my current partner, Josh, (different son) and I do rent office facilities with conference room availability as needed. We also spend a sizable number of hours in the car as a large potion of our business takes place on the go. One thing I've learned for certain is real estate is always evolving and changing. I believe adaptability is one of the best traits a real estate agent can possess.
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