2015 was a Year of Change

When I started 2015, I knew it would be a year of change. However, I didn't know all the wonderful things it would bring.

I started the year out with a lot of angst. I had made an application to open our own independent brokerage. During that process, I had to surrender my license and refrain from conducting business. That was a difficult start to the year, given that I couldn't prospect during this time. 

After six long weeks, I finally received my license to open Franklin Homes Realty LLC.

It seemed that I had just gotten the brokerage license, when Tom went in for bilateral knee replacement. It wasn't easy running a brokerage and helping him through recovery. There were a couple of long weeks while he was in the hospital. I was literally working out of his hospital room.

When he finally came home, I became his full-time nurse. Not really where my gifts lie but it was a necessity. Poor Tom, he was such a trooper. He recognized I was stressed between caring for him and running the business.

He was an excellent patient. He was committed to his rehabilitation and worked really hard to improve his life. He had just transitioned to a cane and it was time to drive to St. Louis for our daughter's college graduation. That was a sweet time with both our kids.

There I was--it was mid-May and the year wasn't looking very promising. I feared that the delay in getting the brokerage up and running and time off to concentrate on Tom's recovery had done me in for the year. And then it happened.

The hard work began to pay off and I got several buyers under contract and signed on several new listings. As a result, 2015 ended up being my best year in business to date.

There were so many wonderful things that happened in 2015 but here are the highlights:

1. I got my broker's license.
2. I opened my own independent brokerage, Franklin Homes Realty LLC.
3. After 20 years of chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis, Tom had bilateral knee replacement.
4. Our youngest turned 21 (bittersweet).
5. Our daughter graduated college with honors.
6. Our daughter got a job in Colorado.
7. I closed my most difficult real estate transaction to date.
8. Our church combined with another local church creating Church of the City. This marriage has given us even more opportunities to assist families in our community.
9. Tom and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. 
10. 2015 was my best year to date in real estate.

As you can see, there was a lot going on in our household this year. Early on, it looked as though we were going to have a year of challenges. Then the tables turned mid-year and we had our best year ever; both personally as well as professionally.

Tom is getting around great. He started playing golf again and is playing better than ever. I'm looking forward to him transitioning back into the business full-time this year. My daughter is working in Denver full-time and our son will graduate college in May. We already have three homes under contract to close in 2016; a much better start to the year.

2015 was a year of change. I'm looking forward to what 2016 will bring.

Photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net/stuartmiles