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REALTORS Have Different Holidays!

Arlington -- Field of Honor Holiday Weekend! Oh Really?

REALTORS are on a different schedule from the rest of the world.

I hope that everyone gets to take at least some time off this weekend to relax, enjoy a barbeque, and pause to remember and reflect upon the sacrifices and service of the young men and women who are serving and who have served our country. On Friday night, my wife and I watched a very moving DVD National Geographic Special about Arlington Cemetery honoring those who served and sacrificed.

If you took the whole weekend off, good for you! I hope you come back refreshed and ready to for the Summer selling season.

Busy Holiday Weekend Myself -- it was anything but a holiday weekend. It seemed that everyone who didn't leave town called me for an appointment. And several who came to town called too! From Friday through today, it has been a whirlwind of real estate activity.

Friday -- new buyers viewing condos all afternoon

Saturday -- morning showing of one of my listings; all afternoon spent with out of town buyers

Sunday -- listing appointment (and listing taken); afternoon open house w/18 visitors

Today -- a few more showings with Saturday's out of town buyers

Amidst all this, I did get to see the new Indiana Jones movie last night and am heading to a family barbeque this afternoon.

Taking a day off As REALTORS we sometimes operate on a different schedule. Often, unless we specifically plan to take a certain time off and block it out on our schedule, the clients can dictate our activities. There are many benefits to this. We can do our errands when nobody else does -- Wednesday afternoons are a great time to go grocery shopping -- you practically have the store to yourself. We can take a vacation when there is less traffic and rates are lower. We don't need to wait for a holiday weekend to take a holiday, as long as we plan in advance.

We can even make our own weekend or day off. When I first started in real estate, I remember my broker taking off every Wednesday to be on his boat. It was his day off. No phone. No e-mail. No clients. Just relaxing on his sailboat. Yes he worked weekends. Yes he worked evenings, but Wednesdays were sacred.

As REALTORS, it's nice to have that flexibility.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Memorial Day

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Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 05/26/2008 07:27 AM

Comments (41)

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41 Comments on REALTORS Have Different Holidays!

MAY

2008

Indeed. I'm showing new homes today. The builders I want to show are open.

I am doing the same type holiday, hourly, Maybe no whole days but an hour here and there

No such thing as a weekend in Real Estate!

Looks like we have made a choice to surround ourselves with folks we can remind in some way to show respect on this day to those who have given us the freedom to be together today. Great post.

Brian,

Nice post! You say, "REALTORS are on a different schedule from the rest of the world."...Can we conclude then that Realtors are 'counter cultural'...LOL, Thanks, Fran

P.S. Have a Happy Memorial Day!

Brian, Happy Memorial Day to you too. It was a busy weekend, got lots of showings on my listings, one offer. I wrote an offer with zipforms from here and it was bottomed lined last night. The makeover2 takeover assignment was tons of work over the weekend too.

I love when people tell me yeahh its Friday and you can just look at them?! Brian I am working today but only for few hours, hope you will have a nice day!

Brian,

Face it...we generally have to work when the consumer is off. I had a closing on Friday and I had a listing appointment on Saturday and had to prepare a lease. Then yesterday had to meet another client at my house to go over a lease for about an hour...so I worked a little while answering a few calls for showings. Besides that I cut the lawn and had a cold one...today will probably be quiet and that's fine with me.

Brian, you are right we do work a different schedule. It is up to each of us to SCHEDULE our time off and keep it as an appointment! Great points and glad you had the chance to take in a movie. Enjoy the time remaining in the weekend.

Don R.

It is true I have a buyer this weekend and I am mixed between aggravated that I cannot do what I want and happy to have a buyer.

I agree our schedule can be great. But on holidays we can get a little overworked and not have time for ourselves. The nature of our business.

We worked all weekend but are taking today off!

It was nice meeting you in DC at Clydes.

Brian...I like the finer things in life..so,I work 7 days a week...I enjoy what I do.

Memorial Day is a touchy "holiday" for me....this is a day that was established to remember the soldiers who gave their lives...it wasn't setup to give people 3 day beach parties

BLRGUY

I am going in to write a two contracts......(but I would stop if I were in labor and put off the delivery to write a contract.....luckily my son is 20 and there are no more crazy thoughts of having children so I can focus on those contracts).

We all have to do what it takes. I just try to consolidate appointments and no more than 3 hours each Holiday day. Thanks

Brian, have a "productive" holiday! That's what it's all about in this business anyway! And like you say, we get our own!

Today is a "off" day for me. Went to Arlington early this morning and now it is time to enjoy a little R&R for a few hours.

Holidays? Weekend? Humm normally out working, I do take time off in the middle of the week (sometimes) and we plan little holidays when I can get away. Luckily the kids are grown and spouse has retired so the normal work week does not matter.

Freedom Rings for you and me because others gave their lives for us to be FREE!!!

Brian, I love the flexibility I have...I have been able to take off the past week to enjoy my new baby! It has been great!

Brian,

This Profession we have chosen is very demanding and we have to be vigilant in how we balance our time with God, Family and Business.....

No matter what, this weekend MUST be remembered for all those who gave the most for us to be able to celebrate the day......

Enjoy the day whatever you choose to do!

I work from my home most weekends. A little luxury I afford myself after 31 years in the business.

Brian, It is Memorial Day and I just got back from showing one of my short sale listings. And fortunately I think I sold it!!! Of course this asumes I am successful with the bank.

I love the flexibility our job offers. Working from home, as I do, I pretty much spend my days out by the pool on the computer. It just doesn't get any better than that. I just don't know what I would do if I ever had to get a real job!!!

Brian- I love the flexibility of the hours you can work in this business. However, I see too many agents who come to me on the verge of burn out because they are burning their candle from both ends. They take no time off and that is a huge mistake.

Anyone in my coaching program knows that the first requirement is to take one day off a week from real estate. For those who are Jewish, that day is Saturday for those who are Christian that day is Sunday and for certain faiths, Saturday. For Muslims it is Friday. And for those who are not religious they choose one day a week such as your broker did.

We take 2 days off a week and we take holidays off. It has not ever affected our business in a negative way, in fact the opposite happens because you get to recharge your batteries.

The time most buyers have available for looking at homes is on their days off, so naturally their days off are our days on.

I just played golf and went to the movies. Time this week to do business.

I enjoyed a great weekend with a mix or work and pleasure. We are very fortunate in this industry; although we work really really hard - we set our own schedules and we are in control of how much money we can make!!

MAY

2008

glad to hear you got a bit of a weekend but also glad you were able to keep busy! I got the chance to enjoy some good family time and even a pregnancy massage. but tuesday has been busier than ever!

MAY

2008

Brian, not just realtors... mortgage loan officers too. Maybe you get a day or on a major holiday weekend. Freedom, maybe. What about the kids. They work on normal time. Mine are out of the house. But, my wife gets mad when I bring 2 computers on our get-aways. Take care, have fun. AJ

I love the flexibility. There is no better job in the world!

My goodness, you've been a busy little blogger! I haven't had much time, given the M2T contest and business - now, if some of that business would generate some income... My Saturday and Sunday were spent with buyers, but I did reserve Monday for moving out of my office and hosting a cookout. Now, that last part was pretty relaxing.

I love taking off days whenever I want so I have no problem if I have to work holidays. I'm lucky that I can get my kids on the bus and be here when they get home. I don't miss plays or events or games. We are so lucky! In fact, I leave for Florida this Friday for a nice long vacation that I've earned!

MAY

2008

LENN: I hope that your showings went well and that you enjoyed the holiday weekend.

GREG: Sometimes even an hour off can refresh. Especially a good jog or hour at the gym just to clear the mind.

RICARDO: For the most part, that is quite true!

WAYNE: Thanks for your comments. Memorial Day always strikes a chord with me even though I've never been in the military. Actually tomorrow, I'll be going to Arlington National Cemetery for another hero's funeral.

FRAN: Thanks for your little joke in the comment. Counterculture of REALTORS? Sure, why not? Though, I'd say that we are a foundation of culture -- since housing is a necessity for community.

We do have different schedules and the trick is to schedule time for oneself. If I don't schedule myself in the calendar, it is too easy to work long hours without a break. Glad you had some fun over Memorial day.

MISSY: Yes, it was a busy weekend and the busyness has not stopped into the week!

SONJA: Friday is often when the busy work schedule starts for us!

NEAL: You are so right. We often have to work when other people are off. That describes the hours of the average REALTOR very well.

Brian - WOW - glad to hear how busy you are! Wish we had that problem down here!!!

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