Home > Blogs > Martha Brown > Annapolis MD Homes and More

It's 11:30 pm. Do You Know Where Your're Real Estate Agent Is?

By Martha Brown

Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 DRE# 319853

June 18, 2008 04:01 PM

Life is busy. Somedays it seems as if my head hits the pillow when it's time to get up again. Here it is 11:30 on a Wednesday night and I am still at my desk working. Well not quite working now as I am here writing a blog and reading and commenting on others blogs as well. But before this I was changing comments on my listings in the MLS, checking new to market inventory for Buyers I am so lucky to be working with, writing ads for my Open Houses this weekend, sending off emails, planning for tomorrow. And this is just a small part of what this day has brought my way.

I know my Buyers and Sellers don't know what crazy hours I devote to them on any given day. But that is ok. It's what I am passionate about and love to do. For me, this day consisted of making calls, taking calls, answering emails, sending emails, harking our listings, calming anxious Sellers, prodding along squeamish Buyers, previewing properties, attending office meetings and tours, following up on our closings and even holding some together by the skin on our knuckles, writing notes, meeting for a business bite (that's coffee or lunch or an ice cream) with past clients or business partners, chasing agents down for feedback, taking photos, updating my listings and then updating some more. it was a juggling act from beginning to end.

But wait... in the midst of this busy day I took time to watch a deer eat corn we put out for the ducks just yards from our front porch, gazed at the most incredible and vivid rainbow I had seen in years and spent some time with a few real estate buddies in a good ol' belly laugh.

So even though life is busy and I am putting in some pretty crazy hours for my Buyers and Sellers life still manages to bring moments of unsurpassed pleasure. You gotta love it.

Martha Brown- Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate. 410-451-5011 X5011

Comments(14)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Mike Jaquish

Realty Arts - Cary, NC

919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Martha,

My wife's real estate agent is fixin' to hit the sack.

Yes, full days. Daily.

Jun 18, 2008 04:04 PM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Me too! Yes, we do put in long hours and no, I don't believe consumers have any idea WHAT we do, let alone how much time we spend doing it FOR THEM. 'Haven't spent much time on ActiveRain since the Makeover2Takeover Contest began, so it was nice to log in tonight and see you here, my friend.

Jun 18, 2008 04:52 PM

Frances C. Rokicki

Fran Rokicki Realty, LLC - Bolton, CT

Broker-Mentor,CRS

Martha, What a lovely ending to your frantic beginning of a day. Being able to capture a few of those aha (not sure of the spelling) moments is priceless. I hope your clients appreciate your hard work and dedication to them.

It's a Good Life!

Fran

Jun 19, 2008 06:45 AM

Kim Harris

Sound Realty - Kirkland, WA

Designated Broker/Owner/Sound Realty

Martha, Sometimes a small moment similar to yours is all we need to keep up with pace and hours involved in doing our job. Buyers and sellers have their own time restraints, and don't care most of the time about ours. We do whatever it takes to get to completion. I have owned my own business's for over 37 years and am still waiting to act like those great looking, happy with lots of free time people, we see on late night TV, selling us all kinds of get rich quick schemes in real estate. Ardell and I were trying to remember the last weekend we took off....it has been over 3 years ago..

Jun 19, 2008 07:10 AM

Kimberly Underwood Kostescu

Coldwell Banker Crampsie Realty - Windsor, ON

At 11:30pm on most nights you'll find right here ! In the rain !

Kimberly

Jun 19, 2008 08:58 AM

Elaine Hanson

Coldwell Banker Realty - Malibu | Topanga - Malibu, CA

REALTOR - Topanga, CA Real Estate Agent

Martha, I like this. You have very accurately outlined what we do and then given us the key to getting through it all.

Consumers think we make tons of money for just writing up an offer. We work hard and then the money goes out in so many different directions. Maybe it would be easier to try to find that pot o' gold at the end of your beautiful rainbow! ;)

Jun 19, 2008 09:21 AM

Martha Brown

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 - Annapolis, MD

Your Homes Around Annapolis Agent

Mike- Ahh that is one thing about this business. We are never alone in our late hour office hours.

Magaret- I know YOU put in long hours too. You are definitely one of our more dedicated agents and bloggers and I for one appreciate that.

Fran- Aha moments are wonderous and it makes all the long hours easier.

Kim- It certainly is enough to re-energize me and always keeps a smile going. I guess I am even more fortunate than I thought as I have certainly had a weekend or two off in the past 3 years.

Kimberly- I seem to find myself checking in too after I finish my days work no matter what the time and more times than not it is very late.

Jun 19, 2008 09:29 AM

Martha Brown

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 - Annapolis, MD

Your Homes Around Annapolis Agent

Elaine- Wouldn't that be nice. The rainbow was actually iminating from our pond just down from our house and I thought hmmmm Oh well. My pot of gold is sitting at the settlement table so needed to get to work. It still beats a 9-5 job any day.

Jun 19, 2008 01:19 PM

Debra Kukulski, Broker Associate

RE/MAX Suburban - Cary, IL

SRES;SFR,CDPE;GRI;ABR;e-PRO Realtor, Northern IL

Martha...great post! Our days sometimes seem like they never end but we should be grateful for the business and, like you, make sure we are taking the time to enjoy our lives along the way:-)

Jun 20, 2008 08:34 AM

Martha Brown

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 - Annapolis, MD

Your Homes Around Annapolis Agent

Debra- That is one thing I have acquired from working this business that I took for granted before and that is to truly enjoy those special moments that pop up throughout the day.

Jun 20, 2008 12:31 PM

Sharon Parisi

United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX

Dallas Homes

Great post! It is so true that we keep crazy schedules. I love what I do so much that it does not seem like working most of the time. -And you are right. We have time each day to smell the flowers.

Sep 23, 2008 05:34 PM

Stephanie Pitel

Smart Referral Network, LLC - Glendale, AZ

Yep - my husband used to think I was avoiding him and the kids when I was in the home office late at night. Now he works with me and loves to tell everyone he's right in here with me late at night! Of course, that's often because we are able to attend the kids' activities earlier in the evening and even attend field trips at school. It's a Good Life!

Sep 23, 2008 06:04 PM

Mike Norvell Sr

Morris Williams Realty - Leesburg, FL

Norvell Consulting Group

Martha....I think it reaches a point of diminishing returns......there are only so many hours in a day, we need to take some time to ...take some time..I make myself more productive by starting early, and call my day by 8 pm at the latest....I will admit that some times my wonderful wife is tapping on her watch to remind me of my goals, but I feel better with the new limits..Hire an assistant...I did, and now we get more done in less time, and its done better , websites updated, mail dropped off, lots of stuff that really did not require me...all for a few hundred a week and YES, I am getting more done and concentrating on more deals that make money

Sep 23, 2008 11:16 PM

Martha Brown

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 - Annapolis, MD

Your Homes Around Annapolis Agent

Sharon- Those special moments are worth all the crazy hours hands down

Stephanie- It is a very good life!

Mike- An assitant is on my list for sure. Had one last year but she left and just have not taken that step to replace her

Sep 24, 2008 03:36 PM