We all have good days and bad, and some truly crazy ones mixed in that drive the stress level up, and tire the brain. It’s part of the real estate business, and life in general.
Showing property downtown, to me, is a huge challenge. It was so in Boston, and it is here in San Diego as well. I don’t do this often but when I do I can always expect some major challenges – finding the properties, finding parking and feeding meters, traffic, the dreaded parking meter sadists, difficult access to condo towers, getting lost in buildings, keys that don’t work, finding dozens of lockboxes on the gate, keys that don’t work, and more. Plus the 60 miles roundtrip.
Yesterday was a tour of 10 downtown condos with an out-of-the-country buyer. Good thing he’s an amiable chap with experience buying – we had lots of good laughs, tons of frustration, plenty of sweating (it was almost 90 yesterday in town), some amusing experiences (opening the door to find the seller, or someone, sleeping on the bed in the middle of the living room), some NOT so amusing (all the lock boxes removed from a building by the HOA and in their management office a few minutes away – I was back and forth between the office and the building, to show 2 properties, 5 times because of broken and missing lockboxes, and more).
Suffice it to say we walked at least 3 miles, and took 4 ½ hours to see 8 of the 10 properties, but it seems the whirlwind search this past week over 3 days will yield an offer. My buyer is a gem, even when we both got totally lost in a large complex of condos for probably 10 minutes before we even found the listing.
The crazy day of ups and downs continues. The day started with a call from a neighbor (and agent) of a listing of mine to let me know the door to the back patio was open and had been for several days. I was just getting dressed to head downtown and pick up my clients. Dealt with that. Fortunately nothing was damaged or missing.
Also got an email that the occupancy rate issue on a condo sale looked dismal for the bank-s underwriter. Urgent calls to the listing agent to talk potential solutions.
The events of showing property were sufficient to drive one to hysteria – won’t bore you with all that. Fortunately keeping a positive attitude, laughing – a lot, maintaining a "c’est la vie" spirit, cursing a bit, and working with a similarly minded buyer made it a bit easier to get through the mess. I didn’t get a parking ticket despite going over my meter by an hour (hah, foiled that parking meter sadist – twice). Probably the worst tour of homes in terms of frustrations I have had in years.
In the middle of all this I got a call that the condo occupancy rate that seemed to be ready to derail my Carlsbad transaction was likely going to get an exception by the lender after all. Yeah!
After dropping the buyer off to ponder the potential offer, I headed home, getting a call on the way that the appraisal on another buyer’s deal came in low. UGH. Lots of phone calls to the listing agent, the buyer, talking about potential solutions, etc. Lots of work to do there and a good possibility it will not get resolved.
Meanwhile I am dealing with a termite inspection on an REO where the bank won’t do a thing, the closing is already delayed a couple of weeks, and it’s late Friday afternoon.
Home to fax a bunch of paperwork, make a dozen calls, gab something to eat (nope, didn’t eat since 7 am), and got a call from an agent planning to submit an offer on one of my listings with a very short closing. Sellers are first timers and are living apart due to relocation, and much hand-holding and answering questions is needed to help get thing going, and considering how the heck to get it all done in 30 days.
I even got to write a blog, write a few comments, and respond to comments, all before dinner. And respond to a couple of new leads from my AR blogging – cool! The glass of wine was a blessing. Finally finished up everything around 11 PM.
Not all days are like this – some are worse, many are much better. No one IMO can say this career is easy, for us or for our buyers and sellers.
Keeping a positive attitude as much as possible, being flexible, following-up, keeping the lines of communication open, laughing, and dealing with folks who do their jobs helps a lot. The rest you just deal with as best you can…and expect to have those hurdles, frustrations, and surprises. Jeez, it made me tired thinking about it as I write.
It reminded me of what Roseann Roseanadana used to say “It just goes to show…it’s always something.’”
Guess I had to vent.
Enjoy the video. If you remember RR you will have fun. If you don't have a clue you will laugh. Or ignore it. It's Saturday!
Jeff - Thanks! I'm enjoying RR. Such a sad thing that she passed at such a young life. OK, I'm supposed to commenting about your post and your day. We can all relate to your day. Had one of those not too long ago and I'm sure we'll all have more. That's what makes this business so frustrating and at the same time so great. It's good that you wrote about it. The public needs to see what it takes to be a Realtor and not the perception that many have. You were also very lucky with your client. But that's also because of the rapport that you built with him as well. OK, I'm going on too much as it is. Congrats on your AR leads. What a great place!!
Jeff ... Congrats on making it through the day with a good attitude and getting the job done! I am bookmarking this post for the next time I hear someone say that REALTORS® don't do anything!
Jeff, this sounds like my week, crazy stuff going on. Writing the offer is the easy part, it is all the crazy issues that are coming up, inspections, FHA for condo's. I agree with you having a positive attitude can improve the situations, because you just have to get through them.
Jeff, sounds like one of those days that you might just want to cry. The only way to handle days like that is to keep a positive attitude and take every thing in stride. I can't believe that you were up to blogging after that.
Looks like the guys in the video were not having a good day either ......... LOL
Thanks for the video... I showed houses to the same couple all day yesterday and today... no matter how much they liked each home, there was "always something" about each one. We even laughed about how it's "always something." :-)
Wow Jeff. Sounds like you had a very tiring, but productive day. It was 107 in Pasadena yesterday, so 90s in San Diego was a good thing given your challenges. Best of luck with your transactions and just remember you're not alone in this! :-)
Hi Jeff, I'm long enough in the tooth to remember RR. Here in the mountains of WNC, ironically, we seem to have some Florida buyers who think they are still in FL when negotiating. They want to spank us for what has happened to them I guess. You just have to love it.
It is always somethin... Thanks for the smile and for keeping things in perspective. The roller coaster is going to run anyway. It is just our response to the stimulus that makes the day good or bad. Good post and I remember RR well. Have a good one.
BTW your background solid color makes the blog very slow to load on my system. Not sure if it is just me but you might want to check.
Oh please, keep me out of the city. Or , keep me out of civilization. Get me to the suburbs or better, get me to the country.
My criteria for wonderful properties to show is based 90% on the ease of parking.
OH-H, I so sympathize with you on the downtown showings. I did it once and decided that was the last. I give those folks to agents who DO work that market. Give me the suburbs!
As to the rest of your day, well ... that's why we love this job isn't it! I've done a few blogs on "such a glam job" but mine mostly deal with our crappy weather. When do we get to do the job where we wear high heals and $500 suits and drive extra clean Benz's like they do on TV?
Jeff, Don't you love days like that though? They give me a feeling of accomplishment. I have to say though that 8 hours with a buyer would be pure torture for me. It's not that I don't enjoy people it's just that I would spend the entire time thinking about all the stuff I need to be doing.
Jeff...Don't you just love days like that?! For me, I feel like I've accomplished alot when I have speedy days....slow days for me means I'll work tomorrow, it's naptime! :) LOL Great post, it came from your heart and was realistic.
Cheron Lange
Jeff, I loved this post. It is such a good account of "a day in the life" ...and how a typical day in a successful agent's career is in NO way, easy! We wear so many hats. Roseanna is too funny, too...thanks for the laugh;-)
Loved this post. I'm a LAND Broker, so I totally empathize...give me pastures, the moutains, a cool breeze...a stream to wade through on my way to some special find...
Once not long ago an agent (residential) told me this was the "easiest job she ever had "...what? she must sit behind a desk at some devleopment and wait for buyers...(??) ..I think your post and these words say it the way it REALLY is..."No one IMO can say this career is easy, for us or for our buyers and sellers.
Keeping a positive attitude as much as possible, being flexible, following-up, keeping the lines of communication open, laughing, and dealing with folks who do their jobs helps a lot. The rest you just deal with as best you can...and expect to have those hurdles, frustrations, and surprises..."
Great recap and definitely demonstrative of how full and myriad our days can be. I've said it before and will again, "real estate is the easiest low paying job and the hardest high paying job" I know.
Glad you found time to post and enjoy that wine ;-)
Jeff, a couple of good ones. Once was out showing with twin sisters, walked in on a guy passed out naked on the bed (it was 3pm the woman laughed the rest of the day). Another time showed a million dollar home and walked in on a woman taking a shower, she cussed me like a sailor. An hour later she called to apologize, she received my message to show on her cell 24 hours after I called her. None of these compare to a friend of ours in Destin, he had 5 clients visiting at spring break. Traffic was horrible 24 hours a day, and most of the condos were rented so he could not show. ugh!
Yours, Frank & Jodi Orlando Get Us A Home Realty Inc & Atlanta Relocate
Jeff - Enjoyed your day in the life of a RE agent - no highrises here, no parking problems, no 3 story buildings, actually, no down town. But it is not so fun showing homes when it is 114 degrees. I leave the car running with the air on. Once, we were in a house for over an hour, and I almost ran out of gas.
Amen brother... and my husband says I never work... I guess he doesn't miss me when I put in the 70 hours a week I already do. Ok.. I am playing today at the wine festival, but he won't figure that one out... LOL.
Please don't make a practice of getting so busy as to not eat all day --- one must stay healthy to keep up the pace that we all have. Just our 2 cents. Take care.
Is there a downtown property for sale here in the Asheville area that has horses? I don't know. I don't go there. I refer those buyers to someone that specializes in the tedium of that kind of self abuse.
Nice to know we all have "one of those days"! I can't say I've had one quite like that...yet, though! And people think they don't need Realtors. Gosh, what would they do without us?!
Here is Michigan we just drive and drive and drive..... but having days like that.... well, you could be anything else and that would be ok. Thanks for venting. I have been knows to wear my sneakers!
Jeff,
I can only imagine how challenging the real estate in California is these days. AFter reading your blog, I sure do hope you take some time to relax. I'd be exhausted if I were you!
Jeff - Your post made me glad that I don't live in an urban area. However i can have the opposite kind of day showing country property, driving 150 miles to show a couple of farms with about 45 minutes driving time between each one. Each transaction has its own set of problems to be solved.
Jeff, just be thankful that you're busy! Busy usually provides a paycheck! Wow, I remember this babe! LOL, woman's place is in the home, drop dead and have a nice day!
Hi Jeff,
Ah, all in the life of a REALTOR! Yesterday I shows property in 108 degree temps. By the time the car cooled down, we were ready for the next one, but they made it!
BTW, I love Roseann Roseanadana...she was one of my favorites. Congrats on the star!
Jeff, I understand, sometimes are good, somtimes are bad, it is not easy to show condos/ townhomes in downtome and specially when sellers are not helping, sometimes is very frustating to find them inside the property, oohhh well, what we can do? Ray Saenz
Well, I was having trouble sleeping, until I read about your day.... I'm starting to feel tired again. The general public has no idea what some of our days are like!
Jeff - I hope lots of buyers and sellers read this - it really tells how a day in our lives can be.
Contrary to your downtown experiences, I love showing condos in downtown St Petersburg - we do it all on foot from my office - I explain that this is, after all, part of the reason for living downtown, to walk everywhere. We can stop along the way for a latte (hot or cold) or a gelato, or on a rainy day a hot expresso - and once we're finished, there are a lot more beverage choices.
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Yesterday was a tour of 10 downtown condos with an out-of-the-country buyer. Good thing he’s an amiable chap with experience buying – we had lots of good laughs, tons of frustration, plenty of sweating (it was almost 90 yesterday in town), some amusing experiences (opening the door to find the seller, or someone, sleeping on the bed in the middle of the living room), some NOT so amusing (all the lock boxes removed from a building by the HOA and in their management office a few minutes away – I was back and forth between the office and the building, to show 2 properties, 5 times because of broken and missing lockboxes, and more).
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What a wonderful diary of a day in the life of a busy agent. It is all ups and downs, but we love it!