What is your purpose in Real Estate?

Have you ever wondered what your purpose in Real Estate is?  Is it to chauffer clients around and look at other people's houses?  Is it to become wealthy?  Is it just because you love the hours, and it is really hard to get fired? 

I don't know, at times I question my own purpose for being in Real Estate.  I have always liked to look at houses and buildings, to see how well they were constructed, and what design features I like.  I don't know whether that is a by product of growing up with my father who was a carpenter, or if is just some innate thing that I like. 

Several years ago, myself and a group of my friends went to Mesa Verde National Park.  It is gorgeous!  It is some of the most amazing vista and sites of ruins that I have ever seen.  I found myself, after realizing just how beautiful the setting was, focusing on the construction of the ruins.  I was amazed that these indigenous people, the Anazasi, were able to construct large buildings without the use of iron tools.  What also amazed me was the straightness of the walls and how square the corners were.

I don't know if that is normal, I don't know if I am sure what normal is!  What I do know is that I came away impressed by the level of skill of these ancient builders.  I think the point of my wandering story is that is what I still remember most vividly of that trip, was the skill with which these ruins were constructed.  Which brings me back to my purpose for being in Real Estate.

I am sure that my fascination with building, and the draw of a great opportunity to become wealthy were the initial desires that drew me to being a Realtor.  I am glad that those things drew me to this profession!  They have become so secondary to what has kept me going through these difficult times, but they did bring me in. 

What keeps me going, I think is the priviledge that I have to help people earn and live the American Dream.  Everyone that has been there knows the feeling when you see the joy in a young couple's eyes as they find the house that they have been dreaming about.  The one with a nice yard so that the children will have a safe place to play.  Many have seen the satisfaction in a retired couple's smile when they see that same look on the face's of that young couple that want's to buy and take care of the home where the older couple raiseed their family and have so many memories.  There is also a touch of remorse in the seller's eyes when they realize that there are so many wonderful memories and experiences that have taken place within the walls of that home.

It is also the feeling of satisfaction, that we as Realtors get when at the end of that difficult transaction, the client offers you a gift, maybe just a simple card or plate of cookies, and says, thank you, we could never have bought this house without you.  In the final analysis, I think that what keeps me and most of the other agents that I talk to going, is the feeling that they have when they have done everything that they could think of to get that house sold, or the deal completed.  You know that feeling, you got the client the best deal possible, and they have been able to achieve what they had desired.

Someone much wiser than me has said,(that is what I write when I don't know who to attribute quote) just take care of the customer needs and the money will be taken care of.  Just some thoughts about what drives me.  So What drives you?

Have a Great Weekend