I will demand a commitment to excellence...Vince Lombardi
Times are tough for Realtors in the Atlanta market. We are providing pro bono therapy for sellers who have been dealt a bad hand in the housing poker game. And then we turn around and respond to buyers who want to buy the White House for $150,000 and some glass beads. Guess who gets caught in the middle? Didn't think it would take you long to figure that out.
Like many of you, I am working in an office environment that has been nurturing and supportive. My broker runs a tight ship and the camaraderie in the office has been a real plus for me over the years. As a result, I spend most of my day at the office where I manage 30 or so active listings and wait for the phone to ring, my email to flow in or the fax machine to light up. I've been doing this a long time and for the great majority of those days the time flew by so fast the day ended long before I got tired or bored.
It's different these days. The office is quiet, lots of agents don't come in at all, or just stop by to pick up their mail. Much of our staff has been furloughed and there is practically no activity. So where can we find motivation in this environment?
I have found comfort in talking candidly with a couple of Realtors I trust. We share our thoughts about the market, about finances and and about the obstacles we face. Sharing has helped me reduce the stress related to this tough market.
Secondly, I have re-dedicated myself to providing excellence for my clients. I am re-working marketing materials, tweaking my website and looking for new ways to promote the properties I have listed for sale.
I started my real estate career in the Homebuilding side of business in 1982, I have weathered every cycle in the market since that time and the biggest lesson I have learned is to accept change. When we emerge from this present tough market, the landscape will be very different on the brokerage side of the business. Open yourself up to change and be prepared for opportunity.
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