Summertime at Port City Realty means children in office, agents going to the beach or the river in the middle of the day, our MLS secretary, Kay working four days a week, and vegetables. It's amazing we get anything done. You've got to love it!
I have a family real estate business, and by family I'm not just talking about my family. I do have a lot of family that works here, but everyone's family is not just welcome, but encouraged to come to the office anytime. My daughter, Becca, brings her children with her a lot during summer months. She shares an office with Brandi, who also brings her children with her in the summer. My sister Katie brings her children quite often, and others bring their children occasionally. None of the agents have their children in daycare. The children stay with grandparents or come to work with Mom all summer long. Talk about early training. We are raising second and third generation Realtors right here in our office. You'll also find them helping show houses, on caravan, at Realtor Open Houses and on Sunday afternoon helping their mom's hold Open House. And it probably goes without saying, but everyone's grandchildren are welcome anytime. There's nothing better on the planet than grandchildren!
I know, I know, Many Realtors and Brokers would consider children everywhere unprofessional. That is why we don't work at other companies. I really believe in putting family first. Times are hard and people need to work. If my family didn't work with me I would hardly ever see them. Same goes for some of the parents that work for me. By the way, we are talking about some very well behaved children. There is no running wild at open houses. They all have been taught respect for other people's property.
Of course, whenever possible I encourage my agents to take off and spend a few hours at the beach or on the river. The last day Becca took her kids to the river her friends teased her because she worked on the computer the whole time. But at least she got to spend time with her kids and her friends - and got some work done. That's one thing I've always liked about real estate, you can do it from anywhere.
Kay's youngest is in high school. Since all of my children are grown I am only too aware that she does not have very much time left with a child at home. She is off every Friday in the summer so they can enjoy long weekends. I believe a happy employee is a more productive employee and we can do for ourselves one day a week around here.
And I love all the fresh vegetables. I have agents with incredible gardens! I have already had two different agents bring me squash this summer. I have also seen cucumbers and tomatoes in the office. I hear Brandi also grows corn! I'm so impressed by this. I think it's really cool that food just grows right out of the ground. I'm quite sure that I could not make it happen, but I'm so glad that others do.
So, while we are playing with the kids, and at the beach and growing vegetables how do we get any work done? I'm not always sure, but we do. May was our best month this year (even a little better than last May) and June is shaping up to be even better than May. We work where we play and play where we work and in the end we have a very happy group of productive agents.
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