Ok to Take Children to Work? NOT!--Kansas City

I'm thinking that most clients would be very open to an agent in this situation.  Of course, it would also depend on how long the kids will be with you and how well behaved they are.

Mary, a lot of women Mom agents drag their little kids around on all sorts of real estate appointments. It is so not the place for them, but they don't have a caretaker at home, so it happens.

Aside from the unprofessional aspect of having a small child with you at the workplace, you should also consider the potential hazards and the accompanying potential liability.  What if Tommy fell down the stairs, got bitten by the dog, or (god forbid) got into the drain cleaner under the sink.

I agree that children shouldn't, generally speaking, be at the office with working parents.  However, life happens.  We are in a time consuming business, without specific parameters and ultimately I think it's about getting the job at hand done.  As long as you know your children and what can be expected of them, I think you can be trusted to make a decision (with your clients' okay) to take a child along when necessary.  As for children in the office rendering us unprofessional, I can't help but conjure the photo up of a three year old Caroline Kennedy sitting under daddy's desk in his office. Never made me think any less of him.

My issue is with people who bring their children to the office on a regular basis and allow them to play games on the office computer or walk from desk to desk, moving other agent's paperwork around.

It's not professional, pure and simple!

I do not take mine to work to just sit there! I put my children to work and it helps as I will ask clients do they mind or most of the time I drop them off @ the mall!

I am actually working with my doctor and his wife, trying to find them a new home.  They have two boys, ages 3 and 5.   Their children are a handful.  The first couple of Saturdays we spent together ended with the wife almost in tears because the children were not allowing them to look at homes in peace.  I did my best as a babysitter, but while I'm babysitting, I'm not effectively handling my role as a Realtor.  It was trying on everyone involved. 

Finally, on the third Saturday, I offered to bring my son.  He is 12 and has Asperger's Syndrome.  He brought his own tools of the trade (practically every toy in his room).  My Jeep was overflowing out the back.  LOL  I paid him $5 per house to babysit for us so the parents and I could look in peace.  Turns out, children with Asperger's Syndrome are sticklers for rules, and make the best babysitters in the world. Theirn boys LOVE my son, and I am able to focus on being their Realtor, while they focus on the homes.

My clients have thanked me over and over for providing that service for them.  Now each time we look, they ask if my son is available to come as well.  When I say yes, they say, "Oh, thank goodness." They have actually offered to pay him themselves.  Of course, I declined that offer.

If I am showing property to someone who does not have children, or does not seem to be child tolerant, my son does not come along.

I agree it is not the most professional but as a mother of 3 who were all babies or not evwen born when I started in the biz I sometimes had to bring them along out of shear necessity of trying to make a living and please my clients at the same time so YES I am guilty but would throw myself on the mercy of the court !

I wouldn't bring my kids unless it was an emergency.  Even then, I would try and reschedule the appointment.

I'm surprised by the number of responses on here that say 'life happens' and 'we have a demanding job that's not 9-5, so it's OK.'

When's the last time you had an appointment with your doctor or attorney and they had their kid running around the office? Don't tell me doctors and attorneys don't work long hours. Yet somehow, they manage to have their kids taken care of while they work.

I hear agents complain constantly about their clients not seeing them/treating them as professionals ('we're professionals, just like doctors and lawyers' is a common one), yet we don't think we need to treat our businesses as a doctor or lawyer would, and make arrangements for our children while we take care of our clients?

You know what Mary... when I was 23 and married and expecting I might have agreed with you.  As it turns out, life does not always go as planned.  My husband left me midway pregnancy.  So there I sat a single mom.  My daughter was practically raised in a real estate office and has more likely at her tender age of 21 forgotten more about real estate than some agents will ever learn.  I'm lucky, she was an over mature great child.  She started professionally answering my phones at the office at about 8.  She took detailed messages and entered data into the MLS.  She's now a full time college Senior with not one, but 2 jobs.  She has wonderful work ethic, she knows the value of a dollar.  She treats her customers with respect and in a very professional manner *she works in collections at one of her jobs, she sells advertising at another.  So after a life of it that worked for me, worked for her, I respectfully say if the parent is in control as opposed to the child, it can be a wonderful thing.

Oh and the last fifteen years that I've been the boss, other agents in my office bring kids, grandchildren and one of my agents brings her mom.  Life happens.  And I promise, if you walk into my office on any given day, it will not be apparent that "one of these things doesn't belong here" no matter who brought who to work that day.

So maybe in your opinion I'm just NOT PROFESSIONAL, but since you've never done business with me or my office I don't think I'll change my office policy because of your opinion, which by the way I feel you have every right to have an opinion that differs from mine.

Hi Mary -- I agree.  The only time I have taken my kids is when I am just running errands that don't require client interaction.  At one open house, my wife showed up with the kids and my youngest (5 at the time) yelled out (in front of other buyers milling about): THIS HOME GIVES ME THE CREEPS!

Not good.  I had a huge chuckle but kids can say and do the darndest things, let alone it's not professional.

My son has become a local celebrity because I have him on my weekly radio show. I take my son when I have developed a relationship with my investors. It is an individual call.

Mary:

Not having children, I have never even thought of this. If you are talking about someone occasionally bringing their child into the office, I am sure that is not a problem. However, I can't even conceive of a Realtor bringing their child to a property showing.  Particularly with a new client. I think it would be perceived as completely unprofessional. 

That said, it is a reality that people have child care issues and, as some have said here, this is often a 24/7 type of business. If someone is forced into bringing their child with them once in awhile, what can they do? I just think it is better to avoid it if possible. 

I think that depends I take my kids to work and they sit there and you would never know it I have shown houses with them and sold them.  Then again I have an agent who sometimes brings her kids and everyone in the office leaves because they cannot stand it and right before I blow she leaves so it depends if your kids can allow you to look professional.  Otherwise you hurt your image, disprespect your clients etc etc.

Mary, this is a tough one.  As a working mother, there are times when career and family collide.  I will exhaust all options before bringing my kid on an appointment.  If I do need to do that, I ask the client's permission.  Usually this happens when someone asks to see me at last minute.  I'd never bring him to the office for an entire day - not fair for anyone involved.

If I do bring him to a showing, I have food and entertainment for him.  What's great is that as he's grown older, he has developed a very good sense of what is a good house and what is not a good house.  And do you know what is interesting?  The times that I've brought him along, an offer has always been written!  So...maybe he's my good luck charm.  Maybe folks see that I have someone to support.  Who knows - it's just always worked out that way.

So for me - kids only if no other solution is available and the client is agreeable.  Otherwise, schedule another time.  Thanks.

Amen