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Are you a "TEACHER LOUNGE" Realtor® ?

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana

 

THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE- it's everything you imagined it to be as a former student, parent, or school patron. 

In 31 years of teaching secondary school I perhaps visited this hallowed institution of venting frustration, carping, and discussing students and administration perhaps ten times. 

In my very limited exposure to the Teacher's Lounge I could understand those venting moments -unless you have been in the classroom you have no idea what I am talking about, BUT I knew this was not for me.  I wanted to know the possibilities-what I could DO; not hear what I, a student, or the school system COULD NOT DO!!!

Do you have a "TEACHER'S LOUNGE" in your office where you are told as a new agent all the things that are NOT possible? 

                                                                                                              

           GO TO THE HOME INSPECTION WITH YOUR BUYER?

                    ***  it's freezing in one of those VA homes without heat

               ***  the home is smelly and dirty and it's a waste of a couple hours

If my buyer could come all the way from Cincinatti through the snow I could sure be there and help him any way I could.  His son showed up and wanted to go to lunch so I told him I would take care of wrapping things up.

Guess what?  The inspector and I got to talking and he indicated that he was looking to flip a home.  We are now ready to look at homes.  The utility person who came to turn on one of the utilities indicated an interest later this spring in looking for a home.  IF I had been a TEACHER LOUNGE  REALTOR® and listened to the grisled veterans I would have missed these two opportunities.  Also as a new real estate agent I was able to watch the home inspection, note my observations and compare my findings with what I read in the report.  It was a very thorough report and someone I would recommend!

 

SHOULD I DO AN OPEN HOUSE?

***  It's a waste of your time the COLTS play for the AFC title this Sunday.  No one will come!

*** Open Houses don't sell homes- it's a waste of your money.

I do know where the agents are coming from when the comments were offered.  Indiana is NOT California and Hollywood HGTV where an open house is held and the seller gets a couple of over full price offers.  Some of our sellers believe this stuff from what they see on TV land!  Point taken!

 

I went to the open house with an open mind that perhaps we would meet a buyer. 

GUESS WHAT?  One of my former students stopped by(our only guest) and he is looking for a home in the Lafayette area.  As soon as his home sells in Chicago land we will find a house down here.  Because I did not listen to the TEACHER LOUNGE crowd I now have an active and interested buyer I am working with from my first Open House.  Sharon even had a chance to clean some windows during the slow moments.

I would say my first Open House was a very positive experience because I went into it with a mind open to any and all possibilities!

And me????   Our seller wanted me to do some research on his new carpet that he put in which I did during the last ten minutes of the OPEN HOUSE. 

 

THAT IS MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT! 

The carpet?   Great choice by the seller-soft yet resilient! 

 

***  This blog is dedicated to my couple of loyal, mercy commenters who keep coming back to comment on my blog but have no new blogs to comment on!  Are you happy now??? ^_~

Posted by

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Looking for a home in Lafayette, West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County or the surrounding area?

I would love the opportunity to help you realize your dream of home ownership, or finding that investment property that is right for you.  I am committed to quality service and will work hard representing your interests.

 

 

Comments(80)

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Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri 314-775-2050 - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Mary,

So where are my listings??  What does a lot cost in CO??  On the icy lake???

Bruce, I have my fishing stuff ready to go..... 

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Mar 27, 2010 01:44 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Mary, I never thought about the altitude angle.  Let see, the higher the altitude you have less oxygen to the brain. . . . .   Hmmm.   Nah!  I am sticking with the SUNSHINE theory!!!   ^_~

Ann,  I have a car mechanical question after reading your comment on Sandy's blog. 

What did the tailpipe say to the muffler after a long road trip???

Mar 27, 2010 02:14 PM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri 314-775-2050 - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Bruce,

I have no idea.....

Do you have Crappie in your lake??

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Mar 28, 2010 02:20 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

                  I'm exhausted!

We do have some white crappie.

Mar 28, 2010 02:27 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Bruce  Excellent post  too many of my oldtimer friends run the "lounge" in their office - I don't go there  :)

Mar 28, 2010 10:51 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Good for you, Karen, and that is a big reason WHY your advise, experience, and service in the real estate field is PRICELESS.

Mar 29, 2010 01:57 AM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Bruce ~ loved your blog!  I was never a teacher, but I can only imagine the conversations that went on in the lounge.  I think every real estate office has that "lounge".  I try to avoid it.  Great for you on your open house!  Way to go!!

Apr 03, 2010 02:42 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Thanks, Dawn!  I think you are correct that every office has its own "lounge", and it is a good idea to stay clear if there is a negative atmosphere.

Apr 03, 2010 04:13 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Bruce - just checking in one last time ..... spouses selling houses now that could be hard on a client especially if they are not cut from the same cloth .....

Apr 09, 2010 03:34 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Actually Kathy I think it is harder selling houses TO spouses!!!   ^_~

Apr 10, 2010 03:11 PM
Laurie Mindnich
Centennial, CO

Bruce, it's so good to know that you're avoiding the "lounge"- this time in real estate is so mercurial that "rules" just don't apply. Keep doing what you're doing, because it is as exactly right as what anyone else is doing- and maybe right-er! :)

Apr 11, 2010 12:32 AM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

RIGHT on, Laurie!  ^_~

Apr 11, 2010 12:49 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Idabel, OK

Looks like you need a quilt there, to really snuggle down and get a good nap...:)  Glad the opens are working.  I used to teach...know about teachers lounges.  Used to avoid it. Take my apple outside and sit on at a picnic table.

May 11, 2010 02:45 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Judi, a quilt would have come in most handy!  Great idea for next time!  ^_~

Good to know that you avoided the lounge!!!

May 11, 2010 03:15 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Hi  Ally, thanks for checking things out.  If I remember right you wrote a post about how you came to America from Lithuania and that it was a "small world afterall", that I commented on(I had visited Lithuania in 2006 in an Economics teacher exchange program).  Thanks for your visit and comment!

Jun 22, 2010 11:44 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Ally, that is quite all right.  There are lots of people who visit your blog.  As a matter of fact on my last blog I had a picture of your former country-it would be interesting to see if you could identify where in Vilnius I took the picture.  ^_~

 

 

Jun 23, 2010 01:31 PM
Shanna Hall
Real Estate Solutions - Kirkwood, MO
I love selling houses!!!St. Louis, MO 314-703-1311

Bruce- I work out of my house- so nope- I am definitly not a teacher's lounge kind of Realtor!

Jan 10, 2014 07:07 AM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Shanna, my wife Sharon and I also work remote from the Keller Williams real estate brokerage, and we love it!

Jan 11, 2014 02:53 AM
Shanna Hall
Real Estate Solutions - Kirkwood, MO
I love selling houses!!!St. Louis, MO 314-703-1311

I love not having to drive to an office- I am in work as quickly as I want to be as soon as I wake up- and home to cook dinner as soon as I close my laptop!

Jan 15, 2014 05:37 AM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Shanna, it is great to work from home as I can do some yard work during a lull in the business day!!

Jan 16, 2014 01:22 AM