Prevailing Winds

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Avalon 0789718

The business of real estate can be daunting and challenging yet rewarding and gratifying at the same time.  If you work in residential real estate, you will participate in making dreams come true for buyers while allowing sellers to move to the next phase.  It is one of the few industries where you become an integral part of a life.   The average length of time most homeowners live in one house is approximately 13 years.  4,745 days in a home they purchased with your help.  It is an impressive number.

There are times, though, when the perception of this industry is that a house is only a product or the agent only cares about the bottom line.  The reality for most agents is the reverse.  A house is 4,745 days of memories as the sounds of laughter and the stain of tears permeate each room.  An agent must skillfully marry the priceless memories of a seller with a buyer whose memories are on a moving van.  An agent must tell a story, but only a short story, so a buyer can write his/her own ending.

The prevailing winds blow from a single general direction along the earth’s surface.  There will be times when the winds will favor a seller or create airflow in the direction of a buyer.  There are no guarantees in which direction the prevailing winds will blow but there will always be a house with a story to tell.

 

Comments (21)

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

What I learned

Feb 21, 2015 10:14 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Marilyn O'Donoghue welcome to Active Rain.... you did a great job with your post and I'm looking forward to reading your next one... we are blessed to be in a business where every day is different than the one before it.... different people...different homes... a many different scenarios.

Feb 21, 2015 09:37 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Marilyn O'Donoghue,

Welcome to Active Rain! I found your post after reading Kathy's post this morning on her "Ah-ha" moments for the week! Looking forward to reading more from you in the future..I have subscribed to your blog.

Feb 21, 2015 10:21 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I am glad that Kathy chose to feature this post this week...I missed the original...

Feb 21, 2015 10:50 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Marilyn O'Donoghue,  Great job on making Kathy list.  You came up with a home run hit with your blog, keep it up.

Feb 21, 2015 10:51 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Good morning Marilyn. We are in the people business not just the housing business. If you show that to your clients, no matter how long they are in the home you sold them, they will remember you and find you when it comes time to move again!

Feb 21, 2015 11:18 PM
Cindy Edwards
RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN
CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

I agree with your assessment of our chosen career. I agree with Nicole comments as well.  We are in the people business!

Feb 21, 2015 11:32 PM
Cara Marcelle Mancuso
Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes - Tucson, AZ
Call a Marana neighbor, I'm THERE!

Very nice.  I love that we are part of people's lives in our chosen career.

Feb 22, 2015 12:24 AM
Marilyn O'Donoghue
Long & Foster Avalon - Avalon, NJ

Barbara Todaro: Thank you-we are truly blessed

Dorie Dillard: I was humbled to be included in Kathy's round up

Kristin Johnston: It is amazing Kathy takes the time to give the A-Ha moment so we can all find each other

Will Hamm: Thanks!  I hope to keep my posts unique

Nicole Doty: I agree and it is the best apect of our business

Cindy Edwards: It is one of the reasons I love this business

Cara Marcelle Mancuso: I agree.  Thanks for reading

Feb 22, 2015 05:35 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Found you through Kathy's round up.  What a great post.  What we do is so much more than sell houses, that's for sure.

Feb 22, 2015 07:04 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I too came from Kathy Streib 's post, welcome to ActiveRain Marilyn! You wrote an awesome post about the real estate business!  Looking forward to reading more of what you have to say!

Feb 22, 2015 08:06 AM
BILLY CRITTENDEN
Missoula Valley Properties, LLC - Missoula, MT
Broker/Owner,ABR,CRS,CNE,CNHS,GRI,RCC,SFR,SRS,SRES

Marilyn, I appreciate your heart for people and I'm confident it will pay dividends for you in the real estate industry. Thanks for the post!

Feb 22, 2015 08:09 AM
Ed Silva
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

The only days that are similar in real estate are the days we walk away from a deal that just closed.  Welcome to ActiveRain

Feb 22, 2015 11:02 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Welcome to ActiveRain - we all enjoyed your very lyrical post on the number of days a seller occupies a house and all those home memories! 

Feb 22, 2015 12:11 PM
Marilyn O'Donoghue
Long & Foster Avalon - Avalon, NJ

Lise Howe:  Thank you!  

Ed Silva: Such a true statement

Billy Crittenden: Thank you-I have never visited your fine state but it is on my list.

Evelyn Johnston: Thanks for heading over to take a look!

Chris Ann Cleland: It is amazing when you stop and think of all that goes in to a transaction!

Feb 22, 2015 11:20 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Welcome to Active Rain.  I love the point of view of this post.

Feb 23, 2015 10:51 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Marilyn - A good reminder of what we are helping people to sell and what people are trying to buy, and it's not just a commodity.

Feb 23, 2015 02:43 PM
Marilyn O'Donoghue
Long & Foster Avalon - Avalon, NJ

Joan Whitebrook and Christine Donovan:  Thank you!

Feb 23, 2015 09:11 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Marilyn O'Donoghue - and I am wowed - I am in such a great business of Real Estate - thanks for making me feel proud of what I do!

Feb 24, 2015 12:04 PM
Marilyn O'Donoghue
Long & Foster Avalon - Avalon, NJ

Praful Thakkar:  Thanks for your kind words!

Feb 25, 2015 09:34 AM