One Thing I Know

At my age, you tend to know lots of stuff.  Some of the stuff you know is of great value and some of it has little value or use to anyone.  One thing I know, however, is how to make money as a real estate practitioner.  There’s an old saying, “Those who can’t, teach.”  There’s a lot of truth to that adage, but in my case, it’s a bit different.  I no longer practice real estate because I do not have the energy or the physical capacity to do what must be done.  One thing I know is how to make money in this industry, yet I also know it requires an enormous commitment to give it your all.

One thing I know is that the practice of real estate is not a 9-5 job with weekends off.  I recall a Christmas Eve when a desperate buyer begged me to show one last house.  He promised me it would be the only one he and his wife would look at, and I took a gamble.  My little girls were ready to start festivities, and when I had to excuse myself and leave them with Mom, they were disappointed to say the least.  That Christmas Eve, I was fortunate enough to bring home an extra gift, a ratified contract.

One thing I know is that sacrifices must be made when you have a real estate license.  There was an Easter Sunday afternoon, dinner was over, dishes were cleared, and then the phone rang.  I almost didn’t answer it, but I was never one to play that game, so I did.  A husband and wife, who did not celebrate Easter, asked me to give up my afternoon to show a home they found while driving around.  Again, my daughters didn’t quite understand why I needed to go, and admittedly, if I had known then what I know now, I would not have gone.  Being a single Mom, however, made it difficult to pick and choose buyers, so I went.  I came home with promises that eventually culminated in a sale.

One thing I know is that we never know.  The “Golden Goose” of your career could be the very next call, but then again, the next call could be the buyer who drives you crazy and ultimately finds something through another agent.  My broker used to say, “Sling enough mud, and some of it will stick.”  I agree with that statement except to say, sometimes you need to examine the mud.  I can’t be your conscience and only you can decide what days or hours you are willing to work.  One thing I know, though, is you must avail yourself to the consumer and that takes a commitment.

I’m teaching Post Licensing this week, and I plan to give my students a piece of my heart.  The next time you need a real estate class, give TEAM Hughes Real Estate School a chance to share a piece of its heart with you.  I think you’ll be glad you did.