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Towson, Maryland Real Estate Agent for Over 20 Years

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Real Estate Agent with Cummings & Co. Realtors

I have been a Towson, Maryland real estate agent for over 20 years.

Wow.

Just typing it reminds me of just how much I have grown in this business.

Twenty years ago, the real estate agent's job was rather different. In Maryland, Buyer Agency had JUST become law, and agents were navigating the change.

Twenty years ago, our MLS was a DOS-based program, where you DIALED in (taking up your home phone line - you had to hope no one tried to call and interrupt the connection!) and it took so long to pull new listings that you could start your search, go take a shower, and come back and MAYBE it would be finished when you were done.

Twenty years ago, we had Supra Lockboxes where the key had to be updated every night - again, using the phone line, so you couldn't do that at the same time as your MLS search.

Twenty years ago, we didn't give out our cell phone number - we spent most of our time in the office, and gave the office number or our "direct line" (AKA your voice mail.)

Twenty years ago, we called into the office to check our voice mail many times a day to ensure we didn't miss anything.

Twenty years ago, contracts were hand-written with carbon copies - top copy was white, middle was yellow, bottom was pink. We hand-delivered offers and counter-offers. Lenders often wanted the top "wet" copy, as did the title company, (and our office liked the top copy too,) so sometimes contracts had to be written and re-written three times.

Then faxes became "OK" and the contract was changed to reflect that faxing was OK. THEN you could fax to an EMAIL! 

Essentially, much about the way our business was done was very different 20 years ago.

What hasn't changed?

Real estate is about people. Often, a real estate transaction is the single most expensive transaction a buyer will ever be involved with. 

I love helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals. Whether to move in, move on, or move out, buying or selling a house is often very emotional and stressful. It makes me happy when both a buyer and seller are happy with the outcome! I've loved participating when buyers and sellers hug, both wanting the best for each other!

Helping buyers and sellers is a passion of mine. And it has been for 20 years!

 

For any real estate needs in Towson, Maryland or around the Baltimore Metropolitan area,

THINK MARNEY IN MARYLAND!

Marney Kirk

Cummings & Co. Realtors

1515 LaBelle Avenue, Suite 5  Baltimore, MD 21204

E-mail: marney@realtormarney.com 

Website: www.realtormarney.com 

Office: 410-823-0033 Cell: 410-493-4884

Comments(3)

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Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

It is amazing how our business has changed over time and keeps changing. Sometimes it seems like every day. The ease of changing the contract virtually, now means that many agents are not even aware when the contract has changed. Fun business and helping others acheive their goals is very satisfying. Keep doing what you are doing.

Mar 29, 2019 05:27 PM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Inactive/Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Marney Kirk - I have been in the business 16 years and a lot of what you described was in place when I got started. However, I never had to experience the MLS DOS-Based Program with the Dial-Up Connection. For as antiquated as it sounds, it was still an improvement - I think? I'm so glad improvements were made and that MLS continues to improve. There is still a lot of room for improvement. 

At the previous Broker, I spent more time at the Franchise than inside my own home. And I spent countless hours listening to VM and sitting at the up-desk for legitimate buyers or sellers. Thankfully, I never had to do carbon copies but I did spend a lot of money making copies at the expense of the Broker's Copy Machine that was always in crisis and breaking down. 

During all those years we made a lot of sacrifices. Of course, you made more than me and I wish you success. Heaven knows you earned it!

 

Mar 31, 2019 11:04 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

What an interesting read. I wasn't in the real estate business 20 years ago, so I enjoyed reading the differences. Congratulations on the 2+ decades!

Apr 01, 2019 03:01 AM