To Be or Not To Be...

The coolest thing about getting into the "Biz" right now is that there are LOTS of changes. I learned that 49% of Denver agents did not have one transaction in 2007. So when they say "you can't swing a dead cat in this room without hitting a real estate agent" it was probably true. This wild market is quickly weeding out those that were just on the bandwagon hoping to reap some quick dough. Not the ones that hoped to keep it as a career and be studious business folk, taking special care to uphold the reputation and ethics of a Realtor. They are likely the ones that helped build the "it's all about me" reputation, which has lead to FSBO's, the need for agents to feel like they need to drop their commission and the all around negative association people have when they think of a Real Estate Agent.

I never had the opportunity to list a house and have 7 offers the second the sign went up, who knows, I may know that some day, but today I will earn my wings. Nothing will be just a free ride. I will build my client base, treat people with respect in hopes of referrals, I will starve some days, but eventually it will all come around.

I have to laugh some days, otherwise I would cry. But one day I will be searching feverishly for a part time job on Craigslist and the next day I will be writing an offer for a client that had been on the fence for months. You just never know. It is hard to search for jobs, when finally in your heart you have found your passion.

I have faith, tons of it. My family thinks too much faith! They say put a number on how much you are willing to "throw away" on this career, when that number is spent, find something else. It is not that easy, when I am peeling through Craigslist job postings, all I can think in my mind is how much I love what I do with Real Estate. If I have to work to pay for this career for awhile, it just feels right.

Hurry Up and Wait!

I have noticed a common theme in this industry... Hurry Up and Wait! This theme has been one of the hardest for me to grasp, out of all the crazy things that the real estate world throws at me on a daily basis. As a child growing up, when my parents wanted something, typically it meant RIGHT NOW! Finish your sandwich, go to bed, get your butt home, you get the idea. So I am programmed to move when given a task. On time meant late, in my house.

When working with buyers and sellers it is all jumbled up. Take buyers for example, buyers want to buy a house, they get all riled up about a home they want (hurry up), oh... but they are not pre-qualified... so then they go through the process of the pre-qualifying (wait). O.K. so now find the perfect house (hurry up). When they find the perfect house, you have to track down the agent (Grrr...that wait is a pet peeve of mine and another blog) to put in an offer (wait). Then it is wait, hurry up, wait till the offer goes back and forth and is fully accepted. Next are all the hoops to jump through to get the sale completed (hurry up). Almost about to close... no clear to close (wait)...

I have always considered myself a fairly patient person, but this career choice has taken me to the next level. I no longer celebrate every time someone hands me the ball. I now wait until it is in the end-zone to do my celebratory dance. You just never know who is going to try to knock the ball out of your hands while heading toward the goal.

I am not sure that in the hay days of the past when the real estate market was nuts and they had multiple bids, that maybe things rolled a bit more urgently like I prefer? It is taking me a long time to adjust to the hurry up and wait of it all, but everyday I see myself making progress!

Onto the next contract... HURRY UP!!!!! :)