Well, maybe you could do
our job. But it won’t be just any day of the week. And if you intend to be
successful at it (which means satisfying a bunch of clients, mortgage lenders,
appraisers and countless other associates), it will probably be EVERY DAY of the
week as well as most nights, weekends, holidays, anniversaries, special
occasions, sick days, snow days and unpaid vacation days.
Understood, there are real
estate agents, and then there are good real estate agents. Just like
Doctors, Lawyers and Indian Chiefs. This article is about the good ones.
To serve our clients and
stay competitive in our profession, today’s Real Estate Agents are expected,
assumed, requested, required and/or demanded to perform, be knowledgeable of or
have access to the following information: brokerage service, tax rate adviser,
appraiser, mortgage lender, financial planner, legal expert, credit counselor,
city planner (fortune teller) building inspector, chauffeur, shuttle service,
travel agent, tour guide, delivery boy, order taker, public relations expert,
therapist, marriage counselor, family doctor, nurse, baby sitter, advertising
executive, general contractor, construction estimator, locksmith, yard man,
maintenance man, garbage man, plumber, electrician, and alarm system
specialists.
We’re often perceived as
the bad guy when interest rates go up, the bad guy when your house doesn’t sell
by 10:00 am the next day, the bad guy when you’re discouraged about looking at
properties that are priced above your budget in order to suit your needs.
It’s helpful that our
talents include being, a diplomat, skilled photographer, dedicated student for
on-going education, negotiator, referee and, in general, a walking bureau of
information for everything about anything – including what buyer is qualified,
whose check is good and whose wife or husband isn’t.
We must know about schools, churches, governments, public utilities, crime
rates, world affairs, this week’s jail terms for this week’s Environmental
Protection Agency violations, future developments, transportation, shopping, day
care, soccer, many termites it takes to eat a house, every homeowner’s
association and what kind of fences they don’t allow, the best place in town to
buy pizza, and if you can buy beer on Sunday.
So be nice to your
Broker/Agent. Next time you start thinking “They have it so easy” go spend a day
with them. In the office and driving miles and miles around the County, you’ll
soon realize that, like most of us, they work hard for their money.
