Lost my car keys again
Realtor Notebook
By Teresa Boardman, Thursday, June 12, 2008.I wear a pen on a chain around my neck; it is my only hope for being able to find it when I need it. My husband finds my car keys in the refrigerator as I run around the house frantically searching for them. Everyone tells me this is a good thing.
My neighbor sees me at the grocery store and says, "How are you?" and "I have not seen you for weeks." I tell her that I have been busy. She smiles and says that's good, as I drag myself to the checkout line and get ready to make that all-important plastic or paper decision.
Some days it seems like I spend all my time on the phone. They call it negotiating but it seems like I am arguing all day. My dog looks at me longingly waiting for her walk but I am still on the phone. My neighbors comment that they have not seen me in the park with the dog for awhile. I say that I have been busy; they say that is good. If my dog could talk she would say the same thing, after she had a walk.
I get up at 4:30 a.m., can't manage to get dressed before 10, and barely make my 11 a.m. appointments. Most of my work gets done in those early hours before the phone starts ringing. Everyone tells me that is good.
For some reason, people think I should be busy all the time. They tell me it is good when I am busy because they know I have business and are assuming that I am making money. Sometimes I am, and sometimes I am not.
I have been trying hard not to say that I am busy, because I don't want to hear how wonderful it is that I work 16 hours a day. It doesn't feel wonderful. Almost half of my income is made between March and June.
Earning half a year's income in three months is not easy. It takes an amazing amount of stamina to stay out half the night negotiating an offer, get up early and write, and then go out to appointments. I often work seven days a week during my peak earning months and 16-hour work days are not unusual. Everyone says that is good.
Having too much work all at once does not seem like a good thing. "Good" would be having a nice steady income all year long and a manageable 40-hour work week, with at least one day off each week. I suspect that if I ever found myself in such a situation, my friends, family and neighbors would not be saying that it is good. My neighbors and clients might think that I don't have any business and take that leap of logic and assume that I am not very good at my job.
They seem to all equate success with nonstop activity and a 100-hour work week, yet I don't see any of them working that many hours and most of them are not so tired that they leave their car keys in the refrigerator.
If there is a Realtor in your life, instead of saying that it is good when they are ready to drop from exhaustion, say, "How can I help?" When the slow season comes, don't ask them if they sold anything this week.
Teresa Boardman is a broker in St. Paul, Minn., and founder of the St. Paul Real Estate blog. Boardman will speak at Real Estate Connect in San Francisco, July 23-25, 2008. Register today.
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Submitted by Ralph M on June 12, 2008 - 6:32am.
It is called "Passion". Few have it. It is like a drug that you can not get away from. Those who have it in the real estate industry, are the ones who we need more of and will change the industry for the better.
Submitted by Erika Beede on June 12, 2008 - 7:20am.
Teresa, loved your article... it's a good thing ;)
Congratulations on all of your hard work. You are the kind of Realtor everyone wants working for them!
Submitted by Elizabeth Weintraub on June 12, 2008 - 7:24am.
I empathize completely, T. When people ask how I am, and I respond, "Very busy, swamped," they first express shock before telling me how lucky I am. People believe that agents aren't busy right now because the market has fallen. Markets, schmarkets. Buyers still buy and sellers still sell, which means agents who are committed to the real estate business are busy.
Because we don't deal with snow in Sacramento, it's been this way since January. It will let up when it gets to be 115 in August.
Elizabeth Weintraub
Broker-Associate
Lyon Real Estate
Sacramento, CA
http://elizabethweintraub.com
Submitted by Joe Dahleen on June 12, 2008 - 7:40am.
You are in trouble when your MLS upgrades to the new Tempo 5 MLS system. Then you need to remember where you put your key fob.
www.goliveloans.com
Submitted by Joan Kuptz on June 12, 2008 - 7:45am.
You can solve your car key problem by buying a car with a push-button start. The key just remains in your purse. That would give you an extra 10 minutes each day! I love mine.
Keep up the good work!
Submitted by Vicki Goorchenko ABR, CRS, GRI on June 12, 2008 - 8:31am.
I agree with Ralph...it's your passion! It's why you do what you do. And it's what draws people to you and gives you the business you have. But it can also be exhausting! In my So Calif marketplace, we don't really have a sales season like you do. We have activity year round and I sometimes envy places in the nation that have an off season....what would that be like? Our challenge is to create some counter balance in a lifestyle that can be all consuming if you let it. With focus and time blocking, you can regain some personal time, providing you have the courage to do it! For you, your 'balance' may be 'work hard for 3 months and then play!!' ...just a different flavor of balance! I enjoy your column-don't give up writing!
Vicki Goorchenko
Keller Williams Realty
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif
www.LiveAtTheBeach.com
Submitted by Bonnie Erickson on June 12, 2008 - 9:44am.
Bonnie Erickson
Isn't it the truth, T? I, too, am tired and working long days. The change in the market has created more work for each transaction rather than lessening the work load. I haven't yet put my keys in the refrigerator, however! ;-)
Submitted by Maureen Francis on June 12, 2008 - 11:02am.
When I saw this headline come through in my email this morning, I knew who the author was. See how we get to know our favorite RE bloggers!
Personally, I am pretty bad a finding "balance." I let "me" slip while I take care of everyone else. As a woman, a mother, and a full time Realtor, we usually come last. Busy is better than bored. But maybe you need an assistant?
By the way, I still have not found the second set of car keys I lost two years ago, when my mind was consumed with keeping deals afloat and clients happy. I also went through a phase where I could plan on losing my wallet at least once a year, and have to replace all my credit cards.
I have to say though, many of the successful Realtors around me are just like me: a little bit frazzled sometimes.
Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty
www.miOaklandCounty.com/blog
Submitted by Diane Cohn on June 12, 2008 - 1:03pm.
Teresa, sounds like you're ready for a sanity break. I just took one... hopped on the Amtrak, spent a week in Vail, no laptop, no smart phone, no husband, no kids, no internet, and most importantly, no work. I brought six books and read four-and-a-half of them. It was pure heaven. Real estate can be stressful, and people burn out all the time. Yes, lining up colleagues to properly assist your clients is a real juggling act. But taking time for yourself like this is the best therapy there is. You'll come back rested and ready to conquer the world again.
Diane Cohn, Realtor
Chase International
www.renorealtyblog.com
www.chasenation.com
Submitted by Bonnie Erickson on June 13, 2008 - 10:12am.
I just saw the Alzheimer's commercial with the lost keys in the frig. Are you now writing ad copy as well? Or were they the inspiration for your post? ;-D
Bonnie Erickson
The Realty Matrix, St. Paul, Minnesota
www.RealEstateSnippets.com
Submitted by Michael Lange, e-Pro, GRI & Cheron Lange on June 20, 2008 - 4:33pm.
Teresa... I have to say you have a passion for the real estate game...otherwise you wouldn't be in it. :) I have that passion also and drive, I wouldn' t be in real estate if I didn't love it! And in the end, there is nothing more satisfying then helping someone find that one house they cannot live without. Throughout all the hussle and bussle, we work our months to take that time off when it is slow to be with our families. That's true enjoyment.
Cheron Lange
www.letourfamilyhelpyours.com
blog.letourfamilyhelpyours.com