Valasie August

I am using it in a pretty elementary fashion and what to definitely learn how to use it effectively in my business. Twitter ID: http://www.twitter.com/valasie Valasie (Val) August Managing Broker Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc

Ilyce...Great, succint and easy to understand for everyone. Thank you for saying in print what we ALL need to know and remember for our financial survival. Valasie (Val) August Managing Broker Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc

Kris...Great Post! I understand how easy it is to allow ourselves to take it personally when someone assesses the value of being a part time agent. And...I totally get that there are FULL TIME agents doing not much of anything but doing it FULL TIME. The real measure of value is what a Realtor is doing with their time in Real Estate. I have been managing for 20 years now and it is a rare breed that can work this business part time and do it in a manner that gives the client the service that is necessary and to do the amount of business a firm needs to justify retaining the part time agent. So while I don't want to imply that it is impossible to do this business well as a part time agent, it is very nearly impossible. That being said, I agree that this business should be taken seriously and that those we hire to work in our firms should consider this business as their primary source of income and that it is a full time job for them which is equated in not just hours, but also production that comes with a full work week. My son is an attorney and when I complain about the number of hours or the workload some weeks, he reminds me that everyone that takes their business seriously works smart but also hard. There are no shortcuts. For some reason, we allow anyone to work in our industry because we lose sight of the big picture. Each Realtor that does a mediocre job, that is not in touch with the changes, that does a deal here or there impacts our image and drains the income for those who work seriously at this business. And lastly...you are so right in what it transmitts to the agents that are working the business. It is as if to say that it is okay to do this business ANYWAY you like and you will be treated equally. What a negative message to send to those making the positive contributions on our behalf. Valasie August Managing Broker Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc