When I think about starting a blog I suddenly get writer’s block. It’s weird how intimidating something new can be....so I decided to just go ahead and jump in. Feel free to comment or ask questions. But I believe strongly in the old saying “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”. So.....be nice!!
I think most people are under the impression that Real Estate agents have the best & easiest jobs in the world....looking at all the greatest houses, meeting all kinds of important people, going to all the greatest events and functions, jet-setting off on fabulous vacations, basically living rock star lives......all the while bringing in the big bucks! Oh how I wish!! Don’t get me wrong....I love my job! It can be fun and fabulous, and very lucrative at times, but that is definitely not always the case. It is also an extremely stressful, highly demanding & ridiculously expensive business, one that you have to love to be successful.
I have met some absolutely wonderful people in my career so far, where it was a pleasure spending time with them...lots of laughs and great conversation while we looked for their dream home. I have had some sellers who were the most wonderful people to work with, reasonable, easygoing people who have become lifelong friends. Those are the kind of people who I would consider the “norm”. But.....once in a while the flipside rears its ugly head! Those people who absolutely hate real estate agents....and it doesn’t matter which real estate agent it is! I actually got thrown out of a house once... I was attending a garage sale! The lady found out I was a REALTOR and threw me out. She didn’t know me.....I had never met her before in my life! I can laugh about it now, but at the time it was quite the scene. I had another client who had an absolute fit he was so angry at me and ended up calling my broker to complain.....why??......because I took a week off while his property was on the market!! On another occasion I dropped by a “for sale by owner” to put something in the mailbox....the lady saw me and came out to the street.....she said “Are you a real estate agent”?. I said “yes I am” and she said “well you can just get right back in your car and get the hell out of here”! So I slinked back to my car. I have developed a much thicker skin over the last 23 years, but being treated that way is still hurtful nonetheless.
I guess being a real estate agent is just like any other job or profession....you get nice people and you get not-so-nice people and I understand that if you’ve had a horrible experience in the past with a deadbeat agent, you may very well put us all in the same boat. But keep in mind, I also have to deal with those deadbeat agents. And believe me, they are no picnic to work with!!! I do not relish the thought of working with someone I can’t trust, who is unethical or a bully, or simply won’t do their job! Fortunately these types are few. But if they happen to have the listing that my client wants to buy, or if they bring in an offer on a property I have listed....dealing with them is unavoidable! So believe me when I say..... I understand your frustration if you’ve had the unpleasant experience of working with one of those agents.
Keep in mind however, most of us are very nice people who work extremely hard. We get close to our clients and we stress and lose sleep over not being able to find them the perfect home, and we worry constantly if their home has been on the market too long. We get to know you fairly well during the whole process, and we like you! The last thing we want is to feel like we are disappointing you. Not to mention, we usually have a number of clients on the go at the same time, and we feel that way about every one of them, so you can imagine the stress level can be quite intense at times.
We do love our jobs though, and since I have been in this business I have met so many wonderful customers & agents, and made a lot of really great friends. So remember, we’re people just like you.....most of us very nice (and a very, very small percentage of others....not so much!), so try not to paint us all with the same brush.
So until next time,
Penny Milton
Realty Executives Regina
P.S. If you need a REALTOR, call or text me at 306-591-0276 or email at milt@myaccess.ca
