By: Sally Grenier, Broker Owner
Grenier Real Estate
People think working as a REALTOR is fun and glamorous because we get to “look at beautiful homes” all day. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE MY JOB. But there is an ugly side that people don’t know about and we really don’t talk about it at parties.
So here's a little sneak peak into some of the pro's and con's of being a REALTOR:
The GOOD (actually GREAT):
- Meeting awesome people and helping them achieve their real estate goals and dreams.
- Making new friends and developing long lasting relationships.
- Working cooperatively with other agents to reach a common goal.
- Doing a job that is very rewarding when deals come together, and everyone wins.
- Helping clients get their home ready to list (even helping with cleaning or decluttering, hiring carpet cleaners, stagers & photographers.) Yes, that is FUN for me!
- Helping clients work through issues during the transaction, in order to get to the closing table (negotiating inspection issues, assisting with financing or appraisal issues).
- Being the friend / therapist / counselor / shoulder to cry on / hand holder for my clients to help them get through the emotional roller coaster of buying or selling a home.
- Responding to calls, texts & emails at night and on weekends. Yes, I put this in the “good” section because it’s part of the job and I love being the person they can count on at 9:00 pm on a Sunday night.
- After a closing, having your clients walk away HAPPY.
- Having your happy clients refer their family, friends and colleagues to you.
- Having clients come back and hire you again, 9 years after your sold them their first home.
- Getting updates from clients years later about the improvements they've done to their home.
- Helping clients expand their real estate portfolio by helping them buy investment properties.
- Working with “picky” clients to find the perfect home. Yes, I LOVE a challenge and I love having to “turn over rocks” to find that home that checks off all the boxes.
- And, of course…looking at all the beautiful homes, floor plans, design features, updated kitchens & baths, and cool paint colors…the list goes on!
The BAD:
- Dealing with unrealistic clients who want something that doesn’t exist (like a new house on a large lot in Erie under $350K).
- Showing dozens (or hundreds) of homes over weeks or months (or even years) that never result in a sale (due to inspection issues, financing issues or just plain “cold feet”). This is part of the job. It happens.
- Jumping through hoops and performing miracles for your clients (who seem super happy) but after closing you never hear from them again! No reviews. No referrals. No “thank you”. I try not to take it personally.
- Having a deal fall through because your clients didn’t take your advice, yet they blame you.
- When clients get “pre-qualified” with a less than reputable lender and refuse to get a true pre-approval with a lender I trust.
- Writing a contract on a home for buyers who were "pre-approved" with American Financing, only to find out the lender neglected to notice the bankruptcy on their credit history.
The UGLY:
- Showing houses for weeks (or months or years) to clients (who are also friends) who then sign with another agent because he offered a “kickback” at closing.
- Having unethical agents steal clients away from you, even when they tell him, "Yes, we have an agent".
- Working with clients who fail to disclose structural issues with a home and the contract falls through as a result (yet you’re the one they blame).
Fortunately, the good FAR outweighs the bad and the ugly.
Sally's Two Cents:
A real estate transaction is like a roller coaster ride. There are ups and downs and twists and turns. Your Realtor is there to hold your hand and get you through it. Sometimes it’s a fun, scary, yet thrilling ride and everyone walks away happy. (That’s usually the case.) But once in a while someone throws up on you, or jumps out after that first turn. That’s when you politely excuse yourself, clean yourself off and get back in line for the next ride. :)
-Sally
Sally Grenier
Broker Owner
Grenier Real Estate
303.475.4508 cell
sally@sallygrenier.com