Everyone thinks they want to be a Realtor because they “love to see beautiful houses!” Everyone assumes we have a glamorous job and lifestyle, but nothing could be further from the truth.

You Must Be able to JUGGLE and multi-task

Do you think we could make a living if we worked on only one transaction at a time? Any Realtor out there is working with multiple buyers and sellers, meeting their daily (sometimes hourly) needs, while still marketing for future business. We may be showing houses to buyers who will buy immediately, but also coaching buyers who need some credit repair before purchasing. And while we have listings on the market that need constant attention, we’re also working with Sellers who need to pack and make improvements before they’re ready to go on the market.

We often work for FREE

All Realtors go on listing appointments that result in not getting the listing. We pull tax records to get the square footage, spend time to pull comparable properties, dress to meet the home seller and view the property. Then we come up with best guess of list price on the fly. And, of course, we’ve prepared numerous “Net to Sellers” depending on what condition the home is truly in and what it might sell for. Then they list with the Realtor who told them they could list at a higher price, and there’s really no satisfaction in seeing it sell for what you told the Seller in the first place.  Sad face.

Business First, Family Second, Short Vacations

Internet inquiry comes in (yay!) and prospective Buyer wants to see multiple homes with 2 hours notice (boo!). OF COURSE I’m available. I was sitting around eating bon bons waiting for your call. And you want to see homes in midtown, Owasso and Broken Arrow? THAT will be fun to map and schedule!

Family? Yes, I will ditch family plans for the right client. After all, you do have a birthday every year, right?

For me, vacations are 3-5 days and require internet service at all times. Once my husband and I went to the Dominican Republic for 6 days, and text messages were going to cost about $5 each. I asked all clients to get in touch with my assistant unless it was urgent. And of course, I checked email twice daily. You sleep on the plane to your travel destination because you were up all night getting clients in a place that you felt comfortable leaving. Then, the deluge of emails requiring action upon your return is overwhelming.

Healthy Eating Takes Preparation and Planning

My husband often helps pack lunches or has dinner ready for me when I come home. I gave him my schedule one day and explained that my only opportunity to eat would be during a 20-minute drive. He packed clementines (not peeled), crackers and Babybel cheeses (not opened). Tip for new Realtors: easiest foods to eat while driving include bananas, apples, string cheese, grapes, nuts. Have several in zip lock bags ready to grab on your way out the door. And don’t forget your bottles of water and toilet paper!

[bctt tweet=”Foodie suggestions for Realtors on the go!” username=”LoriCainRE”]

Typical Transaction

Actually, I call this transaction the “if it can go wrong, it will” transaction. Buyers under contract to purchase and it is contingent upon their home selling.  Yay – we receive offer on our sale and prepare to move forward with our purchase. Appraisal comes in WAY under contract sales price. Negotiate with Lender to get a 2nd appraisal. Day before 2nd Appraiser comes, home is burglarized and thieves took the refrigerator, washer, dryer, stove, built-in microwave (all new appliances) and half of the stager’s furniture. But wait – there’s more! Lender finds something reported incorrectly on Buyer’s credit report which takes a week to sort out. Survey shows 60 year-old home built over the building line, requiring Buyers to sign a hold harmless. Title problem of previous Seller’s mortgage payoff recorded incorrectly solved.
Just shoot me now.

And while I’m talking my Buyers down from the ledge, my inspector calls to tell me that there are elevated mold spores in another Buyer’s patio home. Oya.

The Hours are Great

Clients observe that I email them at 3am. That’s because I was worrying over the mold in the patio home and couldn’t sleep. Clients can’t reach me at 3pm. That’s because I needed a nap from beginning my day at 3am.

But, I love being my own boss and setting my own hours. Even if that means I CHOOSE to make myself available more hours than I should. Another tip for new Realtors: mute your phone when you need a break. I have gone 2 hours before, and no one died.

A Day in the Life of a Realtor

Don’t Wear Your Feelings on your Sleeve

You are always going to run in to a friend or former client who used another Realtor. It will hurt your feelings. Be prepared for that and always take the high road.

Psychologist Or Marriage Counselor?

Many times people are buying or selling real estate due to death, divorce or disaster (job loss, health problems). We hear a lot of sad stories and aren’t always able to help. Being compassionate and a good listener is required at all times.

I’m working with a couple divorcing, and I like both of them. We had an interesting group text message going that was very confusing. Finally the wife told me that he blocked her phone calls, so she blocked him.

In our group text message, they could both read MY messages but not each others. So, wife is messaging me, “did he say he would repair the hole in the wall?”  Husband messages, “I am not cleaning up the mess her son and his friends made.”

Had to slap both of them, but they are talking to each other now.

The Question at Cocktail Parties

No matter where you go, someone will always ask you “how’s the market doing?” Just answer “fine” if you don’t have time for a discussion. There’s not a short answer for that question.

I could go on and on and make this a 1,000 word blog post, but PSO just called. I need to drive 20 minutes to a vacant listing to unlock a gate so that the technicians can cut some tree branches interfering with the electrical lines.

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But do send any referrals my way, because I LOVE my job, am good at my job, and am ready, willing and able to meet all of your real estate needs! 918-852-5036

Content written and published by Lori Cain.

Lori Cain is a residential Realtor with eXp Realty serving the greater Tulsa Oklahoma area. Call 918-852-5036. eXp Realty is the Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage®!