New Agents

Last week, I was contacted by a young woman who lives in Old Orchard, an area that I contact regularly with mailings about the market. She had recently passed her real estate license test and wanted advice on how to get started. I remember from many years ago that schools such as Chamberlain and Anthony's prepare a future Realtor to take the State exam, but provide no direction beyond that. The basis college classes are not much better preparation for the actual world of real estate sales.
She came into my office and we talked for some time about time management, juggling a home, young children, and this business.(Been there, done that) Then she spoke to Nina, my manager about training and costs.
Coincidentally, My grandson is in his last year of a business degree, and is also seriously considering a sales career. I plan to mentor him as he begins.
With an aging Realtor community (see my post:Real Estate Agents are Aging:Saturday, November 13, 2010), it is a pleasure to have young people choosing what can be a challenging but potentially lucrative business.

Balancing Work, Play and Volunteering

August should be a month for vacations, but having been away for more than a week in late June, I am playing "catch up" at the office, and fitting in a few added demands on my time.
Thousands of local Realtors are taking part in a lock box and key exchange this week, along with the juggling involved in making this happen smoothly. As expected, there are glitches in the system, even though both boxes and keys were Beta tested. This morning, I lugged seven extremely heavy lock boxes to a well-coordinated exchange at DeAnza College, and carried out a set of even heavier replacements. I also picked up a new key that will need to be used while the stragglers replace their old boxes, hopefully within a month. The exciting part of all this is that eventually, when all the bugs are worked out, my Android phone will...at long last...serve to open the boxes when I show property.
Next week begins the volunteering segment. Our office is holding a breakfast and auction to benefit Habitat for Humanity, and I'll help out as sous-chef, runner and dishwasher. This is just the first of several events we have planned.
So when do I manage to play?...Whenever I can.