Forty-eight hours in the life of a Realtor.
Meet potential tenant at property in Irving; Discover the current tenant locked us out and won’t answer the door. Good times.
Collect necessary signatures for a contract termination and release of earnest money; Talk seller off an infuriated ledge when they realize after 4 weeks off-market they don’t get the earnest money because the cancellation was allowed by the TREC contract.
Run available property listings, review individual property detail information and pictures to narrow from 113 to 11; Discuss timeline with client, and discover that there’s no urgency.
Relist property and notify 352 agents discovered using reverse prospecting that we are Back on Market; Erase at least 15 bounced back emails.
Rush out to meet buyer and builder in East McKinney for final walk-thru and end the session with walls covered in blue tape; Assure client that 7 days is plenty of time, wonder if we should do some breathing exercises.
In route back to computer, receive showing appointment so redirect to listing to turn on all the lights so it’s welcoming; Feedback about the house is great, however, the buyer is not ready to pull the trigger.
Squeeze in some “me time” at the dentist; grateful for no cavities because who has time for that.
Drive to Fort Worth to meet photographer so we can Go Live on a new property before the weekend; Get caught in traffic just as my tummy rolls over. More good times.
Return to computer just as buyer sends listing for a vacant lot and wants to know what the seller’s thinking asking that price; Reach out to listing agent who shares that honestly it’s priced too high but what are you going to do when that’s what the client wants.
More emails pop up … Clear to close, virtual staging ready, verify a condition & inventory form; Remember I haven’t eaten since yesterday…
And I got paid for none of it. And some of it, I may never get paid for. And with all of it, in one way or another, I had an expense … because advertising and gas aren’t free. That’s how it is in the life of a Realtor.
Some may be wondering how much exaggeration is included. None.
Some may be trying to count the number of clients involved. Six.
Some may be questioning: Why?
Because after more than 22 years, I still love it. And I’m good at it. Not to toot my own horn, but frankly who else will: I have the awards to prove it and a rolodex of past clients that have allowed me to serve them over and over or gave me referrals because they trust I will care for their friends and family like my own.
As a professional Realtor, I am tasked with the fiduciary responsibility of attending to each client and their needs with fervor, respect, and equality. That means the 300,000 client gets the same attention to detail as the 2 million dollar client.
But that doesn’t mean I get paid the same rate, because commissions are negotiable and always have been. Sometimes the fee payable at closing is lessened because I helped with the sale of one property and the purchase of another in the same timeframe, so I massaged the numbers (because frankly, I’m not greedy, but I do have to eat). Other times I contributed to repair expenses or an appraisal fee to help keep the parties communicating to a successful close. And then there are transactions that by the time we get to closing, by my hours in and flyers printed, I’m at a financial loss. Such is the life of a Realtor.
I provide value to my sellers, my buyers, my landlords and my tenants by being their go to real estate expert slash counselor slash decorator slash friend. I’ve vacuumed carpets on unoccupied houses to refresh them. I’ve brought potted plants to add a pop of color to the porch. I’ve delivered rent checks to other counties so clients didn’t have to take time off work when electronic payment wasn’t working. I’ve poured over contract or title documents to make sure the clients’ interests were covered. I even helped a client calm down when she had to wrap her head around getting her husband out of jail (yes, seriously) so we could close on time.
The recent agreement that NAR entered into stipulates two things: buyer agent compensation can no longer be in the MLS (though sellers are still able to, and likely will at some level, offer buyer agent compensation), and that Realtors must have signed buyer representation agreements from their clients before touring homes.
What it doesn’t say is that there is any diminished value to what I bring to the transaction. But I sure as hell will be working harder to prove it.