Realtors make a lot of money for not really doing very much. Four, five, six percent commission for what? They put up a sign, have a couple open houses, place some ads, do a little paperwork...on a $650,000 sale they make $32,000. Easy money.
If you are a Realtor, you are familiar with this mindset. Many people share this opinion.
Before I started my Home Staging business, a couple of years ago, I too thought that Realtors had it pretty easy. I, like many others, had no idea just how invested and consumed by their job these poor people are.
My step into the real estate world has changed forever my concept of this profession. Here are just a few of my observations:
They have no set hours...on call 24/7...evenings, weekends, holidays, vacations.
They have to be part psychic, part psychiatrist, part marriage counselor, part life coach.
They feed pets, water plants, take out the trash, move furniture, and provide taxi service.
They advise, encourage, and comfort.
They are expected to be able to read minds and tell the future.
They spend their own money up front on expenses, which usually are not reimbursed.
Somehow upon signing a real estate contract, slavery becomes legal once again. Is there somewhere in the contract that states the home seller actually becomes owner of the realtor?
I have witnessed Realtors going to great extremes on behalf of their clients, going above and beyond what would be considered their job description. I never knew the extent of the hours and dollars spent by Realtors leading up to their commissions earned.
For all of you who work so hard to earn your commission...you have earned my respect.
Easy money? I don't think so!
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So true. I have been asked many times why don't I get my Realtors license. The answer is easy. I don't want to be on call 24/7.
I love working only half a day each day. My choice if it is the first 12 hours of the day or the last 12 hours of the day.
A colleague and I were talking about this preceptiont this afternoon. She took a listing about two weeks ago and has already spent over $1,500 in advertising. That's just the beginning and there's no guarantee she'll ever recover those and other expenses.
Yeah, That sounds about right in some parallel universe I'm not a part of....The one I live and work in has 80 hour weeks and a whole bunch of clients that seem to need things on a daily basis...I want to go to the other one for a while.
Love this blog Sharon. You hit it right on the money! Thanks for the reality laugh! ; )
THANKS Sharon for the acknowledgment. I would love to use this blog in a class I am giving to illustrate to Realtors themselves what they don't realize they do sometimes to get, keep and service a client. THANKS for bringing it up and giving others a chance to see the "inside".
Sharon... Loved your "Voki". You inspired me to create on of my own. www.crossvilleblogs.com
Thanks
Michelle "Only half a day" is twelve hours? Well, you are a little worker bee even without the RE license.
Ron This is a good example of what I was talking about. I've seen realtors using their own money before they even have the contract signed. People just don't realize it!
I love the name of your blog, by the way!
Kim You may be living in the real universe...but what I discovered while visiting your blog is that you have the best attitude about where you are. You may just get to visit that parallel universe...if anyone can get there you can!
Absolutely valuable and true information! I've seen my Realtor mom doing all of these things and more and still people think she should give them a discount on her commision! UGH! People think they can yell at her, vent to her, blame her for their problems, call anytime about anything, on and on the list goes. The realtor pays for advertising the listing, which for my mother includes having me create a home website featuring their home. Ads are not cheap. She goes on tour every week to make sure her listings are featured. It's a lot more than sticking a sign in the yard and having open houses. Thank you for noticing!
Can I take you home with me...? It's nice to have someone understand a realtor's life. Thanks for the encouragement! :)
Christina You are very welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed! Your Voki is awesome!
Terrylynn You also are very welcome. I think your class could benefit from bringing up this subject. Glad I could give you a little inspiration.
Chris Sounds like someone needed a little vent time! Its always the people you bend over backwards for that appreciate it the least. Your poor mom! She's lucky to have you creating websites for her.
Sharon - Yes! You know it always makes you more angry when it's family! lol It's just frustrating to see what people think they are entitled to do.
Chris
Chris You are a good daughter!
Debi I've never been to Missouri, maybe some day! I am just starting to realize the extent of your profession. Thanks for letting me know I had it right!
Sharon- and don't forget, we don't get paid until the customer gets what they want- either their home sold,or the purchase of a new home! The public has no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes!
I SO AGREE!!! People who don't know what a Realtor does and say these things are simply ignorant. The one that gets me the most is that they never take a day off! Also, sometimes it seems they get all the nasty comments. I just don't get it, but I know they earn every penny they make. Kym
Carol Oh I know, sometimes you don't get paid at all! I totally get it.
Kym They don't get the credit they deserve for the effort they put forth, that is for sure.
Thank you. People don't have a clue as to the stress level we go thru. They think it's such an easy job. It's not. But yes it's very rewarding. 22 years and i still love it.
I think Stagers and Realtors are the perfect match for a team... after all we have the similar stresses with clients and you all work real hard to please the Realtor and homeowner, just as we do. No one but the other would believe some of the stories we can tell. We just get busy taking care of details and getting the marketing done, we don't always acknowledge the time you spend on the project as much as we should. A collective THANKS.
Sharon, I have a couple of very good friends that have been in real estate business for the past 20 or so years.......I've seen and heard what they go through first hand. Your observations above are so true!
Robert The important thing here is that you "still love it" and I'm very happy to hear that!
Terrylynn Put a realtor who knows their business together with a stager who knows their business and you have one heck of a powerful force hitting the market for the seller. Now if that seller "gets it" and is willing to follow the advice of their power team...it's what we live for!
Before I entered the staging world I was the administrative manager for a local RE office & definately I can tell you that successful agents do not have it easy. They are incredibly hard workers, often working 50, 60 hrs a week or more. They are always on call and they are typically 'work-a-holic' types.... they have to be. They are trying to juggle the needs of multiple buyers and sellers as well as managing dates for closings, appraisals, home inspecitions, etc. Each contract has multiple deadlines and dates that need to be paid close attention to. Definately NOT an easy job.
Thanks for your comments. It's nice to know there are people out there who understand how hard we work. But the truth of the matter is, we love what we do. We sometimes get frustrated, but every day is an adventure. It's never dull.
Cynthia It must be working for them to have stuck with it so long!
Melissa I don't think they sleep! I was really surprised when I first started at just how much time they invest.
Joyce You have a great attitude! So many adventures, so little time!