07/28/2026
For those on my personal page, you know I typically post a gratitude or two or three daily. Today’s gratitude is here instead, and it’s a long one. Maybe you’ll want to read till the end. Maybe it’s mostly for me. Let’s see!
Today, and for the last 10 years, I’ve been grateful for all of this. I really had no idea what I was getting into. I just knew I was unhappy where I was. I wanted to do something that might make a difference in others’ lives, and in my small corner of the world. Changing careers was one of my scariest, but best decisions I’ve ever made.
💗 I love this business! I went through a period recently where I was sick, exhausted, not sure I wanted to continue. My mentor and friend (and others) helped me with many conversations and thoughts. My health improved and I’ve decided I still love helping people buy and sell their homes. Even on the hard days.
And I could not do any of it without YOU.
🤗My clients have always been my family, my friends, former colleagues, neighbors, and church, social and volunteer group members.
Or.
🫶They’ve referred me to their family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and church, social or volunteer group members. See how that works? 😘
😳😮 Did you know: 50% of new agents are out of the business in 90 days.
Another 50% of the remaining in the next 90 days.
Everyone I meet has a friend, uncle, neighbor, someone who “tried” real estate and now does something else. Why? Because it can be hard, and all-consuming. Plain and simple.
The general public has no idea what we really do - and if were easy, those numbers above would read differently. We don’t work 9-5, M-F, paid time off. Some assume we make large checks and work little, or only when we want. Who wouldn’t want to do that?! 🙋♀️
🙂↔️ Unfortunately, that’s not what it is. It is sending emails, fielding questions, reading inspection reports, writing contracts, doing research, sometimes objecting to appraised value, answering calls and listening - truly listening - to someone on the other end, calming fears, explaining and teaching, calling other agents late at night, on the weekends and during vacation. It’s paying for professional photography, staging, marketing, more signs, MLS and other fees so I’m in tune with our market. It’s more memberships to groups who may have a buyer for your house, or a seller with the ideal property you’ve been looking for. It’s required continuing education, optional education, keeping up on new laws, new trends, and contract changes. It’s countless hours of work with no pay unless a house is actually sold. No matter how many contracts written and received, no matter if clients change their minds and walk away, no matter inventory, the economy, the global concerns, or the local market - buyer’s market, seller’s market, rates that go up, prices that go down. Imagine working a month, maybe more without a paycheck?! It can happen.
💯 It’s aligning yourself with like-minded professionals - lenders, title, home inspectors, plumbers, electricians, HVAC, roofers, GC and handymen, cleaners, junk collectors, senior living specialists, and many others who are patient, communicative, think outside of the box, and most importantly, work hard and fairly for our shared clients.
💯 It’s caring for your clients more than your commission check and every once in a while, it’s the tears on your laptop, your head in your hands, your 84 year old mom walking into your office after she’s already gone to bed and asking, “is there anything I can do?” It’s thinking about your sweet clients, and damn, you have the best clients, but you have news that they do not want to hear and you have to find a way to tell them anyway.
But even beyond all of that, in spite of it, because of it, I don’t know, I still love it. 🤷♀️ And not everyone does or can. And that’s ok. Call me crazy. That phone rings and I can’t wait to help! Houses still get bought and sold, and agents still help them! Every single day.
📖 Some of you have heard this story: I once had someone tell me he was going to try to sell his house himself.
“It’s not really a great market to try to sell your own house.”
“Oh, I dont know Becky, I’ve sold a lot of houses in my lifetime.”
“I bet you haven’t sold as many as I have.”😜
He let me “try my hand at it” and I got it sold. He has since told me he’s glad he didn’t have to deal with it, and we’ve worked together on other houses for family members. An experienced, savvy client, still knew/knows to trust the professional. 😎
💡💡💡 So when you go to purchase or sell what is perhaps your biggest asset, experience matters! The test I took to get my license gave me some knowledge to pass the test. But not to buy and sell houses. Experience comes over time and from many clients’ trust.
In addition, look for, and then hire an agent with:
✅ a heart that cares about your goals,
✅ ears to truly hear it,
✅ backbone to fight for it,
✅ a mouth that only speaks the truth even if you don’t like it (or it loses them the job),
✅ thick skin to brush off unimportant nonsense and drama (cuz there are a lot of moving parts and humans in a real estate transaction!),
✅ a brain that’s good with solutions,
✅ eyes that can see the vision, and
✅ strength to keep pushing through. For you.
There are many agents out there. Many great, caring agents! We aren’t all alike, and maybe I’m not the one for you. ➡️ Here’s the thing: I’d sure be honored to interview for the job. No obligations from me, just conversations. And no matter what happens, I thank you for all of this. I have so much to be grateful for. ❤️
PS you DID read to the end! Next time we meet for ☕️🫖🍵🥤🍺🍷, it’s on me. Seriously. Text me and let’s set a date!☺️
