Being a REALTOR began as an ENCORE Career
Being a REALTOR began as an ENCORE Career…Still USING Some of the Same Skills
Just a few years ago back as a high school graduate, my first choice for a career was interior design. Being creative, resourceful, loving change, and finding people’s likes and dislikes was fascinating, I was ready to follow my passion. Nothing was as enjoyable as looking through magazines…yes we depended on magazines and not Pinterest…evaluating stage sets of television and in movies. And of course, rearranging everything in my great grandmother’s house and our own. I loved repurposing an old object to something new. I still have some of the items found in my great grandmother’s storerooms and attic when she would turn me loose to find treasures. But as time went on, I was advised to pursue teaching, nursing, or business so I could more easily find a job if I should ever work outside of the home. Oh, how times have changed!!!
Little did I know that being a Family and Consumer Science teacher would help to prepare me for my Encore Career. As an educator, I taught the following course related to the following:
Families: life cycles, lifestyles, infant care, parenting, preschool curriculum and instruction, dating and marriage, entertaining, building self-esteem, food preparation, nutrition and wellness, equipment selection, clothing construction, textiles, budgeting, credit, career selection and preparation, interior design, critical decision making, evaluating references, communication skills, practical problem solving the list could go on. As Home Economics was an elective, I had to market the courses to students, faculty, parents, and school board members which was a never-never ending process. I was forced to “skew” my responsibilities to update the programs to keep up with the ever-changing family. I loved the challenge and opportunities to continue to learn, make changes, and utilize my creativity, and network with others to modernize the programs.
Ii truly don’t feel I retired from but that I retired to become a REALTOR. I feel instead of a complete makeover, I have just improved, repurposed, and synthesized my skills and hopefully added a teaspoon of wisdom that comes with life experiences. For the last 14 years, I have had the pleasure of working for wonderful families providing what I call to myself, Full Service Home Economics.
As a REALTOR I wear many hats:
Found a school that offers 6 years of Mandarin Chinese with a teacher in the classroom
Set up tours and/or interviews at schools/preschools for families that would like to research schools before they decide on the location of their new home
Negotiate from buyer’s and/or seller’s perspective
Helped families downsize, reassuring them that even good change is somewhat stressful
Helped new parents select a house that will accommodate a growing family…walk-in shower and a bathtub
Advise clients to see financial advice from qualified professionals to stay within budget.
Guide clients to practice critical decision making when buying and/or selling a property
Reminding buyers to think of resale, work triangles in the kitchen, quality of materials in the property as well as use and care.
Supporting a newly divorced and or widow/widower make a difficult move
Providing staging, marketing plan, and tips for listing a property
Continually evaluating/researching professionals that I refer to my clients.
Brainstorming with the following spouse for potential job opportunities
After learning the clients’ preferences, providing a list of shops/businesses that may help them with decorating their new home
Accompany a client on a shopping trip
Help buyers see how simple changes can transform a room
Actually selected home for a client without the client seeing the house…what pressure to relay as much information as possible
Being involved to represent a buyer when building a new home. Working with the builder’s salesperson to provide information to the buyer when making choices.
In my “Reimaged Career,” I utilize many of the same skills and knowledge. I use stories and experiences to teach. I enjoy helping and providing service and information. AS a teacher I loved the excitement when you see a student’s light bulb turn on or the AHA moment…they get it. AS a REALTOR, I love going to the property and seeing the joy when the new homeowner turns the key for the first time. Yes, it is an AHA moment too. I am still having fun.
Work is still not work to me. Just like the pleasure of still connecting with former students, past clients invite me to birthday parties, send birth and wedding announcements, and photos of changes and additions in their homes. I still make home visits to past clients to help plan for new furnishing which may include a shopping trip and lunch. I do have a more flexible schedule which gives me the freedom to visit my 96-year-old mother and daughters that now live in California and New York City. Because of advancement and technology tools in Real Estate, I can still do business from afar. Life is good!