For the last 18 months, maybe longer, a significant part of my job has been to disappoint people. I get to deliver messages that nobody wants to hear:
- “Your home is not worth what you paid for it.”
- “You owe the bank more than your house is worth.”
- “Your neighbors got more last year than you will get this year.”
- “Buyers want PERFECT.”
- “Certain ’shortcomings’ will get you almost no showings.” (Location, location, location. Condition, condition, condition. Price, price, price. Marketing, marketing, marketing.)
- “I don’t know when…”
It’s been rough. Honestly, I really don’t enjoy that part of the job. I don’t think anybody would.
It has also been tough watching my peers leave the business as they struggled to put sales together to support their families. Realtors are independent contractors. We live without the safety net that comes with a ‘job’. No health insurance, retirement plans, paid vacations, sick time, or the ability to collect unemployment checks when there hasn’t been a closing in a while. Every morning, we wake up unemployed.
Our payment is contingent upon a home sale closing. We can show someone 80 houses, giving up hundreds of hours of our time, but if they don’t buy, we don’t get a nickel for our time and expenses. Or we can list a house for a year, spend money on marketing, but if it does not sell, once again, we get nothing.
We signed up for this career with our eyes wide opened. We understood the risks, and the potential for profit. Today, I think you would be hard pressed to find a handful of Realtors here in Southeast Michigan who would tell you that this is an “easy” job.
When I started miOaklandCounty.com in March of 2005, the market was much better. I started it as a way to keep in touch with our past clients and to provide information to others who might share my interest in Oakland County real estate. All in all, my achievements with this blog have FAR exceeded my goals.
Back then, I didn’t really think that people would call me and ask to work with us because of what they read here. Now I know why they do. Not only does this blog come up high in search results for lots of key local real estate terms, it gives people a sense of who we are and how we work. It shows that we are innovative. We are doing things differently to get results for our buyer and seller clients. We put it all out there for you to see and judge for yourselves.
In addition to regular calls from prospective buyers and sellers, I get a fair number of calls from local and national media looking for information. USA Today did a feature this summer on a Birmingham home we sold in 6 days. A few weeks ago I had a brief chat with Nathan Hurst, a new real estate reporter to the Detroit News. Nathan had recently relocated here from Boston and started reading my blog. Cool, huh! Today Nathan mentioned miOaklandCounty.com in a piece he did about the tough times Realtors are experiencing right now. It’s true, times are tough for sellers and Realtors alike.
But I did not start this blog because times were tough. I started this blog because I am always looking for the best ways to market my client’s homes, a quest we embarked on in 2001. This blog is a part of our innovative marketing plan. We beat most offices in google searches. This helps us to get more eyes on our clients properties. That is something that can make a huge difference with most buyers doing their search for a new home on-line. There is a lot of information in these pages that can help you to do the things you need to do to get your home sold. We are focused on what we can do and how we can deal with today’s market conditions.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Don’t be left behind.
I am Realtor. I sell houses. My blog helps me to do that.
Copyright 2007 miOaklandCounty,com
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Being honest has always been a rare commodity, and in this interesting market, it shines through like a beacon. Your clients appreciate that, and I'm sure they're glad that you blog so they can find you.
Points that should not be lost on anyone who is blogging - I'd give it a Five if I could lol
And congratulations on the Detroit media attention, well deserved!
MF ~ Congratulations for being recognized today in the Detroit News! Even though the market is tough, the good brokers show through. Keep up the good, honest work!
I enjoyed this blog. This is a post I can relate to deeply.
Congratulations on the Good Press.
Thanks for the encouragement. After today, I really needed it. I'm just so grateful to have a broker that backs me and a team that is so supportive.
I am Realtor. I sell houses. My blog helps me to do that. MF - you are a ray of sunshine on my dismal day.
I remember someone saying this back in the early 90s (another tough market) :"You think you have it rough telling someone they owe the bank more than their home is worth? Just imagine you were a doctor and you had to tell someone they have a terminal disease, and have six months to live." I still remember that quote, and sometimes it does give a little perspective to our work.
It is much easier to deliver good news that bad news. You never think about being upside in your house.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Don't be left behind.
I am Realtor. I sell houses. My blog helps me to do that.
::::Bravo:::: Love the words... love the attitude... I am sure you won't be left behind. Congrats on your success and positive attitude!!
Maureen, Your post reflects the power that intelligent marketing on line can have particularly in a challenging market. This type of service is more valuable than ever!
Maureen, Great post - and so true. It's no wonder you are seen as a local authority - you are! Thanks for sharing. I love the line "we wake every morning unemployed" - WOW - that's a reality check!
A real eye opener for the naive who think we have it easy.
Maureen, Your blog might be the little blog that could but you are a rock star blogger and REALTOR®.
Maureen, What a post!!! Only the strong remain and keep going.
Until about a year ago, I hadn't realize that there are people in our profession who were enticed with promises of easy money. People who had good, solid jobs. People who didn't specifically seek out being an independent business owner. I feel badly for them, as I know how tough it can be for someone who is stubborn and determined and worked hard to join this profession.
You have certainly demonstrated with this post the power maintaining a positive attitude and employing innovative marketing techniques can have in shaping your real estate business. Having to be the voice of reality is not always fun for a Realtor. But you are certainly offering your sellers and buyers a valuable service and the honesty and integrity they deserve. Keep up the great work!
It is harder to give bad news, but that is why they need us more than ever. With things getting tougher clients need a professional more than ever.
I second, third, fourth and fifth what everyone else said and is thinking. You work hard and you're the best - evened faced with this icky market.
Maureen, yesterday my husband called me and said "Read the front page of the Detroit News". I did, and was so wonderfully excited to see your name featured along with some wonderful words about your blog. That article in the News was filled with the despair that some agents in our state are feeling, but your words and example were the bright spot. I hope people didn't merely skim the article shaking their heads and seeing only the negativity. I pray they saw your words and the innovation that you are bringing to our area and see the bright spot that you are.
MF,
Tough times in MI. Do you believe the market will pick-up within the next two years?
Also, John Kurczak seems to be indicative of the entire market. 17 years in the business and now tough times.
God Bless.
Maureen - congrats on the media recognition! You've been blogging for longer than most of us even knew what it was. Good for you for recognizing the potential then, and for sticking with it as you have.
Your clients and potential clients clearly recognize your expertise in your marketplace.
Ann
There are a lot of ups and downs in this business. Congrats on the recognition, you deserve it. :)
This market has really asked us to be the best we can be, find a better way of doing business. Imagine when things turn around how prepared we will be.
So much truth in your words and things the general public never give much thought to. I agree with many comments here and Christina said it well.
Yep, I've got a listing right now that the seller is upside down on. He has already bought another home and is facing a 70-90K loss on his home. Ouch!
As an appraiser my middle name is "bad news" so I can relate. You have given me a great boost this morning. Keep up the good work and continued blessings on your success.
Great post!
You are 100% correct.....you have to be innovative and think outside the box! That's why when I opened Century 21 Shoreland here on Cape Cod, we installed computers with wireless access and created an Internet Cafe with espresso machines in a "living room" type environment. Clients love it! Not only can they surf the web, but we helped them surf for real estate and see first hand of the current market conditions and what makes sense for them to meet their goals and objectives.
Everyone,
Thanks for your kind words and thoughts. I am sick with a cold and am just going to respond to a few of you though I appreciate each of your comments. I am glad this post brightened some of your days. Your comments are brightening mine!
Cheryl, certainly I don't compare my job to a surgeons. Yes, my tasks are seemingly trivial in comparison. A doctor has the skills to help someone get better. I do not have the tools to cure Michigan's economic woes, but I can help some people weather them better.
Kris, I had no idea my blog was going to show up in the midst of an article about how tough it is here. I wish they had made that whole section, with positive news bigger so they could give people some hope and alternatives.
Scott, I have no crystal ball. When we get jobs our market will come back.
Al, I am working on a $100k short sale on a home that was bought last year for $240K. The bank has agreed to that write off. Serious money!
Unfortunately this will never change as long as this is a commission based industry. Sad but true, the consumer looks at commission based occupations as less professional and will have no problem walking out after a lot of work has been done. For our industry to survive we must change the perspection and how we get paid.
Maureen, great post! The only constant is change. I don't know what is ahead and I am doing some coaching for Short Sales and REOs. I am doing more marketing, not less and sending out market news weekly. Gotta play to stay! I love that title "The Little Blog that Could...
Very Clever!
I loved reading this! I agree completely. I started blogging as another way to market myself and my listings...little did I know at the time how much I would be learning as well. This entire year has been about education, trying new things, improving what I'm already doing...I believe it will pay off in spades someday. I think I can, I think I can...
Maureen,
AR can be a marvelous marketing platform if you put the necessary time and effort into it. To really make it work you need a plan on how to employ all the different features here. One of the top benefits is Google placement, don't you agree.
Maureen, you could teach the class on how to employ AR's features. And being recognized by the media in y our local area, and getting clients from your excellent blog posting...much more important than Google Placement.
Maureen, very well put. Yes this is a very hard business. I always tell myself, you're only as good as your last closing, It is a very difficult market here in MI, but as you put it, I won't be left behind.
Esko,
This post is not about my activerain blog. It is about miOaklandCounty.com, which I consider "my real blog." My opinions on the top benefits of AR are probably somewhat controversial. I don't care to have my AR blog ranked highly in Google for local search terms. I would prefer to have that honor go to miOaklandCounty.com. Ultimately, I control that site. I own it. I know what will be done with my content, and I don't share the space with numerous direct competitors. I have been building that blog since before ActiveRain existed.
I am a fan of activeRain. I recommend to new bloggers so that they can learn how to blog. But ultimately, I would suggest that anyone who takes to this demanding medium start blogging on their own domain. Keep the rich Google rewards for yourself.
The things I generally chose to put on ActiveRain are of a broader interest, unlike my hyperlocal 'real blog'. At least I hope they are.
3c :-)
Allen Your point is interesting. We have created the problem. Have you seen Consulting Times?
Great post, thanks.
Maureen, I've been out of town but am so happy to see you in the News. Great job, yep we're in a tough time now, but when the market rebounds hopefully we will all be out there due to our blogging. You've been a great mentor to me.
Maureen, I've been out of town but am so happy to see you in the News. Great job, yep we're in a tough time now, but when the market rebounds hopefully we will all be out there due to our blogging. You've been a great mentor to me.
Maureen,
Graet post. As you say it is tough to people things they don't want to hear. But the truth is the truth good bad or ugly. Way to keep your chin up!
Never surrender, never ever give up. You have a good perspective on the issue and a darn good attitude considering it all. Greatness awaits as the future nears and brighter skies cometh, while you dance here in the active rain. Lance