A virtual real estate office works for me!

After too many years of disappointments, politics and working for someone else, I had an epiphany. I had always dreamed of owning my own business and now seemed to be the perfect time. I started Showcase Homes, LLC in November 07. My plan was to create Michigan's first Virtual Real Estate Office. I had the technology, good connections, a couple of great web sites http://www.Showcase-Homes.net and http://www.CathieFerdon.com, a business plan and the most important feature, no office.

It worked great for a year. I worked from home. I was busy with buyers, sellers and investors. In fact I was too busy. After I had 1 1/2 years under my belt working from home, I thought it might be time to grow my business so I leased a cute little one person office about 15 miles from home. I worked happily out of the office meeting clients, writing offers and paying $350 per month for the lease. My business did grow, in fact it doubled. I bought new printers, office furniture and insurance to protect it all. The problem with this scenario is I am an independent. I have no assistant and no receptionist. I am rarely in my cute little office today because I find it easier to work from home. I start at 6:00 am and work until 9:00 or 10:00 at night. I can work in sweats and no one knows. I answer the phone after 6:00 pm and surprise the caller on the other end or reply to emails inquiring about a listing that needs an answer immediately.

I moved back to my home office 3 days ago. Yes, it is cluttered with all the new stuff but I feel it was and is the right decision for me and my business. I estimated that I would be saving enough money each month that I traded in my SUV with 160,000 miles for another used SUV with 35,000 miles and have enough money left over for gas. Having an office of brick and mortor was a nice experience but in retrospect, I should have kept my original idea, a Virtual Real Estate Office. Who else has similar beginnings and where are you now?