Women and men have different experiences in residential real estate. Duh. Rural Realtors have TOTALLY different systems than fancy, big city agents (Like the BA). So, here's a day in the life of a Mom/ Wife/ Agent in east Tennessee.
***At least, this is a typical day in her life until I can teach her how to become a real estate investor.
6:00 AM: Wake up to three texts from three different buyers who stayed up all night looking at houses on Zillow and they need to see them TODAY. You verify that all the houses are actually still listed on the market and break the news that Zillow isn't always accurate. Resend them a list of on market, available properties that fit their criteria and price range. Immediately receive texts that they don't like any of those houses.
7:00 AM: Shower and primp yourself quickly before your Sellers start calling with updates of their properties. You know you sent an email to each of them about possible future showings and details of their Open House, but they love to say good morning and get a personal message from you. Besides, they're paying you, right? They deserve fifteen minutes of your morning.
7:45 AM: Hurriedly kiss your husband good-bye as you leave for a networking meet-up while responding to more emails and texts before you start the drive. No one ever texts/ emails/ updates the Facebook status: "I love real estate" while driving, right?!
8:05 AM: You're a couple of minutes late to the meet-up because your Broker called wanting to know where the paperwork is for 123 Main Street that closed two months ago, and you once again walk her step by step on the company's server to find the file under "CLOSED PROPERTIES" that says 123 Main Street.
8:10 AM: Frantically meet and mingle with as many new people you can before everyone picks a seat and you're left with another new insurance agent beside you at the table. You know they don't have a book yet, so how could they possibly bring you more clients? Leave. Your phone is buzzing and this guy is so fresh faced he reminds you of your fifteen year old cousin in high school. You can call his broker later to set up an actual consultation that may lead to business. (Note: you never actually call this kid's boss because you're way too busy with the clients you already have and can't make time for another meeting.)
8:30 AM: Run by the office, smile, say hello, check your email, set up a new criteria of homes for the Jones' people, take your broker the hard copy file from 123 Main Street because she still can't find what she's looking for, grab some coffee and ask if anyone has any pocket listings for the three people who woke you up at 6:00 AM. No, nothing. Back out the door to a 9:00 AM showing!
9:00 AM: They don't show up. You have had this appointment for a week. This is the perfect house, the other agent had the seller's hire a professional cleaning crew and now your buyer's are nowhere to be seen. Once they answer the phone for you on the fourth call, they overslept. Yes, they got the reminder texts last night but they wrote a new rift on the bass guitar last night and it slipped their mind. Could we reschedule tonight in between your other showings on the other side of town? Apologize to the Seller's Agent, pass on regrets to the Seller who paid extra to have the mulch fresh when the potential buyer's arrived and set up another showing when it's convenient for everyone. You can totally do it!
10:00 AM: Your kid has a school program. Since you're in real estate and have tons of "free time" all the other mothers expect you to be there early. In fact, you're in charge of picking up a gift for the homeroom teacher from the other busy moms. For the next hour you hear all about how lucky you are to be able to work from anywhere and cash those big commission checks every day! Oh they are so jealous of your luck in life. If they only knew how stressed out and tense you stay, right?
11:00 AM: Back in the car to see a potential Seller. They own a six bedroom, six bath house on 33 acres an hour away from your house. They want to move back to New York before the snow sets in up there. They sound incredibly motivated, sophisticated and determined. An ideal client. A real dream come true. And that commission check from this sell? Yeah, you're driving it already. How awesome would it be to quickly sell one house and pay off this new car?!
12:00 PM: Meeting was perfect. They will look over the contract and send it to you tonight. You immediately start planning your description of this massive estate. Stop into Wendy's for a #1 with sweet tea on your way to that afternoon meeting. Who schedules meetings with the entire office at 1:00 PM in the afternoon?! Your local association's board. Yeah, it's time for Continuing Education so you can keep your license to be a real estate Professional.
4:00 PM: You realize you actually like Continuing Education classes. I mean, you're forced to be in a quiet, air conditioned room with free Wi-Fi and breaks every 45 minutes to stretch and return phone calls. Can I schedule CE every day?! You accomplished so much in the past three hours! This was incredible! Wonder what that guy at the front of the room has been saying for the past three hours? Probably wasn't important, but if it was, the association will send out fourteen emails in summary over the next three days anyways.
5:00 PM: The honeymoon is over and it's back in the car to go to the showings on the other side of town. This time your Buyers show up. They love the first house. The second house needs too much work, and the third house has a neighbor with cars in the yard, trash strewn everywhere and a German Shepherd who never stops barking the entire time you're trying to explain the serenity of this charming, older neighborhood. As you drive the buyers back to their car, they tell you to write an offer on the first house. They are in a hurry to buy something. They don't want to see any other listings. They liked it enough. SWEET! The trick is though, they want to offer $100,000 even though they are approved for $175,000 and the list on the house is only $135,000. WHAT?! But since they are your clients, you write up the offer at the office, they sign it and you email the listing agent (and quickly send her a warning text so she doesn't faint.) It will be tomorrow before she can get back to you so everyone heads home excited for the possibilities.
8:00 PM: Arrive at the ball field to catch the last twenty minutes of your son's baseball game. As long as you're there to take pictures at the end, he'll never know the difference, right? Don't forget to post those toothless grins to Facebook so everyone can see how devoted you are to real estate and still find time to make it to all the games for your kids! Wahoo! Supermom!
9:00 PM: Kids are fed, bathed, and fighting with each other. Your phone is ringing. It's the seller with the 6/6 on 33 acres. Crap! You forgot to check if they sent the contract back yet. Answer on the fourth ring in the closet because it doesn't echo and the kids never think about finding you in the closet of all places. You can immediately tell something is wrong. The universe shifts when the seller says "Hey, I don't think we're ready to list yet. We're not in a hurry and we don't want a sign in the yard so all the neighbor's start talking. But if you find a buyer, we'll be glad to pay you a 1% referral fee! Don't want you to think we're total cheap skates! Ha! We're still friends though?" Yeah, we're cool dude. I'll keep this property in mind.
10:00 PM: You realize your husband is the most amazing man in the world. He DVR'ed The Bachelor in Paradise AND Shark Tank from last Friday. How did you luck up to find such an amazing husband who knows why you hide in the closet even after the phone call is over? Sometimes, he even brings a kiddie cup of ice cream with a wooden spoon leftover from a Super Hero themed birthday party last December to dry up your tears from losing another potential listing (commission). Turn the phone off. Time to love on the ones who love you through these days in real estate. I mean, it's just like the TV shows, right?! Look on the bright side, you have another opportunity to try again tomorrow.
Stay tuned for a day in the life of a real estate investor. ;-)
Written BY:
Whitney Nicely is the queen of real estate in east Tennessee. She teaches women how to begin a cash flowing real estate portfolio. All Real Estate, All the Time with Whitney Nicely is THE BEST podcast to learn about flipping, flopping, listing, buying, investing and learning about real estate. Whitney shares tip, tricks and tidbits to being successful in real estate- no matter what stage of the game you’re in on her Instagram account @WhitneyBuysHouses! Ladies are welcome to join the Cash Flow Queens of Real Estate Facebook group.