This is a blog I've been wanting to write for a while now as I feel that there is a lot of stigma associated with being a real estate agent, being married to one and how easy it is. Well I am here to tell you it is not easy. Does it have it's advantages; yes, but to be blunt sometimes it fucking sucks! Yes I said it, and if you don't like it I am okay if you stop reading.
I'll be honest, before I met Chris and had an inside look at what being a real estate agent really looked like I thought it was an easy job. Make your own hours Take vacations when you want They make a lot of money Those were just a few of my assumptions and boy was I wrong! And I find talking to other people that they have a lot of the same assumptions. Are some of those things right? Sure, but there is a lot more to it than that! Does Chris get to make his own hours? Not really. He has to be available whenever people need him to be. If he doesn't go to an appointment when someone needs him to that could cost him a lot of money or potentially a new client. He has to be available almost 24/7 seven days a week for his clients. Being a real estate agent doesn't mean you work 9-5, it means sometimes you work 6am-midnight or later to close a deal. Can he say no? Sure, but that means he could loose the client and/or money in the end. So he doesn't. Chris wants to make sure that his clients are happy and that they find their dream home so he makes sure that he is always there for them.
But what does that mean for his family? And this is what people don't realize is that when they are calling an agent they could be potentially taking them away from something else. Which is totally okay, but frustrating when people are not serious about the process. What does this look like for us? It means cancelling date nights so Chris can go to appointments Chris missing out on Lily's programs Not attending family events together Late nights away from his family It means that Chris is always on his phone. Sometimes Lily tells him to put his phone away and pay attention to her. It breaks his heart to hear it but if he doesn't have his phone 24/7 it could mean missing out on a deal or important phone call. Sometimes that means he has to use his phone when we are on date nights but it is just the way that it is. People don't realize that when you are calling your agent you may be pulling them away from something. these people put their lives on hold to help you during one of the most important moments of your life, they do it because they genuinely care and love what they do.
Being married to a real estate agent means I have to be:
Patient because it isn't easy for me to see my kids disappointed that daddy has to go to work when he was supposed to go out with us. Or when we have to cancel a date night I was looking forward to because he has to show houses.
A good listener because he needs someone to talk to about new ideas, marketing, stressful situation and so much more. A lot of the time I have no idea what he is talking about but I just need to listen because that is what my husband needs.
A helper because Chris has so much on his plate and his mail outs have to get out tomorrow. So that means I put everything aside and help him get them done.
I know I talked a lot about the disadvantages but I feel it is important for people to really see how it is! There are advantages such as Chris can say no to appointments more easily than your average job so he can be home for events or to help out like when I had my surgery. It means he gets to work from home which is nice to have him close by. But also hard because the kids want his attention when he can't give it and I have to remind myself often that he is working and not available to me either.
Some days, I hate that he is a real estate agent. I get frustrated, angry and upset sometimes with the way that people treat him, the things he's had to miss or put on hold because of his job. However, I also feel proud of my husband for helping make people's dreams come true and being apart of such a memorable and important part of their lives. I genuinely see how much joy it brings him when he helps a client find their forever home or sell a cherished family home. Just remember that when you are calling your agent, doctor, lawyer or really anyone take into consideration their time. Think about what they could be missing to help you. Be appreciative of that and don't take advantage
Komentarai