Lauri's Journ(ey)al

Yes my first job in RE ended yesterday. It was mutual and a great relief. I was a dog groomer for most of 29 years. Also retail,restaurants and the Army.
I know instantly if it is going to work with another person. I am so attuned to it that I would have had no trouble just saying to a new client 'look let's not waste each others time, this will not work'. Of course I never did for obvious economic reasons. For those of you thinking I made a self full filling prophecy, no I did not. I would service those clients just like any other. Sometimes bending further over backwards than I normally would just to be sure they had no reason to be displeased. Once, in all those years, was I wrong.
Well, I knew almost right away that it would not work with this broker. At my age and with the experience I have I am able to spot red flags. Sometimes when people are talking about their experience with past employees or other people they deal with on a regular basis they are giving out billboard sized signs as to their own behavior and thinking. Ya just gotta listen.
I will not go into detail. It would not be right or fair and everything you write here in cyberspace is out there forever.
There are lots of other agencies out there so I will start making contacts.
On the upside this broker is allowing me to take my listing with me or see it through to closing under her. She did not have to do that and I am truly grateful.

Lauri

So yet again I set out to find a broker.
I went to the monthly Realtors Association meeting. A broker there suggested I call her the next day. I did and she invited me to the office. I really liked her, the office and their work environment. One of my RE classmates works there,too. It is just too far. Almost 35 miles. It is very rural too even compared to here. On the way home I was thinking there are not a lot of houses here. How many could possibly be for sale and who is going to buy them?
If I can operate from home and in Fort Payne and other closer towns that might work.

I also went to a new office run by somebody who is not from around here. He had me fill out an application like I was applying at a burger joint. I don't think so. He shares the same pre foreclosure interest but, yeah, no.

I finally got in at another place that has lots of listings. A very busy office. They just redecorated and it is a very professional and beautiful job. That says a lot about them. The broker was on her way out and asked me to send over a resume. I told her I don't really have one but I wrote an informational 'who am I' letter and she was good with that.

Another place I really liked is on a lonely stretch of highway. The good thing is that it is between two busy areas. The remoteness leads me to think that there is very little walk in business. The good thing is there is only one other agent who is part time. I could have almost unlimited floor time and get a lot of the listings just by being there to answer the phone.
The remoteness is an issue. Still thinking.

I went to another very busy agency and they are not taking new agents right now. That's ok, I am not sure I would have liked it there. Just a personality thing.

I tried to go to another busy place, based on listings, but I couldn't find it. Not a good sign.

The last place I went is run by a twenty two year old. He has been an agent for three years and two weeks ago opened his own agency. His Dad is an investor and owns properties that he rents out. This kid has grown up in the RE world. I really liked him and I think we could help each other. I have some skills he needs and he has some experience. We will talk again next week.

That's all I can think of right now.
Lauri

OK.
Spent all week interviewing every broker I could.
I needed to be very particular after the first experience.
I decided on a small agency run by an experienced, well liked woman who loves real estate.
Remember, small towns, everybody knows everybody.
She has one other part time agent so I think this will work well. I can bring some cash through the door for her and learn in a low stress environment.
I start Monday.
Wish me luck.
Oh, while still at the other agency I found an investor!
Yay!