One of the things they don’t teach you in licensing class is that real estate can be lonely. There are 1.1 million Realtors in the U.S., and that’s not even counting the million licensees who don’t subscribe to the code of ethics.
At the core, you are in customer service, but not just any customer service. It’s the kind linked to what is usually the largest financial instrument of a consumer’s life. Times can be trying, and sometimes we all feel a little lonely.
That’s why you’ll notice that the top agents in any marketplace are conference junkies — not just for camaraderie but also to learn from one another.
I just got back from the President’s Circle Conference, which is the political geekfest of real estate — for those of us who really get into the issues that affect real estate from a 30,000-foot view. We’re looking to make sure that government reach doesn’t mess with our clients’ ability to buy and sell homes.
We go there to get the holistic view and to bring value in a big way. We go for the politics, but it turns into therapy because when you are around people who go through what you go through, there’s a magic in that. It lifts you up and puts a smile back on your face. And with technology, we didn’t miss a beat in our business by attending the conference.
If you are in real estate, I beg of you to find out what you can do and get involved with the Realtor party — the RPAC.
Leigh Brown is a full-time residential Realtor, speaker, coach and smartass. She works in the Charlotte, North Carolina, market with Re/Max Executive Realty and can be reached @leighbrown on all networks.