Pinetop White Mountain Blog

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I read a post on another website this afternoon that got me to thinking that most people really have no idea what I do for a living.  It is easy to think that Real Estate people sit in an office all day waiting for the commission checks to come rolling in.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Let me tell you about my typical day.  I get up around six every morning.  I take a few minutes to have a cup of coffee and let the wrinkles fall out of my face before I get started. 

At seven I turn on my computer to check on any emails that may have come in overnight.  On the average there are about 50 of them sitting there to go through.  Some are important but most are just junk mail but you never know unless you look at them.  Well, maybe with the exception of the ones from the FBI telling me my accounts have been compromised and all I have to do is send them my banking information and they'll be happy to correct the mistake.  Oh, and then the ones from Shakeil in Nigeria telling me I just won a million dollars in the Nigerian Lottery, all I have to do is send him my bank information and he'll wire the funds to my account immediately.  Get the idea?

Then I finally get down to the ones I want.  My daily newsletters and information from the various Real Estate News Sites and finally down to the ones who want information about one or more of my listings.  Okay, we are though the email, now it is 8:00 and I'm still in my bunny slippers and I have to be at the office by 9:00.

I arrive at my office with all those requests for information in hands and sit down at my computer to answer them and send out information to those who want to know more about one of my listings or are just searching in general for properties they might be interested in. 

It is now 10:30 AM and I have a listing appointment at 11:00.  On the average I will spend at least two hours with potential sellers explaining the listing process, what they can expect during the listing period, and how I am going to market their property.  Then I have to do the room measurements, take some really fine pictures for that listing, thank them kindly for their faith in me and head back to the office. 

Oh Boy, more emails.  Probably two more from Shakeil and another one or two from the FBI but that's okay I know what to do with them.  Finally it is time to sit down and get that new listing in the computer.  That involves not only putting it on the MLS but at least five or six other websites including my own.  That's done, then I have to get the file together for the office so my Broker can review it and sign off on the listing. 

Finally, I'm done with the new listing now I really have to get back to the searches for potential buyers that I didn't have time to complete this morning.  Another hour or so per search and then setting up their files so I can start them on my notification system.  Now it's 4:30 and I still have to schedule my showings for the Buyers tomorrow. 

Listings are selected, printed out, and then the phone calls to other agents about showing their properties on the morrow.  Oh good, two don't have keysafes and I have to pick up keys to the homes at their offices and they close in 15 minutes.  Off I go to collect those keys and finally it is time to head home.  Oh wait, I forgot to call that inspector for the Home Inspection to make arrangements for him to get in that house tomorrow.  Stop at the side of the road, dig out that file and call, real quick, before he shuts off his cell phone for the day. 

Now it's off home to finish up my day.  Let's see, I still need to update my website with a new blog post, see what is happening with my contacts on Facebook & Twitter, post some enlightening bit if wisdom on Linkedin or Activerain, and plan my day for tomorrow.  Somewhere around 7 PM I may be caught up and ready to sit down and have dinner with my family, providing the phone doesn't ring and it often does.  All those people I sent information to or left messages for just got home from work so they are getting back to me.  Did I say 7 PM, well maybe 8.     

Tomorrow I will spend at least five or six hours showing property, hopefully writing an offer (in Arizona that takes about 3 hours if you ar going to do it right), then presenting that offer to the other Agent and then waiting to see what that seller has to say.  In the meantime I need to follow up on that inspection report I just got in and check in with the Buyers to see what they think now that they know what, if anything is wrong with the house.  Get the paperwork together to submit to the seller to see if they'll take care of those repairs, etc. etc. etc.  

Oh, and in between, I forgot the emails.  There is Shakeil again and one more from the FBI.  Gad, I wish they were real, I'd be rich and then I wouldn't have to work these 12+ hour days anymore.  I could take a real vacation, spend some quality time with my family, maybe go for a walk.  But, I'm exhausted so think I'll just crash on the sofa.

Have a great weekend everybody, until next time.

Sandra Paulow, Associate Broker, GRI, SFR  (928) 242-0300

Your High Country Connection for Real Estate.