Happy 9 Years to Us! (Well Melissa if we're being specific..)
January 3rd, 2009. First day on the real estate job with no idea what to expect.
Terrified that the phone may ring, terrified that the phone may not ring... We had 3 little ones, the baby not yet a year old. On the advice of my mom (I wish she was here to see how far I've come) I had taken the registration courses mostly online when I was on maternity leave(s) from my job as a Physiotherapy Aide. The last one was in class, one more final exam, and then I was off and running/stumbling. She mentioned one day out of the blue that she thought it was something I would be good at. I liked people (cliche but true), I was a local which helps with my expertise in the area, "street cred" if you will (important in small towns), and who didn't watch half hour shows on HGTV and think "I can do that!"?
That first year was a successful one for me by my own standards. I worked hard, listened and learned, and picked up bits and pieces from many different colleagues that I filtered in to "things I would like to do", "things I would NOT do" and "things no one else is doing but I would like to try". I attended every education session I could make it to, hosted everyone else's Open Houses and never missed a Wednesday office meeting. I practiced listing presentations, buyer meetings, document preparation and tried to get better with handling rejection. That one is hard.
Over the years technology has changed, the paperwork (or lack of it because of digital assistance) has changed, resources, competition, opportunities, regulations... all changed. I've changed the way I do many things but I'm so happy to report that my love for what I do and who I do it with hasn't changed.
I never take an opportunity for granted. Guiding people through real estate, being there for them, helping them through some of the largest decisions of their lives... that's heavy stuff sometimes.
I'm honoured to have worked with over 215 families in these first 9 years. I've served on volunteer Committees from day 1, as a Director the last 2 years and am currently President-Elect for the Simcoe and District Real Estate Board. Bring on 2018, Mummery and Co. are ready!