I am a residential real estate agent. My clients use me for my strong negotiating skills, marketing and high ethical standards. I am always honest with them and my main goal is not only to make them happy but to protect them. I am very strong contractually and I will put my skills up against anyone!

EDUCATION |

HOW TO GET STARTED | Besides getting your license it is important to get a mentor. That is the best way, if someone is willing to be a mentor you will learn much faster. If you are picking a brokerage find one that has a good training program. I also would not attempt to get into this business unless I had at least six months of income set aside, it takes a couple of years in some cases to make any money and get established

MUST HAVE TRAITS | The ideal person for this job is someone that can be themselves and be honest with strong ethics. Most legal and marketing stuff is cover on the job training. I joined many civic organizations and networked widely. Some of it is luck and hard work. I was very lucky when I got in to the market when it was good and I learnt from someone that was great. It is a harder business than someone would ever think! It has gotten more technical and you have to keep up, agents that did not catch on with the internet have been left behind.

how I got started | I initially worked with a broker who was very successful and I hooked myself to her hip, so to say, for 6 months and was there for every single transaction.

why this job?| I was been real estate for over 16 yrs, before that I owned a commercial carpet cleaning and janitorial business for over 10 years and I was looking for a change in career. I was always interested in real estate and I had the opportunity to make the change.

why I love this job!| I love the opportunity to be a trusted advisor and lifelong consultant to my clients and do not see myself as a sales person. I also enjoy having my own business and he freedoms it allows. I was never a corporate type of person who clocked in the 9-5 job, I must also say that the income growth in this profession is unlimited. My day to day is always different especially now when we are in a changing market. Every transaction is different and you have to be able to adapt. I am on the phone and computer a lot and there is more behind the scenes work than most people know. I would prefer to be out and about meeting with new and exisitng clients. There is a lot of variety in this job such as calling lenders and other agents. I am very hands on with my clients. I do 70 % in listings, that is helping sell property and 30 % sales i.e. helping clients find homes and it is evolved to be so. I do enjoy both. With buyers I put them through a good interview process to make sure they are serious about buying. Selling homes is more about marketing and presentation. Buying on the other hand is much more a personal process you are showing houses and there is much more of an education process on home location, investment concepts and market changes. I am an excellent problem solver as long as I have the facts but sometimes it tough to dig them out.

my typical day| You have to take time when you can for yourself. I do not plan a day in advance very often it is impossible.

what they are | The biggest challenges is adapting to the market changes. Second is dealing with other agents, to get the agents to concentrate more than their pay check is a hard thing. Finally managing time is very difficult; I knew that when I got into the business, I was at the beck and call 24/7.

all about growth | The income potential, the freedom and the reward of helping people who are going through major life changes are all the upsides.

my website| http://www.midpeninsularealtors.com