This isn’t the type of post I normally write for Agent Genius, and I promise next week I’ll be back to blow up the internet. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and it kind of takes the snarkiness right out of me . . but still it might not be a good idea to test me.
Cooking Turkey
This Thanks giving holiday I will be preparing my 19th thanksgiving diner in my own dining room and I am thankful for that. For me buying a house was never about making an investment, although I have to say it has worked out well. There isn’t any way we could rent the amount of space we currently have without quadrupling our monthly expenses.
Having a permanent place to live has meant a lot to my family over the years. Our roots go deep into the community. When I walk into my kitchen I can still see a younger me lifting my children up onto the kitchen counter so they could reach some things from the cabinets and hand them down to me.
A Place with a past
As I serve my thanksgiving dinner tomorrow I will be reminded that the house is now 150 years old and that perhaps many families have enjoyed the same meal that I will be serving in that same room. I wonder what the dining room looked like during the civil war and if some other mother lifted her child up to reach something from the cupboard.
As a Realtor I have never lost site of what it means to buy a home or what it must feel like to lose one. It isn’t always easy for me to do my job and remain detached when I work with people who need to move because they can not afford to pay the mortgage or worse.
Serve and Protect
When I work with first time home buyers I think about how the purchase of a home will change their lives. Sometimes I wonder if they understand how lucky they are that they can purchase a home in the first place. It really is part of the American dream even though these days we talk about it like it is part of the American nightmare.
As agents I think one of the most important services we can provide is helping people buy a home, and we should never lose site of what a privilege it is to be a part of that process. We are sales people but also advocates and what we do matters. We should take the responsibility seriously and serve our clients with the utmost care.
That is one of the reasons why I got into this business in the first place.
Have a wonderful holiday and be thankful.
Michelle DeRepentigny
November 26, 2008 at 9:15 am
I would like to think that we all get “un-snarky” at this time of the year. Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for me as well.
Few people know I had planned to be a social worker, but could not live on that salary. Real estate sales was my second choice due to the feeling of joy and accomplishment that I received when helping someone make their home buying dreams come true. With that privilege comes an awesome responsibility, may we never forget that.
Best wishes to you and your family during the holidays and always.
Teresa Boardman
November 26, 2008 at 9:19 am
Michelle – there are days when I feel like a social worker. I think the two most important words in this are “privilege” and “responsibility” . . it was a privilege to get your responsible comment and have a happy thanksgiving.
Matt Stigliano
November 26, 2008 at 9:21 am
Theresa – I love the idea of you giving thought to what the kitchen looked like during the Civil War and whether those same residents lifted their children up to the cupboard to get items out. Brilliant visual.
And this career is a privilege, that much I know. I love what I do and after years of having a great career that I was passionate about, I have found a new one to have that same passion with…for new reasons. I am thrilled that I made the choices I made to move into real estate and look forward to the years to come. And thanks to people like you, I will never forget just why I made my choice. Thanks.
Missy Caulk
November 26, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I was a social worker and those skills I learned in college are exactly what I do and practise in RE.
What fond memories, we have been in my house for 17 years and the kids won’t let us sell. Not that I would in this market, but someday as we don’t need the space.
Happy Thanksgiving, Teresa.
Vicki Moore
November 30, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Thanksgiving is absolutely my favorite holiday – even better than any birthday. The eating, sharing, laughing, picture taking, hugging, the tradition and amazing smells. I love it all and look forward to it every year.