Ahhhh, yes…2009 was a very long year. Many of us were bruised and battered, and a few even required tourniquets. Some of you discovered Primal Screaming, while others dipped into the occasional Prozac Cocktail. There were smiles in between the hard knocks, and even a few whoops of delight, but overall, the year tested the patience of most every real estate agent I know.
Thus, I, “L.A.’s Sherlock of Homes,” am going public with my 12 resolutions for a better year (one for every month of course.) Maybe if I state them aloud I’ll have a better chance of keeping them:
January:
I promise not to bitch-slap the 25 year old starlet who is buying a 3 million dollar Malibu pad and wants me to lower my commission so she can buy a, $8k Viosky couch. Okay, “promise” is a strong word. How ‘bout “resolve”? Forget it, the kid is still getting one upside the head.
February
I will never again say, “Hey, I can strip wall paper!” just to convince a buyer that the ugly cow print in the bathroom should not deter her from making an offer. Okay, I lied. I’ll probably do it again. I may even promise to re-roof the house if someone will hold the ladder.
March
Granted, I’m not off to a good start, but let’s try again. Okay, I will not be frustrated and deflated if the market takes another surge into Dante’s Inferno. (I know I can keep this resolution – my uncle Vito owns a bar where I can get free booze if I need to medicate.)
April
Okay, I’m getting into this now. I resolve to not laugh at my six foot tall, Barbie doll buyer with the painted on capris when she bends over to test the water temperature in the pool, splits her breeches and falls into the deep end….even when her wig comes off and gets tangled in the automatic pool sweeper. Okay, I can’t stop lying. If it happens again, I’ll probably laugh until I cry.
May
I will not think homicidal thoughts when, on the eighth counter, my buyer refuses to budge if the seller will not throw the bloody Plasma into the deal. I think I can, I think I can I think I can….
Nope, he’s dead.
June
I resolve to cheerfully clean the seller’s house every time we have an open house (even though he has a cleaning person) because my heart is big and I understand the pressures of surfing all day. Really. Honest. Com’on – give a sister a break – I’m trying
Nope. He’s dead, too.
July
I won’t kick my friend into December when she tries to steal my client at a cocktail party. I’ll kick her into 2011 in the parking lot.
August
I will let my buyer bring her dog on house hunts, even though the crazy canine tore up the leather on my new Lexus. ($1214). However, this time I will tape the dog’s paws to its head just before I tazer the owner.)
September
I resolve to learn more about SEO, all of Gates’ new products, and all the computer stuff that requires a Rosetta Stone if you are as thick as I am. Ah, who am I kidding? No I won’t. My IQ won’t support anything more complicated than lipstick. So I resolve to study all the new products from Revlon.
October
I will try to make a better dry martini. And I’ll practice all year. (Yay – I think I found a resolution I can keep!)
November
I will not covet the lavish goodies I see everyday in the gazillion dollar Hollywood Hills homes I tour.
I will steal them.
December
How am I doing? Hmmm…I just re-read my resolutions and it seems I am weak and hopelessly flawed. I also see a trend toward violence and debauchery. Thus, I will resolve just to enjoy myself and do the best I can not to wake up in the back of a police car. This is Hollywood, folks – I’m doing well just to stay out of re-hab. Oh wait – I just discovered a new business plan – maybe I can pick up some buyers at Promises!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
anitacrum
January 8, 2010 at 9:19 am
OMG Gwen, this was great! I needed that laugh this morning (ok it was more like a snicker, a chuckle and then it dissolved into giggles which abruptly came to an end when it culminated in a *gasp* snort). 😉
Gwen Banta
January 8, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Your whole comment made ME gasp and snort, Anita – thank you! I’m waiting to hear some resolutions from the rest of you. Let’s see who breaks their resolution first. (That reminds me of an old Seinfeld episode…)
Michelle DeRepentingy
January 8, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I already broke my only resolution, which was to get dressed in something other than pjs everyday. I showed a house in in pajamas on Wednesday, BUT my client told me she was wearing hers too – so we both showed up in pjs! I think I am going to adopt your October resolution as one of mine…Happy New Year!
Gwen Banta
January 8, 2010 at 3:41 pm
I love an honest person like you, Michelle! And I LOVE to sit around in PJ’s. In fact, I am the Hugh Hefner of Real Estate. I must admit, however, that you topped me by actually showing a house in your P.J’s. That’s classic!
aMY L cavENDER
January 8, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Awesome post Gwen! Thanks for the laugh. Never would I have thought a resolution would be to get out of my PJ’s but I have to admit that was on my list too. (and yes, I have broken that one already)
Gwen Banta
January 8, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Amy, I do my best work in something flannel. My dog never gets out of her PJ’s, so why should I? (And she somehow manages to get a free ride and a lot of vacation time). Hugh Hefner has built an empire in his sleep suit…and I bet we look better in ours!
aMY L cavENDER
January 8, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Too true Gwen 🙂 I have even been known to attend rebarcamps in a Snuggie.
Gwen Banta
January 8, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Snuggie – that’s a great idea. I am going to recommend that my company adopt snuggies as their official uniform – kinda like that C-21 jacket. And they can be accessorized!
aMY L cavENDER
January 8, 2010 at 5:34 pm
We need them a little more here in Colorado! Love my hot pink Snuggie.
Brian Brady
January 8, 2010 at 7:02 pm
“I promise not to bitch-slap the 25 year old starlet who is buying a 3 million dollar Malibu pad ”
“I resolve to not laugh at my six foot tall, Barbie doll buyer with the painted on capris ”
I’m pretty certain that one of my resolutions is to hang out with you this year. You know, for the umm…networking opportunities.
Gwen Banta
January 8, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Great, Brian – You be the beauty and the brains of our little operation, and, with all my psychotic tendencies toward physical smackdowns, I’ll be the brawn.
Sal Antsipenka
January 8, 2010 at 8:22 pm
I don’t go ballistic over all described I just make a stone wall face and tell them I am a Russian. First they get scared a little; next they offer to have a Vodka drinking contest during which sign 8% commission agreement plus 3% buyer broker agreement compensation, plus offer to pay for the party and the girls. Why do you think Russians always negotiate with booze on the table? So I am working my angle – no New Year resolutions.
Gwen Banta
January 8, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Sal, can I be adopted into you family, please? I like your style! Now I know how to get those high commissions. I am going to start building my alcohol consumption right now -Vashe zdorovie !
Joe Loomer
January 9, 2010 at 8:56 am
January – I resolve to put on my “Depends” and remove all forms of food or drink from the vicinity of the computer BEFORE reading Gwen’s posts.
(made this resolution about two minutes ago, first I need a bath, a mop, a kleenex, and a facecloth)
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
Joe Loomer
January 9, 2010 at 9:00 am
January – I resolve to put on my “Depends” and remove all forms of food or drink from the vicinity of the computer BEFORE reading any posts by Gwen Banta.
(ok, made that resolution two minutes ago, but right now I need a mop, a facecloth, a bath, and some clean skivvies)
Navy Chief, Navy Pride!
Bill
January 9, 2010 at 9:42 am
Early in my career I had a client bring her dog on our home shopping excursions. One of those tiny, long haired and trembling like it was terrified kind of dogs that could fit in her purse. On our first outing I held my tongue as I wanted to feel out the situation and get to know her. After that the precedent had been set and I wasn’t sure how to tell her to leave the dog at home. After showing 125 homes she dropped me for a another agent.
Ahhh… to be young and stupid again.
Phil Ludlow, Carpenter Realtors, Lebanon, IN
January 9, 2010 at 2:42 pm
…kudos for the courage to publish your resolutions, and 12 of them at that!
Elaine Reese
January 9, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Glad to hear I’m not the only one that resolved to get out of the warm jammies. Mine are heavy fleece and the warmest thing in my closet. But with the cold weather we’ve been having, I’m having a hard time keeping my resolution.
Gwen Banta
January 9, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Bill, the poor dog was probably trembling because it knew it’s master was an unreliable bonehead!
Gwen Banta
January 9, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Thanks, Phil – but I knew I wouldn’t keep any of them…except maybe October’s.
Gwen Banta
January 9, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Don’t get out of your jammies, Elaine – real estate agents work such ungodly hours that we should all just feel proud that we managed to get out of bed!
Gwen Banta
January 10, 2010 at 12:05 am
Hey Joe – Happy New year! I am glad to hear that all your systems are still working, for my life would be without purpose if I could not make you soil your shorts periodically. However, if I may suggest oh so gently…perhaps one of your New Year’s resolutions should be to drink less fluids.
I plan to test your self-control every chance I get. I am even saving a few zingers to send to you on your private email – like the one that happened today. My buyer backed up against the electric gate as it was closing, which hooked his pants with an enormous Fleur-de-Lis. He almost got “pantsed,” but instead he got de-Fleured. The gate tore off the seat of his Armani’s! You can imagine how hard it was to keep a straight face when, as we drove away, I noticed a chunk of cloth still attached to the gate. Thank God we had to cancel our tour, because I was only able to maintain my composure until I got him back to his car. Then I did a Joe Loomer!
Joe Loomer
January 10, 2010 at 7:30 am
Sorry about the double-whammy – my comments weren’t showing up yesterday….
Real Estate Investment Ideas
January 10, 2010 at 4:34 pm
We all need humor once in a while and Gwen has hit a home run here! Funny…I particularly liked August and dogs add pleasure to life’s insanity. “Don’t taze me bro!”
Gwen Banta
January 10, 2010 at 9:04 pm
@realestateinvestment – I won’t taze you…may I may tape your paws to your head.