So that picture you see is me as a virtually brand new agent in Ft Collins. My wife took that picture and we edited it, I had a big zit on my forehead but figured out how to photoshop that out. I couldn’t afford a professional photographer. I was green, wet behind the ears, young…I grew a beard to look older, I was mortified about being too young and not being trusted to help someone with what is generally their biggest financial transaction of their lives! These days, I am shaving off my beard because all the gray/white hairs in there and now I want to look young…boy how things change over 2 decades. When I first started, I was working as a bartender and trying to make ends meet…no kids, few responsibilities, but I knew I needed a “real job”.
Thank you so much for reading this article…I just hit a huge milestone…20 years as a licensed broker. I got my real estate license Oct 3rd, 2005. It’s crazy to me that it’s been 20 years, it truly flew by. I am really proud that I have been able to make it…there is a stat that 80% of brokers are out of the business within 18 months of starting. So when I hit the beginning of month 19, I rejoiced and celebrated!
This all started with me wanting to be a licensed agent so that I could do my own investing, buy rentals, flip properties etc. I am going to write a whole other blog post about our rental properties and real estate investments so keep your eye out for that. But I ended up being pretty good at the brokerage part, in other words acting as buyer and seller agent for folks, so that is what really stuck.
It’s been a relatively awesome career with a lot of “freedom” I suppose…a lot of people think that Realtors have it easy and don’t work that much but the ones that are successful, well we work our butts off, 7 days a week, sometimes doing contracts at 11pm at night with a midnight deadline! I personally eat, sleep, live, and dream real estate. It’s a blessing and a curse. This is a hard job. Very very stressful. Every one of your clients is your boss and you deal with all different kinds of personalities. Every real estate deal is different which makes it challenging and exciting. And the industry is constantly in flux, making it so important to hire someone with experience that has seen it all and keeps up with the day to day changes.
Really, I wouldn’t have it any other way! I am definitely looking forward to the next 20…in 20 more years, I will be 66 years old and I guarantee I will still be selling real estate. It’s like a marriage, I am in it through thick and thin, good times and bad, and I am here for you 24/7/365.
I would be honored to interview for the position of being your real estate agent! Ben Blonder, benblonder@gmail.com, 970.420.6166
