Growing up, I was under the impression that my mom had an eye in the back of her head. It was the only way my sisters and I could explain how she always knew when we were up to something. However, I’ve long since accepted that being a mom doesn’t mean you actually grow extra arms or eyes, regardless of how helpful it would be.
Despite the lack of cool new appendages, moms are always there for you when you need them, ready to answer questions and guide you. They’re there for you day or night for problems big and small, creating order from chaos and encouraging you to achieve your dreams. Wait a minute…that’s real estate agents too! With so many overlapping qualities, I guess it’s only natural that so many moms also make great real estate agents.
Some people suggest a complete separation of work and home life is the key to success in both, but as a mom you connect with a lot of new people. People who at some point are going to need a real estate agent. Even better, you’re going to connect with them without spending a fortune on prospecting. Your kids have teachers. They have coaches. They have friends, classmates, and teammates who all have parents. You’re in an ideal position to step in as their real estate agent.
“Wouldn’t marketing to my family’s connections be inappropriate?” you may ask, and while you don’t want to add the PTA to your email marketing list, you can definitely friend them on social sites and slide an occasional real estate message in among pictures of your kids at the park or your latest DIY project.
When it comes down to it, your experience as a mom makes you a more effective real estate agent. As a mom, you have the inside scoop on all the best parks. You know about the local schools. Your knowledge helps you match your clients with the lifestyles and communities that meet their needs, rather than just a home with the right number of beds and baths.
When and if you do get to the point where you feel like you’d need extra arms to get everything on your list done, remember that it’s ok to ask for help. Hire a sitter or someone who can take care of the laundry and grocery shopping. Consider how important some of your obligations really are and trim out the excess. Handle problems proactively. Have the kids leave their shoes by the door so it doesn’t take 30 minutes to find them when it’s time to go somewhere and anticipate what questions or concerns your clients may have so that they won’t need to call you at eight or nine o’clock at night.
