Hello!
For those of you who don't know me well, my professional background is health care. I worked as a respiratory therapist for 14 years, operating life support at B.C. Children's Hospital before moving here to work for VIHA. Many of you would be unable to imagine what I've seen on the front lines in the Emergency Room or Intensive Care Units. Our doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and everyone in the health care system deserve an incredible amount of respect and support for the job they do.
Eventually I'd had enough of hospital life and went into real estate. It was an odd career change for many of my old colleagues to comprehend. I'm not pushy, I don't have the salesman's greasy grin, and I'm really honest! One friend told me not to worry, that eventually I would learn to sell ice cream to an Eskimo. Don't worry, I won't go there...
I was certain real estate was the right choice because I knew how much stress was associated with buying and selling. And I am very comfortable talking to people and relating with them during these stressful periods. It's important to know how to speak to someone and make them understand important issues when they are emotional.
Just today I had to listen to a client vent her frustrations with the last two offers on her property that have collapsed due to buyer financing woes. I made her feel better and restored her faith that her house will sell. Yesterday I had another client upset about things missing from her newly acquired property (plants, etc.). It is not unusual for clients to call and voice their stress about something. It is my job to listen, calm them down, answer their questions, and take care of them.
Caring. That's what it is really about, isn't it? This is the strongest attribute I have taken from my previous profession into my new career. And I think it will set me apart from the rest.
K
