I went to a memorial service last week. It was tough at times – as these events usually are – but at the same time, it was enlightening and, in a certain way, gratifying.
Jenn Garrett, a realtor and broker who had been with Village for decades, died after a year-long battle with a rare cancer. The turnout for the memorial service was huge. Jenn was well-liked in the community at large, and many of her friends from all sorts of connections were there. But there was an even larger contingent – Village realtors and others with Village connections.
Funerals are, of course, for the living. Among Jenn’s survivors are her brother, Teddy, a busy and successful Village realtor, and her mother Bobbie, for many years principal broker at Village and the guiding light for hundreds, if not thousands, of successful realtors both at Village and beyond. To Bobbie and her guidance, I owe at least 90% of my success.
After the service, the line waiting to share a word and a hug with Bobbie and Teddy was, at times, more than 30 people long – all waiting patiently. Both tears and laughs were shared. It was an honor to be a part of this crowd.
What does this say about real estate in general and Village in particular? I have a few thoughts.
It’s about life – in all its dimensions
The practice of real estate touches every facet of life. Birth, death, marriage, divorce, business success, business failure, departures, arrivals – any and all these things can come up in a real estate deal. It’s essential to remember that this is about so much more than dollars and cents. A home is where life unfolds – in all its ups and downs. And realtors are here to deal with it all.
Realtors take care of people
Despite what some say about realtors taking up too much space and not adding any value, we earn our keep by taking care of people – helping them get what they need, when and where they need it. It’s hard work, but so rewarding! You won’t find a successful realtor anywhere who doesn’t enjoy people and care about helping others.
At Village we look after our own
The huge crowd who came out to honor Jenn’s life and support her family makes it plain – Village is not just a business. It’s a big bunch of fundamentally kind and decent people, who are busy, but not too busy to step up and offer a hand to others.
In my rookie weeks as a realtor, I was in Bobbie’s basic training course at Village, and she said that real estate is a caring profession – like nursing. At the time, I thought she was nuts. But I have never forgotten that statement, and over the years, I have learned how very true it is.