By Monika McGillicuddy

Where has the time gone?  I have to ask myself that, as this year I enter my 23rd year in real estate!  Sounds scary doesn't it?

I must be feeling  nostalgic...don't really know why but I am.  I can't help but think of all of those that have come and gone as the Lure of easy money is a mighty pull...and for them the reality really does bite.

I've been a real estate professional for nearly 23 years now.  I've been through many ups and downs...good markets and bad ones....been there... done that and got the T- shirt!

So I can safely say that over the years I've seen many agents come and go...the lure of "easy" money and then the reality of having to really work hard to earn that easy money sets in and poof their gone!

Years ago at a former company...I trained an agent who after sitting through 2 weeks of our company's new agent training program thought he knew it all. I thought to myself...I'll give him a month. His first customer did him in...he showed her four houses and refused to show her more...he thought she should just buy one of the four he showed her and she should be grateful that he had taken the time to show her those four.
  What did she expect that he would cart her butt around until she found something??? He lasted 3 weeks.

Another agent didn't understand why he had to be available to show homes during the customers schedule...he wasn't wasting his weekends with Looky Lou's. 

One guy told me point blank that he couldn't stand real estate agents...he had all sorts of degrees and certainly knew how to sell real estate...he didn't want to waste his time participating in training.  After all he had sold many of his own homes without the help of an agent...what was it that I could teach him that he didn't already know...I wonder what he is doing today? Not selling real estate thats for sure!

Then there was the nurse who left a highly stressful career to do something "easy"...she needed to  remove all the stress from her life and real estate sounded like fun! 

The guy that takes the cake was in his late 50's, he sat through training...a good student, watching everything I did. This was the days of the floppy disks...Bill Clinton was president...remember those days? Anyway after training was complete, he came up to me and gave me a floppy disk labeled "Monica" and told me I left it at his house. I had never been to his house and reminded him of that and that my name was not spelled Monica with a c but Monika with a k. It didn't matter he insisted it was mine and left it on my desk.

Much later I decided to play it and see what in the world it was. I was pretty grossed out as it was full of pornography... an X rated spoof of Monica and Bill Clinton.  It really grossed me out and made me wonder what he was thinking about all those times he sat in class watching me. Yuck!
                                                                                                                                                                                     
The list is endless...and it always bothered me to see someone spend $1,000 plus just in start up money just so they can do real estate and last less than a month.   They were clueless about the reality of being a real estate agent.

What does it take to be a good real estate agent? What would you look for if you were to hire an agent to represent you? Can you describe you ideal agent?

Often I've wondered what special attribute do you have to have...to love this business.

I've never been lucky enough to get rich in this business.
I've missed more family time than I care to remember.  My kids had to learn to accept that mom might jump in the middle of dinner or laugh when they cut into their birthday cake in front of all their friends to find somehow the table spoon got baked into the cake...mom must have had a real estate call in the middle of mixing the cake and forgot about the spoon. 

Just what is that makes us a good agent?

I may not financially be rich but I am rich in many ways...I've helped shape the future for many people...helped them be able to create memories and achieve the American dream of home ownership. I'm a damn good agent...I know my stuff, I'm ethical even when no ones looking and I love what I do.  Is that enough?  I think so.

What makes you a good agent?   What sets you apart ?                                                                                                                                       

Serving Southern NH
Jay and Monika McGillicuddy
Prudential Verani Realty
Hampstead NH

603-548-7728

Let me tell you about my old man…

He was a very old man indeed…. some say he was born an estimated 2,000 plus years ago during the post-glacial period.

Even though he was so very old his passing was deeply mourned by New Hampshire residents as well as those of its sister New England States.

The Old Man in the Mountain.  What a sight he was…so majestic…so proud.  He sat boldly on the shoulder of Profile Mountain, which juts out into space, some 1200 feet above Profile Lake.

His profile was not to be missed by anyone visiting New Hampshire’s Majestic White Mountains.

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve pulled off the highway to stop at the viewing station simply so we could look at him, take pictures and just marvel that he was there.

A natural phenomenon…not created by man, but cherished by mankind. The joy never wore off…never became a yeah so what…been there done that type of attraction. 

One day when we least expected it he was gone…simply gone. We didn’t have a chance to say good bye, take one last photo.

We knew he was ailing a little bit and had heard about tentative gentle repairs being done and minor mending needed but no one expected this… I am talking, of course, about The Old Man of the Mountain, whose stony countenance simply vanished overnight and was discovered missing on May 3, 2003.

May 3 2003 is a day many New Hampshire ites will never forget…like remembering where you were when JFK or Bobby got shot…9-11 and Martin Luther King...of course while nowhere near the same tragic scale and magnitude those events where, but a day we’ll not forget anytime soon.

I’m sorry if you never got to see him in real life…my shots don’t do him justice but I’ve included many links that have great photos of New Hampshire’s Old Man in The Mountain for your viewing pleasure.

Former New Hampshire governor Craig Benson can sum it up much better than I can …so I’ll leave you with his words.

"From its mountainous perch, the Old Man has stood for centuries as a testament to the steadfastness of New Hampshire's Yankee character and the resolve of its people. This rugged yet beautiful monument fit the character of the pioneers who founded this state, the immigrants who built it, and the spirit of those who live here today. It was the ultimate symbol of those who would "Live Free or Die." And while that symbol may have fallen, that spirit still remains."

-- Governor Craig Benson

Hampstead New Hampshire Tid-Bits ….

 Liv’n Out Loud.  The clothing.  The lifestyle ….I just Love it when I hear of a local success story. But not only is this a local success story but check out the celebrities who also agree that these ladies have something special to offer.  So take a few minutes and cruise their website  not only is this a great story about two ladies named Kristine Fichera and Alyson Bruu shown here with New Hampshire’s Governor John Lynch but the product line is awesome and will make some truly special holiday gifts.

So special that the Sundance Film Festival has selected their clothing to be featured in the Celebrity Swag Bags!!! Pretty Cool!

Tis the season and Hampstead New Hampshire is already on the bandwagon gearing up for a fun filled community holiday season.

Plans are already in place for the Fire Departments annual Holiday Christmas Parade. The whole town rallies around this event and it is a “Not to Miss” part of the holiday season in Hampstead.

Check out Hampstead Library  web site and the upcoming events page for tons of library information.

Hampstead Historical Society has a neat CD they are selling called Hampstead: Then and Now which is  a documentary review the life and times of Hampstead with amazing photos and commentary. 

Hampstead Mothers club annual Breakfast with Santa will be held on Dec 2…this is a not to miss event!  The Mothers club is also building a playground at the Dept Road fields and money raised through many of their fundraisers go to support that effort. For more info contact the club by clicking here .

Prudential Verani Realty’s 5^th Annual Coat Drive

 Prudential Verani Realty is holding our 5^th Annual Coat Drive from November 1-30^th. Our goal is to collect over 6,000 coats, hats, mittens and scarves to donate to those in need. All of the very generous donations we receive will be given to local shelters, charitable organizations and to those less fortunate.  Call or e-mail me to donate.

 Happy Holidays to you all!    

Monika McGillicuddy's website

Monika McGillicuddy's Training website

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