Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 28, 2009

This has been a pretty quiet week, except for the structure fire at the beginning of the week where we provided mutual aid. I'd like to share with you an introspection about something different.

About five years ago I joined my company, RE/MAX Properties Unlimited, in Westfield, NJ. I remember distinctly taking the most humble seat in the corner. The reason I did this was because I left a company where I was the 'big fish in a small pond' and just couldn't take the jealousy and competition sales can bring. At the RE/MAX in Westfield, I wasn't the type of agent who sold million dollar homes. My average sale is $395K, which isn't alot in New Jersey. But if I listed the amount of people I've helped get those homes, or the times I explained things or caught things even their attorneys didn't, I can say I am the best agent for this price range.

On my first day there, I sat looking out the window and in my direct line of vision were the top real estate companies in Westfield. I felt good being a 'small fish in a big pond'. I now work for that same company but in Morristown, NJ. I am now an even smaller fish in Morristown as our office is the biggest in the county. I don't mind though.

Throughout my career, I have always helped police officers and fire fighters obtain homes otherwise unachievable without my help. This was even before I decided to become a volunteer firefighter. I felt this was my way of giving back.

This week one of my good friends at the firehouse told me that I am not pushing myself hard enough as a realtor. I'm not in the handful of agents out there pushing their high priced homes. I don't do anything to market myself like the traditional person. This hurt me deeply, because if one really knew Denise Broesler, you would know how I've always been honest, even if it meant losing on a deal. I've always put my clients' best interests at heart. I've always followed the realtor code of ethics. I've always had as much work as I need.

I'd like to share a particular story. I have a client whose name is John. I sold his small condo in Linden. John is a tough cop who trains police dogs. His condo was incredibly small, and he was living with his wife, son and huge police dog in three tiny rooms on the second floor. We had a very rocky transaction, with him almost getting arrested himself for problems with the buyer (they weren't his fault-the buyer lied). Anyway, when John had his second child a month after we closed, he left the delivery room and I was the first person he called when they had their daughter. John and I have gotten to be good friends; he calls me for realtor advice from time to tome, and was one of my biggest supporters throughout the Academy.

On Monday, I started a contractual job. It really landed on my lap last week when I got a call from one of the top volunteer firefighters in a neighboring town. When I was sitting there filling out my paperwork on Monday, their firehouse was right outside my window. It reminded me of the beginning of this story, when I started RE/MAX in Westfield, at that lowliest desk in the corner, and in my line of view were all the top real estate companies in the town.

Point of the story is...I'm definitely at a crossroad in my life careerwise, marriagewise, daughterwise. When I spoke to John yesterday out of the blue, I was near new office. I thought how fortunate I was that the three things I enjoy the most - volunteering, computers and real estate, all swirled into one.

Thank you for listening. Denise

PS We are waiting for placement for my daughter. Hopefully my prayers will get answered soon. In the meantime, I have to go to the scary place today and tomorrow.