March 5th - 2013

My first steps as a REALTOR® and working mom

When I started working as a real estate administrator, I was 19 years old, didn’t own property and definitely didn’t have kids. I had a nine-to-five job and was ready to take on the world.

by Ayn MacDonald

When I started working as a real estate administrator, I was 19 years old, didn’t own property and definitely didn’t have kids. I had a nine-to-five job and was ready to take on the world.

Seven years later, I had bought a condo, got married, had a baby, and subsequently divorced. Around that time, I decided that working in a business and owning it were different – and I wanted to run the business. I soon learned that this presented a number of challenges.

My first memory as a working mom is the day I decided to prospect door-to-door in a snowstorm. My toddler was taking his first steps and we were both taking a leap of faith – he was learning to walk and I was honing my prospecting skills. I knocked on doors and introduced myself: “Hi. My name is Ayn. I’m in the neighbourhood today. Are you interested in knowing what your home is worth?”

It seemed like my son and I were both learning to walk and talk – knees a little shaky, hands a little clammy, not quite sure if we would succeed. I remember making handmade seed packages for prospects and then packing them up to clear the table to make space for a dinner my toddler would fling on the floor -- and then doing all of it over again the next day.

My first listing came from someone I had met through my son’s play dates. Our kids were around the same age and the parents felt I could get the job done. A few days after the listing went on the market, we had an offer. It was irrevocable until 11:59 that night and it came in at 10 p.m. I had to make a quick decision: Either let the deal die or put my sleeping son into his car seat and drive over to the client’s home to get signatures. Luckily my son was young enough that he fell right back to sleep in his car seat while my clients signed the deal on the front porch.

Two years later, I’ve learned a few things about work-life balance. Now I tell my clients upfront that I’m a mom and that sometimes means I have to wear two hats. It may mean showing houses with my three-year-old in tow. I set all my irrevocable times for 7 p.m. If the rush is on, I make it happen at 6 p.m., not 11:59 p.m. I’ve also learned to keep snacks and toys in my car emergency kit – they always come in handy.

I now have five babysitters on speed dial. They understand my schedule and my house now has a lockbox. It sounds crazy, but I actually schedule time to play with my child. I tell my clients that I have an important meeting and have to go. The biggest learning curve of all was figuring out how to juggle and manage my schedule. This has taught me to say, “Sorry, I just can’t make it across town and through traffic in five minutes.”

I now know that when it comes to selling real estate and being a mom, life happens. I work hard for my clients, night and day, but being a mom is sometimes paramount. Each day gets a little easier. I hope that as my son grows up, he realizes that my work enables me to help people and families like ours. I’m lucky to love what I do and to have flexibility and support from family and friends to help me be a great real estate salesperson -- and more importantly, a great mom.

Ayn MacDonaldAyn MacDonald is an Ottawa salesperson, member of the OREA Young Professionals Network and guest writer on the OREA blog.

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