Office is closed today--whew! It's nice to finally have a day off. Went to a BBQ in Canton.

One of the brokers in the office had listed a house in Hyde park and they had an Open House today. I had several buyers meet me there and one put in an offer right then and there. It felt funny to be writing up the offer at the dining room table while other people are still walking through it. Oh well. Never did run into everyone that was supposed to meet me there.

Had a showing for the condo today at noon. Worked the desk from 4-6, then back to the condo for a couple of showings. By the time I got there, there were about 15 people sitting outside waiting for me--3 groups of people. Basically had to run a tour like a tour guide--kind of funny. Went well.

Just one showing at the condo today.

2 appointments to show the condo today and then back to the desk at work to cover phones. Too much on my mind to pay much attention to phone calls. My shift was 1-3 and I figured after that I would run upstairs and gather together everything I need for the Open House tomorrow. By 3:15 the next shift still hadn't arrived. Grrr. One had just had emergency surgery so I knew he wouldn't be coming in and apparently nobody took his shift. I called the other broker and she didn't realize she was supposed to be working. Thought she had traded shifts with someone else. Said she wasn't coming in and that if I had to go, that I should just lock up and go home. I still have that corporate mentality and couldn't just lock up and go home. She said she would try to find someone to cover her shift and would call me back. About 10 minutes later, she called back and said she couldn't find anyone to work for her. Thanks to someone else's advice, I told her that she should call the manager and let her know about this and to let me know what she said. She actually did. Anyway, the manager finally called me and said that I should stay as long as I possibly could and then lock up and go home. (she had sent out a voice mail to everyone to try to get someone to come in but I don't think anyone replied). Finally one person called and said she would stop by and fill in. I had just enough time to get to my next appointment to show a house.

Second Open House for the condo. G.G. from the office helped me out today so I don't have to run up and down the stairs all day. Pretty good crowd and many seem quite interested but no offers during the Open House. Later in the evening, I got a call from a broker and she was faxing over an offer. Yay!!! She wanted an answer from the seller's this evening but it was too late to give them a call. I left a message and sent them an email but haven't heard anything. The broker says her buyer wants to act fast or will move on.

Someone from yesterday's Open House brought their broker back to see the condo. Actually, the buyer wasn't there but his mother was there with the broker. Another broker also came by with a buyer. I told them both that there is an offer on the table and that the sellers need to respond right away so if there is going to be an offer, do it right now and give the best and highest offer. I couldn't tell if they were gonig to put in an offer or not--wouldn't want to play poker with any of these people! I waited a bit, kept checking my voice mail and heard nothing. When the seller's came back we chatted for a bit about what to do and I checked my voice mail one more time. Then they signed off on the offer--it's accepted! Yay, it's sold. Drove back to my office to make copies and fax the signed copy to the other broker. While there I heard from one of the other brokers--she had left a message as I was on my way back to the office--she was presenting an offer. Yes, a higher offer than we just accepted. Damn! Too late though. Of course, while at the office, I also realized I hadn't had them sign the addendum and had to drive back to Allston, have them sign it, drive back to the office again, and fax everything over to the broker. What a day! I have to say I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Completely exhausted.

Our weekly sales meeting was held at one of the brokers house. They supplied breakfast and told everyone to bring their suits to go swimming. Only 2 brave people went swimming.

The inspection for the condo was today already! So, first I had to go to the condo management company to pick up all the documents needed (which cost me $50.00!), then had to drive back to the condo, wait for everyone to show up and then hang around during the inspection. Then had to drive to Needham to drop off documents to the attorney, then go to the office to give the check to the admins and wrap up some paperwork.

Well, that was fast! The buyer for the condo backed out. Hmmm. This could be good or bad. Bad because it's hard to say what could happen next. But good because the backup offer we have in place is for more money. Assuming they still want to buy the place.

The house in Hyde Park is also back on the market. Am trying desperately to contact my buyer for that house to have him offer again.

This is just SO much work. Sigh.

What a day! Had to contact the backup offer for the condo to see if they were still interested. So far, they are. Good! They faxed over the offer with revised dates on it and I had to drive back to Allston to have the sellers sign papers to release the first buyer. They were on their way to New York and I got their just in time for them to sign before they left for the train station. Then I had to run to The Chestnut Hill Mall (or should I say "The Mall at Chestnut Hill?) to meet up with the buyer for the other property and have him re-sign the offer for that. Then I drove to Needham to the attorney for the original condo buyer to pick up the condo docs but she wasn't in. Then back to the office to make copies of all the paperwork. Went home for lunch and then back to the office since I needed to fax the condo offer to the sellers once they arrive at their hotel in New York. Spent a lot of time waiting and waiting and waiting. Also had to wait for the pre-approval letter for the buyer of the house in Hyde Park. Finally got in touch with the condo owners but they couldn't get the fax machine working. We have until tomorrow so will try then. All that waiting in the office for nothing. I definitely need to get a fax machine at home so I can be doing other things while waiting. I'm exhausted.

Found out that my buyers for the house in Hyde Park got the house. Yay! The listing broker was a bit weird about the whole thing but that could just be his personality. He wanted a few dates changed on the offer so I had to drive back to the Chestnut Hill Mall to meet up with the buyer and have him initial the changes. Then drove back to Needham to pick up the papers from the attorney, then back to the office for more paperwork. Finally was able to fax the offer to the condo owners and have them sign and fax back.

Is this how it all works? Is this to become my life now? Oy. This is a fun hobby but a horrible job. OK, it's not horrible but I don't like some parts of the job--all the driving, dealing with traffic, hurry up and wait for everything. But, I guess a job is a job, hey? I do have a lead for a usability contract job. I think it's for about 5 months. Now what do I do? I'm finally rolling in the real estate business but miss doing usability. Do I take the contract job and try to do both for a while? I wish this economy would turn back around soon.

Had dinner at Vinny Testa's today--had a hankering for their Shrimp Fra Diavolo. It definitely hit the spot. There is nothing better than spicy food with a great glass of wine (or two). The guy next to us got a free meal which is the first time I've actually seen somebody win the free meal.

Caravan today. Not too bad though I still can't get over how expensive some homes are. We missed the last house on the list since it was around lunch time and we made a quick stop to grab a bite to eat.

One house in Dedham is a real fixer upper. Kind of interesting though if you can see the possibilities. It's hard to picture that people are actually living in this house in this condition, but they are.

Feeling a bit sluggish today, maybe a tad hungover even though I didn't drink that much. Had to be in the office by 8:30 which should be an easy goal considering I used to get to the office by 7:00 (when I had a "real" job), but it's amazing how difficult that has become.

My buyer had to sign the Purchase and Sale today so I had to meet up with him at his school on Huntington Ave. during rush hour traffic as well as Red Sox traffic. Finally found him, had him sign all the paperwork then drive back to Westwood. Unfortunately, I got stuck in traffic and it took me about an hour to get back to the office. I feel totally drained! At least that part is done now.

BBQ today at V.S.'s house. Now I remember why I started wearing black all the time! I wore a white shirt to the BBQ and within the first 15 minutes, spilled a big glob of salsa down the front of my shirt. Shortly thereafter, I spilled cheese dip to the left of the salsa staing. Then a little wine was added (can't have cheese without wine now can we??). The shining moment came when I was preparing my hamburger and squirted mustard on my formerly white shirt instead of the hamburger. And I had to sit there the rest of the day with multiple food stains all over my shirt. P.A. was going to throw his blueberry trifle at my shirt for a little contrast--luckily he didn't but it was pretty funny.

Got a call that the buyers of the condo have already signed the Purchase and Sale so I needed to have the sellers sign. Met them at the condo where they told me that the attorney wants to see it first to make sure it is the same copy that he approved. So we drove over to the attorney's office and he's not there--he went to lunch. Luckily he was only across the street so we went over there and had him look over the documents, then the sellers signed.

Did 2 co-broke showings first thing this morning. The broker was a man that was in my training class in the Spring. It was great to see him--he's really a great guy.

Had our new broker training at another office today. This one was actually inspiring and they served free lunch!