You know, there are plenty of people in the U.S. who have passed the test and gotten a license to sell real estate, but that doesn't mean they have a passion for it, will stick it out or even have the skill set to be the connection between buyer and seller.
Let me start with the definition of 'counselor' that I gleaned from the web.
Counselor: Job description
Counselors help people to explore feelings and emotions that are often related to their experiences. This allows clients to reflect on what is happening to them and consider alternative ways of doing things.
Counselors work in a confidential setting and listen attentively to their clients. They offer them the time, empathy and respect they need to express their feelings and perhaps understand themselves from a different perspective.
The aim is reduce a clients confusion and enable them to cope with challenges.
Counselors do not give advice, but help clients to make their own choices...
Hmmmm, but I thought I had hired a real estate agent to sell our house… that sounds like Chris!
I chose Chris Serwe of the Wells Group here in Durango to be our realtor. My sister Lisa Brown is a realtor as well with Prudential Parent Associates in Worcester, MA and I believe both have similar qualities that make a realtor successful. I think that realtors become part counselor during the process. If a buyer has much expendable income that may not be the case, but when finances matter, emotion comes into play; hard not to.
As we sell our house because we have to, not because we want to, emotions are high. There is the whole task of moving to a place in town (heaven forbid!), that has less storage, less land, less need for the 'stuff of our lives', no shop. There is the piece about Russ being a sentimental saver. The piece where I want a flat place for his mobility. The piece that has to decide if we can go against an ingrained attitude (forced hot air?). There is the piece that struggles with aging and changing needs. The piece that shouts change. And through it all dear, kind, sweet Chris listens and cares and guides.
Meet Chris...
She may be our realtor but she is definitely part-counselor. She is on call most days, works weekends and nights, has to present a kind and caring face no matter life's circumstances…. amazing lady.
Thanks Chris.