Realtor Dreams -- and Nightmares

Ticking Clocks and Cold Sweats

As an undergrad and Law School student, I would occasionally dream that I was hopelessly behind on an exam, with time running out (once, the exam was literally in an unrecognizable foreign language).

As a lawyer, that was replaced by a new, albeit infrequent nightmare: that I was months behind turning in my timesheets -- used to bill clients -- and that my records were nowhere to be found (imagine trying to account for every 10 minute increment of your 12 hour day, for weeks on end, months after the fact!).

So, now that I've been a Realtor for closing in on a decade, what gives me a night-time cold sweat?

Try, lapsed Inspection Contingencies.

The other night, I dreamt that my wife bought a new house without me, and neglected to do the Inspection in time (you waive the inspection if you don't perform it within the prescribed time period).

And no, that's never happened in real life, either to me personally or a client.

P.S.: For the life of me, I can't recall any CPA dreams -- my other vocation -- either good or bad.

Realtor Dreams -- and Nightmares!

Don't wait -- procrastinate now!

--Ellen Degeneres

In college, I used to dream that I was barely halfway through an impossibly long and difficult final exam, and time was just about to run out (sort of the academic "running in quicksand" nightmare).

As a lawyer, I used to dream that I hadn't done my time sheets for months.

(Note to non-lawyers: lawyers track their time in increments of one-tenth of an hour -- literally, 6 minutes -- and typically turn their timesheets in weekly (or did, way back when I practiced).

So what do Realtors dream about? (At least, that I can tell you about)

I dreamt that I had signed a listing (home for sale), but couldn't remember where it was, find my interview notes, or even the house key I'd been given!

Note to clients: Don't worry, I've never really done that!

P.S.: my favorite college test story was about a student in a huge, entry-level math class who repeatedly ignored the Professor's announcement that time was up, and to hand in his exam.

He finally complied, and raced to the front to turn in his exam.

Mary Sunseri, the Professor (and a Stanford icon) said, "I'm sorry, I can't accept this --- it wouldn't be fair to all the other students."

The student paused and asked her, "do you know who I am?"

Sunseri shook her head "no."

The student shoved his exam into the stack of hundreds she was carrying, and ran out!

(Give him an "A," at least, for quick thinking -- and no, it wasn't me; I distinctly remember getting a "B-" in the class.)