Surprise, surprise. Here I am, a RE/MAX agent with a very nice private office and all of a sudden it has dawned on me that I have a virtual one as well.
When I became a REALTOR® in 1986 I worked in a fairly good size office in Northern Virginia. It was great. I loved the camaraderie and the fact that there were so many agents around much of the time to teach the newbie (me), boost my moral, suggest marketing ideas, and to hold my hand when things didn't go so great.
Yes, folks, there have been times in the past when the real estate market saw rough, tough times.
Back then, there was a long umbilical cord that kept us attached to our offices. We had computers in the work area where we were able to access the MLS and that is the only place we could. There was no such thing as access on home computers. Stood to reason you would be in the office unless you were showing property or doing a listing presentation.
No faxes at home, no unlimited long distance calling from home, no cell phones to be constantly in touch, no copiers at home, no, no, no to many things. What our homes lacked, our offices had. No question about where we spent many, many waking hours.
Yes, our office was our home away from home. Now our home is our office away from our office. Because of this, many of us are not spending very much time in our office "offices". That is where Active Rain comes in.
Active Rain has become my virtual office. It is where I receive real estate information every day. It is where I can ask questions and get answers, it is where I learn about new technology, other social networking sites, new marketing ideas, and new ways of doing business.
It is also the place where I, and others, get moral support, a chance to make new friends, and become closer to others, where we exchange tidbits about ourselves (MeMe anyone?), look at and admire photos taken by other members, and share our concern when fellow members are having tough times.
It is my "other" office in the best sense of the word and I very much appreciate having it. I cannot imagine being without Active Rain.
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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.
Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.
Contact Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web site http://lakeannacountry.com/.
©Copyright Kate Elim 2011
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GET MOVING WITH KATE!
540-226-1964 cell
lakeanna-realestate.com (Blog)
Great post...I also feel that AR is a huge source of information.
Kate, great post! We are relatively new to AR, well just over a month. We have really been enjoying it for the same reasons you gave. It's true! We were both saying just today, why do we even go into the main office everyday when everything is at home, even as you say, the comaraderie of other agents now with AR!
All the best even virtually!
Al & Peggy Cunningham
Hi Kate ~ The more I think about this the more I think how right you are. And I've been feeling bummed about the relative lack of agents who come into the office since I liked the buzz, the back and forth, the resources among my colleagues, etc. I agree AR is a great alternative.
Liz
When I get bogged down in my business, coming home and finding out what the rest of Active Rain is doing, makes me realize I'm not alone. My business is swarming with short sales and I am not able to spend much time here right now. (Wish I could work at home sometimes).
I have also found this a great place to hang out and do business. Thanks.
Kate,
What a great way to think of Active Rain - as your virtual office. Nice. :)
Steve
This is featurish material for the insightful way of viewing A/R and so true - and i never really thought that was why there are fewer realtors in the office these days - but you could be right!
Kate, Virtual office is another way to look at Active Rain. My office is where my computer and/or phone happen to be. And they happen to be at home.
Kate, it's amazing how far we've come with equipment and gadgets.
KATE, Congrats on a quick feature! I have always worked out of a home office and sometimes it gets lonely but not anymore.
Kate - You are so right! There is always something to learn here, and we are able to build relationships.
Active Rain has been a great source of many things for me in the last year.
Kate - as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant, I guess I have had a virtual office for the last 9 years anyway; however, AR has definitely given me the feeling of having co-workers and associates. This is where I spend both my "break time" as well as my blogging time.
Kate: Great post.. Active Rain has been a HUGE help to me. I have enjoyed the past year + here in the rain
It used to be that when I could not sleep I had to find some boring material to read. I can officially say that AR has finally made my insomnia time a productive time. Sometimes it is like lunch at the office and at other times it feels like cramming right before the big exam. You know if you stay on AR just a little later you will find that golden kernel of information which has been eluding you.
Hi Kate - I like your new office. I hope you get some good walk-ins.
Very nice reminder of the real benefit to blogging here, Kate. While we bicker about SEO performance benefits of the various platforms or cajole other members for content we deem inappropriate, we sometimes need a reminder that there is a lot of sharing, both professional and personal, that makes Active Rain a great place to learn, express, share ... or in my case, muddle about with no clear direction. If it were only about finding clients, I more than likely would have abandoned the platorm like so many others in my wake for the next shiny object that came spinning through the murky virtual waters. I get business from AR, but it's the people that have kept me here. 2008 was a very trying year for me, and I honestly wonder where I would have gone to buoy my spirits on certain occasions had this forum not been available to me.
Kate - I never thought of AR as a virtual office ... but you're right! And, WOW, what an office! I could not have amassed a more talented group of folks if I had hand-picked them myself. Thanks for waking this old brain up and making it think.
What you say is very true. Will keep you in my database for leads in that area. Please let me know if you need someone in the Lynchburg area.
Kate- You are right, AR is a virtual office and a very addicting one at that:) You know it used to be the workaholic spouse who just would not come home from the office and now it was just exchanged for our new virtual office:) Now we can have fun, play, and do biz all at the same time, who wouldn't want to be a part of that!
Kate - I agree with you and think of AR as a virtual office, too. And like anything else, what you put into it determines what you get out! BTW, I love your area! We visited the battleground at Spotsylvania a couple of summers ago! Thanks for the post!
Thanks Kate. This may sound really dumb, but I've been wonderin what the term "virtual office" meant, now I know. How simple is that concept? What I need to do is adjust my thinking so I don't miss the forest for looking at the trees - or in my case the tree bark!
Kate...
I'm always impressed when someone can use the word "umbilical" in a post! Great job, and a well deserved feature.
Great analogy, Kate. It is the one office I love to attend where I can catch my breath, catch up and learn new things. And it is FREE for the taking. Where else can you interact with people from all over the U S and Canada at one time.
Kate, you are so right with up to date information andsupport when you have a question about any real estate topic
Bettina
Hi Brandon...And without a doubt, it is.
Kate
Hi Al & Peggy...The longer you are on the more you will enjoy it. Guaranteed!
Welcome and thanks for commenting. Glad you found me and now I've found you.
Kate
Hi Liz...What's wonderful is that most of us could never stand working in an office with so many people. Even if we could what is the chance we'd get to know so many of them and yet here we get to make friends with hundreds.
What a gift.
Kate
Hi Craig...Glad to hear it is helping your business and that you're having a good time here.
Kate
Hi Steve...It really does feel that way and I like my co-workers and the "bosses".
Kate
Hi Liz...I'd hang out in your office.
Kate
Hi Margaret...My phone is always with me and with too many computers I'm never far from one.
By the way, I have your book!
Kate
Hi Pat...We sure have seen some mighty changes. It's a challenge but fun trying to keep up.
Kate
Hi Marchel...There's no way you can every be lonely with all of us here at your fingertips.
Cheers,
Kate
Hi Maria...It is so much fun as you get to "know" such a variety of people. We are very fortunate to have this resource.
Kate
Hi Christine D...I've only been here about a year and a half but I can't imagine being without the Rain.
Kate
Hi Christine W...Yes, this is really a great site for someone that does work on their own most or all of the time.
Kate
Hi Roland...As if has been for so many of us.
Thanks for commenting.
Kate
Hi Sabrina...I find I can rarely come here for a few minutes. One thing leads to another and the time flies by. There's so much to read and so many folks to discover.
Kate
Kate, When we first switched to a home office I was apprehensve, but we are so wired wirelessly these days I will never go back, Karen
Kate - great post! You are very right, Activerain is a great virtual office!
AR is a great place to be.
Portsmouth NH Real Estate
Kate,
This is so true about the virtual office. In my opinion it is even better than a real office. Great information, a huge network, and free advertising.
Hi Karen...It makes all the difference in the world. We may still be tethered to our work but the cord is much, much longer.
Kate
Hi Georgina...I love walk-ins. I'm always happy when you drop by. I need to run by and check in with you too.
Kate
Hi Paul...It is for those of us that realize the other intrinsic values we receive from Active Rain that really derive the most from this site.
Where else, but perhaps our poor beleagured partners, can we turn to at any hour of the day or night when we want a diversion, some advice, an opportunity to learn something new about real estate (actually Jim can't help me here), a bit of humor, or just the feeling of belonging?
We're good to go at any moment as long as our internet connection stays up and running.
Kate
Kate, so much has changed but some things never change. I still go to the "office" most days and I enjoy the comradarie of my comrades. Of course, I check into the rain most days too and that's a new and exciting world for us "oldies". Good blog.
Hi Carol...It just dawned on me too. Once I thought of it I realized how true it was.
Young lady, you up and changed your life recently. That brain of yours seems to be doing a very good job for you.
Kate
Kate...a great post and I, too, love my virtual office..Active Rain.
Great post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on what many of us are realizing.
kate- Virtual office is so 'the right' analogy for Active Rain. We are all here together and the resources at our fingertips are limitless. Congrats on the star. It is much deserved!!
Kate, we have covered the same ground being that we both started in the mid 1980's. Have times changed. I often think back how the mls used to be.
I love that thought... I know I socialize with the people on AR more than anyone in my office, or in my local area.
Kathleen why go to the office everyday when you have Active Rain? But you are absolutely right. I never thought of it that way. Congratulations on the gold star.
Kate - I agree with you, activerain has transformed real estate in many sense. Activerain is really the Google of real estate.
I, too have learned so much by being involved with Active Rain. It is a great way to connect with people!
I, too have learned so much by being involved with Active Rain. It is a great way to connect with people!
Kate, As much a I promise myself I won't have another late night on AR, here I am! My comments are usually misspelled or I don't get back to my own comments fast enough but goodness, I TRY :)
Hi Kate,
Active Rain has not only become my office of choice, it's also replaced the need for many of the large learning boot camps and conferences we used to go in years past. I joined AR last June and have loved every minute of my time here. Real Estate has changed in a big way...and those of us that grasped it, will do just fine.
I like to think of virtual offices in mulitple locations. Active Rain, facebook, LinkedIn, etc.. Makes life a whole lot easier for finding new info and networking.
Hi Norma...Thank you so much for including me in your database and for commenting here.
Kate
Hi Katerina...Yes, and we get to meet so many great folks. That's the icing on top.
Kate
Hi Mary & Bruce...Glad you like our area. I'm a transplanted Connecticut Yankee who has had the opportunity to live in many places and find that I love it here. I suspect you're in a great spot too.
Kate
Hi Belva Jo...Glad to be of help. I appreciate your comment and thanks for checking out my post.
Kate
Hi Chuck...Thanks for reading my post.
Kate
Hi Richard...Thanks for noting my use of the word umbilical. It really seemed to fit what I was hoping to convey.
Kate
Hi Missy...I thought so too and yes, what a treat to have a place where we can interact with so many from so many different places and not cost a dime.
Lucky us.
Kate
Hi Bettina...Active Rain is such a valuable resource. I'm happy that you discovered that also.
Kate
Hi Karen...This whole wireless capability has made life so much easier on REALTORS. It's sure a good time to be one.
Kate
H Jessica...It sure makes sense to think of it that way.
Thanks for commenting.
Kate
WOW! So true. What a refreshing BLOG!
Kate,
Thank you for your post. Yes, it is true that we do not need to go to our offices as much as we used to. We really only need our mobil phones and our computers to do business. Also, I enjoy being dressed casually at my home office. I go to the main office for meetings and floor duty or to turn in paper work. Sometimes, I think I can really be more productive at my home office---not as many interruptions. And, of course I am enjoying my active rain office as well.
have a great day--linda
Hey Kate...You're absolutely right, A|R is my office for sure. I love going to my KW office from time to time but I don't go there everyday. I work from home and use this wonderful vast bank of resources here on A|R to learn what I need to and I've also had the added bonus of making great friends as well. :-)
Hope your day is great,
Anne Rains
You're comments are well taken. Personally I am quite new to this Active Rain thing and I am learning on the fly but it is good to hear some well thougth out insights into the utilization of this fantastic tool. All the best to you. Have a great day. Happy Homer - Chilliwack, BC, Canada.
Kate, I know your blog has been posted for a while now, but you struck a lot of good cords not just the umbilical cord. Those cords you just played was dancing in the Active Rain.
As long as we can keep ourselves grounded and be true to our profession and not get sidetracked from disturbances, a virtual home office and using AR as another tool we reap us many rewards and save time, gas and money not running back and forth to the office.
Basically the only time I go into the office now is for phone duty or when I have a new transaction to set up a file and then pick the file up to go to settlement. All the documentation that I need from the file, the office administrator will get for me, and with scanning and emailing we can keep everything in great order. As always, great post.