My Journey as a Realtor

By Pat Morrell-Donnelly

This is a book about the life and experiences of Pat Morrell as a Realtor, and a real estate broker. On her long journey she spent over fifty one years in the real estate industry as an active agent.

She traveled through many valleys and over many mountains, experiencing challenges, losses, and trying times. It required faith, determination, and persistance.

There were constant, new experiences, and changes in the market, and the paper work requirements.

The book includes articles and poems Pat wrote that were published over the years in the Real Toro, Real Estate Guide, and SACBOR by her real estate board. Some of the articles are motivational, and some are about the lives of realtors, including Presidents of her Board of Realtors.

Her book, So You Want To Sell Real Estate was started over thirty years ago, and never completed. Because of other obligations, and lifes challenges, it was filed away until just recently. Those pages are included in her book, as well as other miscellaneous, inspirational, motivational, and thought provoking articles and poems.

The survivors can take a trip down memory lane, journeying back through the years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463423377

Pat Morrell-Donnelly

Pat Morrell-Donnelly was born in Texas and raised during the 1930’s depression era. Her family had little in the way of material things. There was no indoor plumbing, running water or electricity. The toilet (out-house) was out behind the back of the house. There was no telephone in the home. Pat’s family was very close. Pat, her parents, and three siblings spent much time with her paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. In 1943 Pat’s family moved to California. Pat was fourteen. She immediately found a job at a cake and cookie factory working four hours a day, attending school four hours a day. During the war, World War II, most anyone could find a job. After graduating High School at age sixteen Pat was able to work full time. There was no money for college. In those days people understood if they wanted something monetarily in life you went out and worked for it. There was no welfare and no give away programs. No “free lunch.” After working various jobs such as office work, modeling in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles, Pat worked fifty one years in the real estate profession in the Bay Area of Northern California. She received her Brokers’s license in 1964, and opened her brokerage office in1965. Pat holds the unique distinction of being the only member of S.A.C.B.O.R, her real estate board, to be honored “Miss Realtor” in a contest in 1960. Pat has had articles and poems published in the RealToro Magazine, SACAR Realtor Guide, SACBOR TODAY, all real estate publications. Starting with nothing but hard work, some knowledge, and “OPM” (It’s called other people’s money) borrowing on one property to purchase another Pat was able to acquire twenty eight rental units. In the nineteen nineties, because of the real estate down turn in California, she lost it all. She got “upside down” in her properties owing more than they were worth. At that point in Pat’s life it was too late to make it all over again. Pat published eight books in fourteen years. Her first book, “The Climb Up Life’s Mountain” was published when Pat was eighty years of age in 2009. Then the following seven books published in sequence. “Poems For Conservatives,” “My Journey As A Realtor,” “Honoring,” “Poetry Breathes Life Into Bible Characters.” “Poems And Stories About Cats and Dogs and Various Critters,” “The Best For Last,” and “Poems For Conservatives.” Volume 2. Her ninth book, “All About Love” poems. Pat writes Personalized Poetry about people’s lives. She has written over 1800 poems. Patriotic, political, religious, motivational, inspirational. Over forty five of Pat’s poems have been read at memorial and funeral services and used in church bulletins. Pat has had thank you responses to her poems from Queen of England, four U.S. Presidents, two First Ladies, and other dignitaries. Pat has written poems for and about a Governor, a U. S. Senator, four U. S. Congressmen and two Georgia Representatives. Also, for businesses and restaurant chains. Pat was baptized at age eleven and is a member of the Church of Christ.

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© 2011 by Pat Morrell-Donnelly. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 08/04/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2338-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2339-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2337-7 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011909801

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

MY JOURNEY

THE REALTOR’S PLEDGE

Miscellaneous Articles

LEON RECTOR

ONE REALTOR’S POINT OF VIEW RUNNING THE ESCROW

PUBLIC PROTECTED BY REALTOR’S CODE OF ETHICS

RAGS OR RICHES

RAINBOWS, STARS, AND MIRACLES

REGARDING LOAN QUALIFICATION

ROLE PLAY YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS

SUCCEEDING AND SURVIVING

THE THREE D’S TO SUCCESS

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR MARKETING

So You Want To Sell Real Estate

"TELLING IT THE WAY

IT REALLY IS"

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

STARTING OUT TODAY

REJECTION

MORE FRUSTRATIONS

WIN SOME—LOSE SOME

ATTEND TO DETAILS

THE UNLUCKY ONE

LOVE THY NOSEY NEIGHBOR

OVER PROTECTIVE PARENTS

BEYOND YOUR CONTROL

PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS

TERMITES

CLOSE OF ESCROW

BUYER’S AND SELLER’S REMORSE

STAYING IN TOUCH

STAYING IN CONTROL

THE FOLLOW UP

REPEAT AND REFERRAL BUSINESS

WHERE THERE IS A WILL

EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT

THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS

THE LESS FORTUNATE

OPEN YOUR EYES TO OPPORTUNITIES

MORE ON LEVERAGE

NEGATIVE INFLUENCES

GOALS

MIRACLES INSIDE US

THINKING CREATIVELY

DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAM

KEEP IT SIMPLE

IN CONCLUSION

Motivational and Inspirational Poems

A DREAM

A TREASURE

ATTITUDE

BE

BE ALL YOU CAN BE

BEING A REALTOR

CALIFORNIA

COLD DOORS

DESIGN A LIFE

EACH DAY

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

FULFILL YOUR DREAMS

GOLD IN CALIFORNIA

GROWTH

HOME

HOMES

KEEP DREAMING

LOOK TO A NEW BEGINNING

MY DEAR FELLOW REALTOR

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

ON YOUR WAY

ONE DAY

REACHING THE TOP

REAL ESTATE

RESPONSIBILITY

STEPPING STONES

SWEET SUCCESS

TAKE CONTROL

THE BUSINESS

TIPS

YOU

YOUR DESTINY

YOU’RE WORTH IT

FINAL THOUGHTS

SURVIVORS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Pat’s articles and poems that were published in the Real Toro, SACAR Realtor Guide and S.A.C.B.O.R. TODAY are used with the permission of B.E.A.R. (Bay East Association of Realtors.)

The Miss Realtor pictures are used with the permission of the Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California including the Hayward Daily Review.

Pat’s book is dedicated to her husband, Alan B. (Don) Donnelly, who goes along with her dreams and assists her in scanning and editing pictures and documents. Also compiling her material/manuscript into the correct format for submission to the publisher.

During Pat’s fifty one plus years in real estate it was her good fortunate to meet and work with many special, hard working, dedicated agents. This book is written in hopes they will be inspired to keep on keeping on no matter the challenges that come their way.

To all her friends and fellow Realtors, members of B.E.A.R. (Bay East Association of Realtors,) previously known as S.A.C.A.R. (Southern Alameda County Association of Realtors,) also known (before that when she entered the industry) as S.A.C.B.O.R. (Southern Alameda County Board of Realtors,) she hopes they will take a trip down memory lane, remembering how things use to be and how different now, and how the industry has evolved.

It is also dedicated to those that have passed on. Those she had the privilege of knowing and working with, remembering all the fun times at the Christmas and Summer Parties at Castlewood Country Club. They would not believe the changes and the new technology that Realtors have available to them today.

Even with all the new technology some of the basics remain the same. It still spells a lot of hard work and dedication, determination, and service to clients. This is the life of a Realtor.

It is also dedicated to Pat’s mother and father who taught her about ethics, right from wrong, and to treat others as she would like to be treated. Also encouraging her to go after, and pursue her dreams.

MY JOURNEY

As it is with any journey it never leaves you the same as where you started.

For over fifty one years my life was real estate. It’s been said you have to eat, sleep, and breathe real estate to really be a success. No doubt there can be exceptions. But it isn’t an eight hour a day, five days a week, job.

In this business I believe only the strong and tenacious will survive for very long. It is a constant learning experience. You learn from your mistakes, and your experiences make you wiser. Problems take their toll, but they serve to make you stronger. They make you who you are.

The changes from beginning to end were enormous. To agents that started their career in the fifties and sixties the technology used today would have been inconceivable. Things have changed in the last three plus years since I am no longer active in the business. I do still maintain an active license.

One thing that has never changed, and should never change, is the service you give to your clients. Keeping up with changes in the industry allows you to do a better job of serving your clients. You should keep your client constantly informed. If you do not, when problems arise your clients may end up unhappy with you.

Working together to solve the problems, which inevitably you will face, and staying in touch with your client is a must. Return their phone calls as soon as possible. This is the downfall of some agents.

Through these many long years I have had the privilege of helping many families purchase homes and investment properties. Some of my clients are still residing in those homes twenty and thirty plus years later.

Some of my clients that I assisted with their real estate purchase had children that grew up, married, and then I helped them with their home purchase. A few years ago I sold a home for my clients that had purchased their home through me thirty five years previously. I believe it was Zig Zigler that said, If you help enough people get what they want, you will get what you want.

Over the years I wrote articles and poems that were published in our real estate board’s newsletters, The REAL-TORO, SACBOR TODAY, and S.A.C.A.R. REALTOR GUIDE. Some of my poems were read at different functions such our Ole Timer’s Survivor’s Party. Some of these articles and poems I have included in this book.

In 1979 I started writing a book about some of my experiences in real estate called, So You Want To Sell Real Estate. In 1980 I filed it away. Only recently I opened up the manuscript again and decided it might be of interest, at least to some, who have been through some of the same challenges. Thus, my decision to complete the book.

It will include stories of experiences before 1980, as memory serves me. So, when reading that portion you should keep in mind those thoughts were written about events that occurred 1980 and before.

Also, it includes some Thoughts To Ponder, which are sayings and motivational thoughts. Most of these are not my original sayings, but came from the many seminars and meetings I attended.

On my journey there have been highs and lows. Interest rates have gone up and down. Markets have been good and bad. There have been down cycles and up cycles, weak markets and strong markets. Our task has always been to keep up with the constant changes that occur and are on going.

We typed paper work on a typewriter with sheets of carbon paper. As contracts grew in pages and more and more disclosure statements were required our folders grew to inches thick.

Today, a Good Faith Statement can be created in just minutes. When on the road you can obtain e-mail, view listings, and check properties. You can use DocuSign for electronic signatures. There are iphones, BlackBerries, and all sorts of new technology available.

Zipform6 offers comprehensive document storage solutions. You can create and apply a template for a purchase or listing transaction, printing and e-mailing forms. Things seem to change before your very eyes.

Years ago the possibility of agents accessing property information over the phone would have been unimaginable. Who would ever have thought there would be such a thing as a cell phone, or a computer.

When I first started in real estate the wife’s income could not be counted or used toward qualifying for a loan. There were some cases if she was past bearing age, or was a nurse, it was allowed.

We had one page contracts/ deposit receipts. (An offer to purchase is not a contract until both the buyer and seller have signed the deposit receipt. Then it becomes a contract.) If any changes were made on the deposit receipt form we crossed out the item and both parties initialed the change. The same with the listing contract agreement. It was a small, one page form (used in our office) and that one page served as our listing agreement. (O for the good old days.)

Our listings were filed in a box under for sale/active, sold, pending, and expired. We received sheets of listings that we tore apart and filed. Later our real estate board started producing huge, thick books containing our listings. It seemed by the time we received the books they were out of date. Finally, the age of the computer.

Years ago we didn’t have all the disclosure forms to fill out and contend with. As time went by it became very costly to pay for all the many forms that were needed and required for each transaction.

Our files became larger and thicker as contracts grew from one page to seven and eight pages,