Leave it to The Jewish Link to feature in the May 11 issue in the Real Estate section a humorous comparative article, “Ten Ways Your Real Estate Agent Is Like Your Mother.” Being obsessed and interested in real estate since that is my passion and profession, the article hit a chord and was particularly entertaining for me, someone who oversees real estate interest and transactions on a continual basis. However, if I can respectfully interject, my focus of choice would be to realistically compare realtors to spouses and not Moms as the thesis of the feature. I daresay you’ve already outgrown the Mom stage once you’re forking all that adult, responsible money down on housing…You’ve finally grown up and embarking to acquire a piece of the rock with your hard-earned earnings!

When an agent is working with buyers and sellers, their lives are intertwined with constant open communication to ensure that the transaction leads to fruition with possible bumps along the way to address together successfully. The realtor becomes the confidante, soulmate and emotional support system within which to move the deal along timely with as few complications as possible. It never ceases to amaze me how intense and frequent the communication is between the clients and the realtor until the deal closes. Possible bumps and snags are addressed as a team along the way. Finally, at the end of an intense relationship, at closing, we kiss each other goodbye, warmly wish each other good luck, and then, poof, we, the realtors, disappear into the woodwork of the home until needed again!

Okay, referring back to the list in the aforementioned first article comparing to a Mom’s role:

1 – As a pseudo-spouse realtor, we take calls late at night to allow airing of issues that need solving.

2 – Pseudo-spouse realtor worries about you when you don’t respond to her/his many calls, texts and emails.

3 – Pseudo-spouse agent guides you to work within your budget to have realistic expectations of affordability of buying/selling to deter major disappointments.

4 – Pseudo Spouse agent encourages you to do your homework and research to ensure the deal is right for you.

5 – Nagging spouse realtor makes sure you keep your house spic-and-span for showings at all times.

6 – Pseudo-spouse agent is a good listener and gives the time and attention for a myriad of emotions with highs and lows going on while lending sound advice and direction for some bumps and snags that may come up along the way.

7 – You can confide and tell your spouse agent what you can’t divulge to anyone else.

8 – Pseudo-spouse agent gives tough love! Even though you may be going through a difficult time, pseudo-spouse agent brings you back to reality giving good objective advice and direction to clarify issues that may come up.

9 – Last and not least, the pseudo-spouse agent is the one other person in your life other than yourselves to live vicariously during your experience while jointly sharing the same goals and dreams.

Now, here’s the grand finale of admitted discrepant roles between true spouse and pseudo-spouse realtor. Your spouse is there for you forever and a day, whereas your realtor’s role is to be by your side through thick and thin during the transaction period. So, I guess in terms of expectation of longevity, we’re not spouses and even Moms after all! Parting of our ways is inevitable…and that’s a good thing!

Good luck, happy house hunting, happy house selling with your partner, spouse… But, my question remains, is your real spouse as attentive and supportive along the way as your pseudo-spouse realtor? Don’t answer that or you’ll be comparing who was more valuable to you.

Enjoy…and when you need the support for housing needs, we realtors are there every step of the way at a pivotal time in your lives! Although we’re just part of an important stage, by then your true spouse has grown with a lot to live up to!

Let’s give credit where credit is due…the real-life spouse ultimately makes it happen and deserves the accolades for the longer haul and that is truly what counts after all! Don’t you agree?

By Ruby Kaplan

 Ruby Kaplan is a real estate agent with V & N Group LLC, licensed in both New Jersey and New York. Her passion is to help people meet their housing needs and goals. Having bought, sold and built homes, she has acquired an expertise to represent both sellers and buyers. She is sensitive to her clients’ needs and has a driven commitment to oversee all her transactions with honesty, integrity, knowledge and dedication. Ruby can be reached at her office at 201-692-3700, at the company’s website at www.vera-nechama.com, on her cell at 917-576-4177 or at [email protected].