"We Just Show Houses, Right?” The Not-So-Relaxing Life of Two Newton REALTORS®

People sometimes think being a real estate agent is a pretty relaxing job.

You show a few beautiful houses, put a sign in someone's yard, negotiate an offer, and collect a commission.

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

Alex and I would love to know where we can sign up for that version of real estate!

Don't get me wrong. We absolutely love what we do. But after years of helping buyers and sellers throughout Newton and Greater Boston, I can tell you that opening doors is probably the easiest part of our job.

On any given day, we're marketers, negotiators, researchers, problem-solvers, and occasionally even detectives.

Sometimes all before lunch.

So here's a little glimpse into what our days actually look like.

And no, this isn't one single day. Thankfully, not every emergency happens on the same Tuesday!

Coffee and a Plan That Probably Won't Last

I usually start my day with a plan.

Check new listings, review market activity, return emails, follow up on transactions, prepare for appointments.

Simple enough.

Then the phone rings.

A buyer wants to see a house that just came on the market. A seller has a question about pricing. An attorney needs something for a closing. A lender is requesting another document.

And suddenly, the carefully planned day looks completely different.

Alex and I work together as a two-agent team, which means we're constantly communicating, dividing responsibilities, and keeping each other updated.

Some days we're meeting clients together. Other days we're running in different directions.

And somewhere along the way, I remember the coffee I made two hours ago.

Usually cold.

Listing Appointments: Where Everyone Has an Opinion About Price

A big part of our business is helping homeowners sell their properties.

And that starts long before a For Sale sign goes up.

Before a listing appointment, we're preparing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), reviewing recent sales, studying competing properties, and analyzing current market conditions.

We're looking at renovations, square footage, lot size, layout, location, and all the details that affect value.

Because despite what some people might think, we don't just walk into a house, look around, and announce, “I think it's worth $2 million!”

Although that would make our lives much easier.

Then we meet with the homeowners, tour the property, discuss their plans, and explain how we'd prepare, price, and market their home.

And sometimes comes the interesting part.

The neighbor sold for a certain price.

Zillow says something else.

And the kitchen renovation cost a fortune.

We hear it all!

Of course, we understand. A home is personal, and homeowners have invested years of time, money, and memories into it.

But our responsibility is to give honest advice based on the market, not simply tell someone what they want to hear.

Sometimes that means having a conversation that isn't particularly easy.

And sometimes the homeowner isn't planning to sell for another year.

That's perfectly fine. Good advice shouldn't depend on whether someone is ready to sign a listing agreement tomorrow.

Getting a Home Ready for the Market: Yes, We Do All That Too

Once a seller decides to work with us, the preparation begins.

Pricing strategy, staging, photography, video, floor plans, property descriptions, marketing materials, and coordinating everything needed before the listing goes live.

We provide complimentary professional staging because we believe presentation matters.

Then there's online marketing, communicating with agents, scheduling showings, organizing open houses, collecting feedback, and keeping sellers informed.

We're also constantly working on our website, marketing campaigns, professional relationships, and staying connected with past and prospective clients.

Putting a home on MLS is one step.

Selling it successfully involves a whole lot more.

And while all of this is happening, we still have buyers to work with and transactions to manage.

Which brings me to another part of our job.

The Closing That Almost Didn't Happen

This one is a true story.

We were getting ready to close on a multimillion-dollar property when we received some rather unpleasant news.

The buyer's mortgage had been denied.

Wonderful timing, right?

The reason was something none of us expected.

About a year earlier, our seller had transferred ownership of the property from their individual name into a trust.

The lender apparently interpreted that deed change as meaning the seller had owned the property for only one year.

Suddenly, a major transaction was in jeopardy.

And there wasn't much time to resolve it.

So I started digging.

I searched for documents, called the seller's CPA, spoke with the family attorney, and worked to get the information the lender needed.

Two hours later, the issue was clarified, the mortgage was approved, and we closed on schedule.

That was a relief!

No beautiful homes to tour. No glamorous open house.

Just me, a phone, a pile of documents, and a closing that needed saving.

Of course, I'm not an attorney or a mortgage underwriter. But knowing whom to call, what information to gather, and how to get everyone working together quickly can make a big difference.

And that's one of those things clients don't always see.

And Yes, We Actually Show Houses!

Of course we do.

And it's one of the parts of our job we enjoy most.

But before we meet a buyer at a property, we've usually spent time reviewing the listing, researching comparable sales, checking the property's history, and looking into anything that might affect its value.

Is the asking price reasonable? Has the property been sitting on the market? Are there issues that deserve a closer look?

And in Newton, knowing the differences between neighborhoods and villages matters.

A house in Waban can be quite different from one in Newtonville or Newton Centre, even at a similar price point.

When buyers find a home they love, we're helping them evaluate the price, understand the risks, prepare an offer, and negotiate.

And sometimes the best advice we give is, “I don't think this is the right house for you.”

Because helping someone buy a home doesn't mean encouraging them to buy every home they like.

The Closing Where the Seller Forgot to Move Out

Well, not exactly the seller.

Just all the furniture!

We once arrived at a final walkthrough with our buyers, expecting the house to be empty and ready for closing.

Instead, the furniture was still there.

All of it.

Apparently, the furniture hadn't received the memo that the house was being sold.

Our buyers were understandably upset. They were expecting an empty property, not someone else's living room.

So we worked with the listing agent to help sort out the situation and keep the closing moving forward.

Was that technically our responsibility?

No.

But when you're representing buyers, you don't simply shrug your shoulders and say, “Not my problem.”

You help find a solution.

Although I have to admit, dealing with an entire house full of furniture wasn't exactly on our closing-day checklist.

Attorneys, Lenders, Contractors... and About a Million Phone Calls

Another big part of our work happens behind the scenes.

We spend a lot of time building and maintaining relationships with attorneys, mortgage lenders, inspectors, contractors, stagers, photographers, and other agents.

Not just when we need something.

Those relationships are an important part of running our business and providing good service to our clients.

When an inspection reveals an unexpected problem, a lender needs information, or a closing issue comes up, having reliable professionals to turn to makes a difference.

And then there's the ongoing work of growing a business.

Following up with clients, meeting new people, attending events, keeping up with market trends, developing marketing strategies, and maintaining relationships with people we've worked with over the years.

Real estate isn't just about selling properties.

It's also about running a business.

And in our case, there are two of us doing it.

No big team behind the scenes. No assistant handling all the details.

Just Batya and Alex.

And a lot of phone calls.

Evenings, Weekends, and the Famous “Quick Question”

One of the funny things about real estate is that when most people finish work, many of our clients finally have time to talk.

So evenings and weekends are often when things get busy.

Showings after work. Open houses on Sundays. Offers arriving during dinner.

And, of course, the famous text:

“Just one quick question…”

Which sometimes turns into a 45-minute conversation.

But that's part of the job.

Buying or selling a home is a major decision, and questions don't always come up between 9 and 5.

We also spend plenty of time working with buyers who may search for months and ultimately decide not to purchase.

And homeowners who meet with us for a market analysis but aren't ready to sell.

That's normal.

Our job is to give people the information and guidance they need, whether they're ready to move today or sometime in the future.

So Why Do We Love It?

After reading all this, you might wonder why we chose a career with unpredictable hours, unexpected problems, and occasional furniture emergencies.

Because we really do love it.

We love helping buyers find the right home. We love helping sellers move on to their next chapter. We love the relationships we build and the satisfaction of seeing a transaction come together.

And strangely enough, I even enjoy solving some of those unexpected problems.

Maybe not while they're happening!

But afterward, when everything works out, there's a real sense of accomplishment.

Alex and I have worked together for years, and one thing we've learned is that no two days—and certainly no two transactions—are ever the same.

That's what keeps it interesting.

So, Do We Just Show Houses?

Absolutely!

We show houses.

We also prepare market analyses, meet with sellers, develop pricing strategies, stage properties, create marketing campaigns, negotiate offers, coordinate with attorneys and lenders, manage inspections, solve problems, and occasionally wonder why an entire living room is still furnished on closing day.

And somewhere in between, we try to finish our coffee.

So the next time you see us opening the door to a beautiful home, just remember:

That's the part of our job you see.

The rest is what helps get our buyers and sellers successfully to the closing table.

And honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way.

About Batya & Alex

Batya Natan and Alex Kumas are the Batya & Alex Real Estate Team at William Raveis Real Estate, serving buyers and sellers throughout Newton, Brookline, Wellesley, and Greater Boston.

With over $200 million in career sales, more than 200 completed transactions, and seven William Raveis Chairman's Elite Club awards, they bring local market knowledge, strategic marketing, negotiation experience, and hands-on service to every transaction.

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