Yesterday

At Subang Parade.

Punishing

For two straight days, I was on a punishing work schedule of twelve hours a day, ten to ten. At sixty years old, it can be quite tiring. At the same time, it is something very different to what I am used to. If before, I worked in an office, this time it is at shopping malls. If before, it was mainly sitting down, this time it is mainly standing. In fact, my back is a bit sore at the moment from too much standing. Alhamdulillah, today I don't have anything on so I can rest fully in the house. Tomorrow, I have to attend a short briefing in the morning at Cyberjaya. On Thursday, I will be in Shah Alam from nine to five in sha Allah. After that, my schedule is still not out yet but I have a feeling it is going to be even busier. I hope I will be given more days at Sales gallery cause that's where the chances are. 

This is not Rugby

The Rugby match between England and Italy played last Saturday was controversial because Italy refused to ruck. Because there was no ruck, there was no offside committed allowing the Italian players to stand in between the English players disrupting their passing of the ball. How can you pass when the opponents are all around you? Its a tactic that caught England by surprised so much so that they were trailing in the first half when they were actually expected to overrun the Italian. Is it legal? Yes! But the England coach was off course not very impressed with the tactic. It is not Rugby. In Rugby you are expected to ruck! To fight for the ball.

Will it be straight on?

In living my life, I have reached many crossroads and crossed many bridges. I dealt with them as they come, making decisions to suit the situation and circumstances at that time. For good or for worse, once a decision is made, there is no turning back. Some are small decisions in not so critical a situation but there have been others that have been life changing. I don't know if I have regretted any of the decisions I made but life has to go on. As long as I am in the straight path, in sha Allah, I should be alright. Today, I have reached another crossroad. What will it be from here? Shall I take the path to the left or take the path to the right? Or will it be straight on?

Take with open arms

From my observation, the best chance of making a sale is when you are at the sale gallery. Statistics have also proven me right. From over a month of observation, I noticed that most sales are made from walk ins to the sale gallery. What happened today further enforced my theory. Two sales were made from walk ins to the sale gallery. My two close calls also came from walk ins. Both times, they wanted to buy but couldn't get bank loan approval. Promotional activities like putting up booths at public places does not help much. Cold calls are even worse. So, if I want to sell, I must try to be at sales gallery as much as possible. I have my timetable off course but if for some reason colleagues want me to cover them, I must take them with open arms.

What is happening?

One day you are at the top. The next day you are at the bottom. Or it can be the other way round. That's how fast things can changed. Life is but a fleeting moment. What you have done before does not count very much. It is what you are doing now that matters. I'm referring to the sacking of Ranieri, off course. A champion last season. Fifa football manager of the year. This year, sacked. Everybody knows Leicester is struggling in the premier league, sliding slowly towards the Championship. Just last season, Champion against all odds. This season, the team is unrecognisable. Cannot be because one player left, the whole team is struggling.

Keep on

Come to think of it, the selling game can be very interesting, if you are making good sales that is. I admire people who are successful in this game. They make thousands, even a million in commission per year. How come? For me, to sell even one house a month is difficult. They sell once a week. If only I can do what they are doing. When the going gets difficult, many a time I feel like quiting. Get an easier job where the salary is guaranteed at the end of the month. However, when I look at my colleagues, they are not having a smooth ride either. That's when I tell myself, I am not the only one having difficulties. The others are also in the same boat but the difference is, they keep on going. Keep on trying. Keep on believing in themselves!

Hmm...

The problem I am having now is the follow up. A client that looks promising when met at the sales gallery or during a roadshow does not necessarily mean a done deal. On following up, the trail may turn cold. I have experienced such happenings so many times before that I have become wary of doing any follow up. It really put me off but what else can I do. Following up is the only thing I can do. If I don't follow up, my chances will be absolutely zero. If I follow up, at least I am still with a chance!

Get on with it!

This is the week I am supposed to do some sorting out with my hundreds of data such as potential clients, project info, project packages etc. and also do prospect hunting but its already Thursday and I have not done anything yet. Hmm.... that's how it is. Monday I was at Scott Garden, Jalan Klang Lama listening to yet another new project briefing. I have lost count now the number of projects I am selling. What more to remember their products and selling points! Tuesday, I was lazing around the house doing nothing. Wednesday, I was at Ampang meeting a colleague. Then I was having lunch with Hanafi at the Curve before heading for home. Today I am supposed to be wandering around KL with a few colleagues looking for potential clients but looks like they have their own plan of which I have no part! Sigh.......these are tough times. They don't last but tough people do. So, get on with it!

Another first!

Using the webcam for the first time.

The chances must come first

Today I will be on duty again. This time at Mid Valley shopping complex. It will be a long one from 11am till 9pm. I hope I don't get bored. From the past few days reports, response has been good. Yesterday, more than a hundred people registered. That is a good number by any measure. At the Curve during weekdays, we were getting less between 3-8 people only. Yesterday I was not scheduled to be anywhere but received two requests from colleagues wanting a swap. To be at Sheraton hotel and Cyberjaya. I had to decline both because I had a wedding invitation to attend. That's how it is now. Being at the sales gallery or on a promotion provides the opportunity to connect with buyers. Its a opportunity not to be missed especially on weekends. Next time, I must try to make use of every single opportunity that comes. Whether it results in sales or not is another matter. The chances must come first. 

Passing on

Stretching the Ringgit

Since becoming active as a real estate agent, I have been going to many places within KL. Sometime for a briefing on a new project, sometime to man a gallery, sometime for team meetings, sometime to join a promotional roadshow, sometime for seminars, sometime for on the job training etc. These traveling may be within KL but the petrol, toll and parking costs can be substantial, if I am driving a car. Alhamdulillah, I have my trusted motorbike. That keep the petrol cost to a minimum while the toll and parking charges are almost zero. It helps, especially in difficult time like I am in now. It keeps my spending to manageable level. Stretch my Ringgit, so to speak.

No brainer

Yesterday, a friend offered me a job opportunity. Unfortunately, its only for a few months, four at the most. Its on a project assignment basis. I contemplated for a while before deciding that its not what I need at the moment. Its not long enough. If two or three years, I will certainly take it. As it is, I am just embarking on selling houses in the primary market. It looks promising although nothing is guaranteed. I might succeed or I might not but its a gamble worth taking when compared to the four months assignment. If I stop now and take up the offer, what will I do after four months when the assignment is over. Therefore, its a no brainer. Better wait for other opportunities, one with a longer contract, Meantime, I continue doing what I am doing now. Who knows? I might make a million in commission, just like one of my colleague.

One day

To me, the primary market offers better opportunity when compared to the secondary market. Since concentrating almost full time on the primary market, plenty of chances have come my way. Its like in a football game. In some games there are zero chances but in others, the chances are a plenty. It does not necessarily means that every time there are chances, goals are scored. Out of a few, say four or five, only one is scored or some time not at all. The same goes with the primary market. I had my chances but so far, I have not been able to take them. Nonetheless, its getting closer and closer. One day, soon enough, I will score, in sha Allah.

Time waits for no one

I was shocked when I looked at my blog this morning. My last update was almost a week ago, six days to be exact. Wow! It never cross my mind that it was that long. I thought it was only a few days, three or four at the most. Hmmm...... what have I been doing the past six days. Sure, I was busy at the Curve for two days, Tuesday and Thursday, manning a booth. Earlier, on Saturday, I was at Cyberjaya manning a gallery there. I was also at Pucong on Thursday listening to a briefing on a project. Other than that, I was mostly at home. Time, as they say, waits for no one. Therefore, make full use of the available time cause once its gone, it is not coming back.

Longing for a holiday but.....

Been a long time since I went on a holiday. For one thing, I am on holiday most of the time now as I have retired. Secondly, my economic situation is also not in the best of health. Better stay at home to prolong the little savings that I have. Thirdly, going on holiday with two boisterous kids plus a baby is not the idle situation to be in. The stress level can multiply very quickly, rendering the holiday into a farce. In sha Allah, the holiday will come soon once all the three situations improved.

A brave decision

Since getting involved in the Real Estate business, I have met many people from all walks of life. The sales gallery is one of the places where I get to meet people. There may not be many people walking in especially during the weekdays but I do get my fair share. That's when I interact with them. Next week I will start my duty at shopping complexes during promotional activities. I will be at the Curve, Mid Valley and also at Subang Parade. Its going to be my first time so I don't know what it will be like. I hope I will get good leads. I admire my young colleagues. They chose the sales line as their career rather than become a salaried worker. Its a brave decision, something I dare not do when I was their age because of the uncertainty.

At a clinic

The floodgates will open, in sha Allah

Everybody was very positive during dinner last night. Everybody was looking forward to better times in 2017. Everybody has no reservation at all about the target set by the bosses, except me. I thought if I achieved even just 10% of the target, it would be a great year already for me. Anyway, the year is still young. There will be plenty of opportunities as the year progress. The primary market, I discovered, is a much better option than the secondary market. In January alone, there were a few close calls for me. I didn't manage to translate them into sales but I came close enough. Then in February, although it is still early days yet, there have been more chances. I'm working on a few of the chances right now. In sha Allah, one day the door will open for me. Then the floodgates will open, wide and clear. That's when the water will come rushing in.

Alien to me

Its a different ball game for me now. At sixty years old, I am learning many new things, developing new skills, setting different kind of goals and having a new set of friends, all younger than me off course. If before, my work colleague were mainly Malays, with only a few Chinese and Indians and other minority races, now its the other way round. My colleagues are 95% Chinese now. I have to adapt to their different way of life, thinking and culture. For example we had our annual dinner last night. It started at 6.30pm. That's a dinner time alien to me as before, any dinner I attended would normally start at 8pm or later, to time in the Maghrib prayers. This time, there was no such consideration. Alhamdulillah, there was a surau nearby. I was able to slip away for a short while to fulfill my obligation.

The little girl

She's almost 11 months now. Has got over her baby steps, now able to walk comfortably although not quite there yet in her balancing act. Any slippery area she will fall. I have to be watching her carefully. Munirah, grow up to be an obedient servant of Allah and his prophet and love your parents.

Another first

This month I am slotted for Johor Baru for a week to be at the sales gallery there in the Iskandar region. However, I opted out because its too long a time. At the moment, it is just not on. On the other hand, I cannot be declining too often so if I am asked to go again next month, I have no choice. Meantime, there will be another first. I will be on a roadshow later in the month promoting the different houses that I am selling. Two days I will be at the Curve, one day at Mid Valley and another day at Subang Parade. I need to be well verse with the products, the areas surrounding them and the packages offered. For example, at the curve, I will be promoting houses in Cyberjaya so I need to know the type of houses I am selling, I need to know Cyberjaya and I need to know the promotional packages on offer. All these are new to me, a far cry from my engineering days.

Knowing the boundaries

A salesperson will always be at the bottom of my favourite list but now I am a salesperson myself. What an irony! Having being in the job for a few months, I know now how difficult it is to make a success of the job. You have to have a never say die attitude in order to succeed. Never give up even when the going gets tough. Keep on trying. Keep on improving. At the same time, don't be like a pest. Once the prospect says no, don't push anymore. That's the secret but that's also the most difficult because many a time, it is not so clear cut. So, do you keep on hounding or stop?

A poser

I was in Johor Baru towards the end of last month looking at the developments going on in the Iskandar area. I have also been reading a few articles on the  things that are going on in there. A few articles are positive while some are negative. Reading both sides of the coin, I am not sure which are correct. Is it good or bad for Johor? For sure, massive developments are going on there. I visited a few of the developments. Besides the famous Forest City where 700,000 houses are being built on four man made island, there are thousands of other houses being built, have been built or are going to be built in the Iskandar area. Wonder who's going to buy them? 

For Forest City, the target is off course the Mainland Chinese. The first phase have all being sold out but the question is will they stay there? What about the rest of the houses?

Another feather in the cap

There have been many things which I am doing now which I never thought I would do. The past two weeks or so, I have just added another i.e working at a sales gallery. It never was in my mind that I would one day be waiting for customers at a sales gallery selling new houses. The job is easy provided the facts are at your finger tips. However, with so many projects to remember, that's easier said than done. Without the knowledge, questions cannot be answered and that could be the make or break decider. If you can answer and look confident, more than likely the potential buyer will buy. Otherwise, its a long shot. Another thing about being at the sales gallery is that on weekdays, it can get awfully quiet. No walk in whatsoever. That could be a real drag.

Waiting

Waiting for walk ins.

Time will roll

Its been a tough seven months. Seven months of trying many things but nothing has worked just yet. At times the feeling of despair come over me but I tell myself every time its only temporary. Its a cycle. I will not always be on the downside as the wheel will surely turn in sha Allah. Besides, my situation is not really desperate. There are thousands of others who are in worse situation than me. I am tested at a time when I am ready Alhamdulillah. As a result, I am able to cope with the situation much better than if it were a few years back. The time will roll. Soon I will be on the upside even before I knew it in sha Allah.

Chances are there

I'm at another sales gallery today. In Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam. Served one client who looked like a good prospect. Was asking a lot of questions. I was sure he was going to buy a unit but was left disappointed again. Don't know what happened but he didn't make that last commitment, i.e. buy. Sigh......... That's how it is. I'm learning the ropes but it is coming with many disappointments as well. I had one a few days ago who went even further. Signed the sales form but until today, has not paid the booking fee. My calls to him went unanswered. A month back, a buyer went direct to the developer after I had made the first call. I was naive enough to give him all the information. Today another one. So close but so far. I comfort myself by saying at least I am getting all these chances. One day I will strike in sha Allah.

At a clinic

Akid was having itchiness all over his body. He was in such a terrible situation we had to take him to the clinic. At least we hope with proper medicine he can sleep peacefully later in the night. Otherwise, it will be sleepless nights for everybody. Maisarah and Munirah, as usual, we have to bring along. Munirah, by the way, is less than eleven months old but she is already walking. Just like her elder sister, Maisarah. Akid was a bit slower at eleven months. Anyway, we got her bald to get rid of the original hair. It will grow soon in sha Allah.

Almost perfect

I quite like working as a Real Estate negotiator. Mostly its because the time is flexible. What I don't like is that the money coming in is not constant. There can be months when there's no income. That's the main drawback. The rest of the job is okay. I get to meet people. I don't work in one particular place only. I go everywhere. There's no boss looking over my shoulder. There's no subordinates. Its perfect except that there's no salary..

Sigh.....

Two days ago I did my first sale. A condo costing just a bit more than a million. I filled up the sales form on which the client duly signed. As he did not bring anything on that day, he will pay the booking fee the next day. I was extremely happy. It was my big breakthrough. After three months in the business, I finally got moving, or so I thought but alas, he didn't come the next day. My messages and called to him went unanswered. As at time of writing, I don't know if he will pay the booking fee or not. As it is, the sale is not confirmed. Sigh......