A lot of 'firsts' in my real estate career....
While thinking about which 'first' story I'd like to share regarding real estate I had quite the time deciding which one to share. I've had so many 'firsts' in relationship to real estate over 25 years. So why not have more fun and share a couple of my 'firsts'....
My 'First' Online Lead/Client: Back in 1996 a sales guy at our office meeting says, "would 
you like a 'webpage' on the internet?" Huh? Not having any idea of what he was talking about but also noticing the fact that it only cost $50 per year I figured - why not? I gave him my check for $50 bucks and wrote up a paragraph of basic stuff about me - my market, how to find me and my specialties. I really didn't think it was going to get anywhere because who actually looked for an agent online, I mean really who looks on the internet for homes!!!
About one month later I got a phone call from a guy in Florida moving to Phoenix for a job at a big tech firm in town. Could I help him buy a home and BTW he'd be in town in 4 days to look at homes and buy one. How did you hear about me, I asked? I saw you on the internet and you were the only one on the internet in Phoenix that had a spark of humor (he liked the Anna Banana spin). And he added there are very few Phoenix real estate agents on the net. Well obviously that was music to my ears! He came to town, purchased a home and sent me referrals along his stay here in Phoenix and beyond. When he moved I sold his home and referred him to another agent in his new town. I'd say that $50 was well spent!
BTW, just out of interest, this client was one of the people who worked on and designed the first flat screen TV models - of which was not in my radar at the time - just like my 'first webpage'.
My 'First' real estate purchase: Now this was a ****** choice for me - looking backwards! Just wanted to get that upfront - not the brightest move on my part with making an 'on the spot real estate' decision. During my college years I used to buy and sell antiques to help with expenses. It was a lot of fun going to interesting auctions around the countryside. I read about an auction about an hour out of town that had some nice antiques so off I went on a Saturday morning. At the auction I noticed the 1903 house was for sale. I took a look around the yard and house to get a 'feel' for what it was like and to see if it needed a lot of remodeling. Seriously - I really had no idea of what to look for - it was just a 'feeling' at that time. When it came time for the house to be auctioned I bravely stuck my auction number in the air - what was I doing? I must be nuts? You can imagine the thoughts going through my head in during the auction process......
Long story short - I was the successful bidder on the 1903 Home and had to write a check for $2K on the spot. I didn't have enough in my bank account but I knew I could make it good by Monday. After the auction I headed to my folks lake home with a HUGE headache. Now I had to tell them my 'good news' and I was quite certain they'd think I'd gone bonkers. And they did. Needless to say it wasn't easy figuring out how to come up with the other $20K for the house within 30 days. That's where my Dad came to my 'rescue' as I suppose he thought it would be a good 'learing experience' for me. And it was to say the least....and then some. I spent the summer remodeling the home (with help from family) before I had to head back to college. I ended up listing the home and make a profit of about $13K. But would I do that again? Probably!
PS The home pictured above is similar to my first home purchase - I loved the big front porch!
Thanks to Karen Crowson for this fun "Firsts" ActiveRain Challenge! And if you haven't entered your article yet you've still got plenty of time as the contest doesn't end until April 30, 2014.
A lot of 'firsts' in my real estate career....
... & thank goodness for a great Dad!
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