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Hire Me For My Mistakes Too

By
Real Estate Agent with Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 BRE# 01494165

It's human nature to be proud of our successes...and to use those in our marketing. Truthfully, who would really trust a broker who did nothing but talk about mistakes? Well, mistakes do happen and it's part of the reason to use me as your agent.

Real estate has a lot of moving parts. As a real estate broker, I often have a number of transactions going at the same time....each with different moving parts. I don't think I've ever had a seamlessly smooth transaction without any issues to resolve. 

Most often these issues are easily overcome and handled, but there have been times when I just blew it. Not necessarily meaning the transaction doesn't close, or the parties are injured...in fact, if I make a mistake that could damage a principal financially, I ALWAYS compensate for it. But mistakes do happen and they turn into lessons.

Why would you want to hire me as your agent when I've just admitted to mistakes? Because these mistakes turn into lessons and then into experience. The more experience I have, the more I know how to address issues and the smoother your escrow will go. 

Quick example from this past weekend. I have a listing ready to close this morning at 8am. Saturday, I got an urgent call from the buyers agent saying the buyers never received HOA documents. (yes, they have already removed this contingency). Based on my experience, I knew that title could get these documents. A quick call to my title rep resulted in HOA documents emailed within a half an hour. 

Problem solved!

Would a less experienced agent know that this was the answer on a Saturday morning? Hire me for my good experiences, but also for the lessons I've learned along the way. 

Comments (87)

Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Indeed, if you have never sold real estate you have certainly made no mistakes. And by the same token, the more we sell the less mistakes we make. Great post, Karen.

Jun 16, 2015 05:25 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Excellent post on this topic.  Those lessons that we learn from are often the most valuable to us.

Jun 16, 2015 05:27 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

The more experience we have the more wiser and smarter we become, so being knowledgeable or resourceful has its benefits and are invaluable, isn't it, especially to your clients? Great post.

Jun 16, 2015 05:37 AM
George Fanucci
CoreFact.com - Los Altos, CA
Internet - Technology - Business - Solutions

Definition of an EXPERT: Someone who knows (or who has made) all the mistakes possible within a small sphere of knowledge or practice.

Jun 16, 2015 06:01 AM
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

Excellent that it worked out.  Another way to handle it would be to get the docs AFTER close when it's more convenient for everyone.

Jun 16, 2015 06:16 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

That's exactly what I tell my clients. I have 40 years of mistakes under my belt and lessons learned, and that's partly why they pay more than they would another agent because they get the benefit. Sometimes you have to point it out because they aren't going to figure it out without your assistance.

Jun 16, 2015 06:59 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Great and very interesting Blog!  I love reading your stuff!

Jun 16, 2015 07:16 AM
Mark Artesani
Keller Williams Realty - Fountain Valley, CA
Huntington & Newport Beach, Fountain Valley Homes

Karen, I always thought you were perfect. Oh Well it is good to hear you are human too

Jun 16, 2015 01:56 PM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner The longer we are in the real estate business, the more we learn.  Experience is extremely important in the real estate industry.

Jun 16, 2015 02:48 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

The more I shuffle through life, the more I understand there are far fewer mistakes in life, and far more lessons.

Jun 16, 2015 08:25 PM
Debra B Albert, PA - Keyes Realty
Keyes Realty Treasure Coast, 34986 - Port St Lucie, FL
Ron and Debbie 772.708.3292

Great Blog!  The best lessons are from mistakes, I must be brilliant by the way.  Debbie

Jun 16, 2015 10:51 PM
Ernest Villafranca
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Oakland, CA
3923 Grand Ave. Oakland CA, 510-418-9443

If you're in business you've made some mistakes.

If you say you haven't made any mistakes then you're not telling the truth or you've not been paying attention.

Just try not to make fatal mistakes.

Fatal Mistake

Jun 17, 2015 11:00 AM
Monique MacLelland
MoeMac Commercial, LLC - Dallas, TX

Awesome post.  By the grace of our mistakes, where we would be.

Jun 18, 2015 04:11 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

WE learn from our mistakes and others profit.

Jun 18, 2015 08:39 AM
Joyce Marsh
Joyce Marsh Real Estate LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Joyce Marsh Homes

So very true. Every deal, every transaction is a learning experience. Real Estate is constantly changing and evolving. 

Jun 18, 2015 07:09 PM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Good morning Karen- You make a great point! I certainly feel like I have made my share of mistakes recently and just keep scrambling to fix them before anyone is inconvenienced or harmed! It is always a learning curve, but thank you for saying it so well! 

Jun 18, 2015 08:04 PM
Irene D. Lockel
Netter Real Estate - West Islip, NY
Let me help you unLOCK your dream home!

Karen, you are on top of your game! Great post.  Thanks for sharing.

Jun 20, 2015 01:23 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

So glad to see this one got featured.  Yes...the lessons truly retained are the ones we learn from mistakes.  

Jun 20, 2015 08:58 AM
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

We should learn from our mistakes. We would be stupid to realize that we know everything.

Feb 13, 2016 08:02 PM
Cindy Chaisson
Leader One Financial Corp. - West Palm Beach, FL

Hi Karen,

That is an excellent blog!  It seems like we have some stuff in common. I studied processing and underwriting for 5 months. I wanted to learn the mistakes that were happening on the inside so I could be smarter on the front line!

 I also grew up in southern CA (actually, all 49 years until last July).  I know it is a long shot, but just wondering if you know my Mom and Step Dad who are CB Realtors in Lake Arrowhead also? Joanne Johnson and John Lorenz.

It can be a small world some times, and this social media seems to bring the boundaries in closer....so I was just wondering!

Nice to connect!  

Mar 07, 2016 08:24 PM