When I first started in real estate I had already two other careers: one in education and another in training for two different government agencies. I also waitress-ed at a time in my life when I should have known what I wanted to do when I grew up, particularly since I was a grown up.
So there I was in my thirties trying something new because carrying trays at eighteen was a lot easier than in my late thirties. I owned investment properties and was disappointed by the agents I worked with principally because they didn't listen and seldom acted in my interests.
And so I immediately knew that that there a lot more to being a good agent that simply passing a test and finding a place to hang my license.
When I came into the business, I was a good listener and a pretty good judge of character too. I knew what I didn't know but I also knew that there was no free lunch and I had to find some way or some one to follow. I had no mentor to learn from and if I were starting again today I would affirmatively find one. Within a few weeks of placing my license I was calling FSBO's and having others listen to me. What's wrong with this picture? Nothing really but I wish I had someone who could have helped me with the basics of writing a contract, filling in a listing, and insuring that I always had the best direction in presenting offers. I did not.
Did I ever think I had made a mistake in getting into real estate? The short answer is no I didn't. I had been an investor and knew what information I needed to make a good decision. What I didn't know were the regulations that impacted the purchase and sales. I learned these things on my own and I wish I had known them before doing business with clients and customers.
So what would I tell a new agent getting into the business today?
1) Listen to everything you hear and then decide what feels right for you.
2) Don't wait for business to come your way: affirmatively search for it and don't let go until you cash the deal or have been told to go away and never come back.
3) And finally make sure to look under the refrigerator because there is often more than just lint and dirt there.
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