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Best Advice I Got As A Newbie

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

Best Advice I Got As A Newbie 

 

Pat's contest, Your Best Advice For Real Estate Newbies, has brought me way back to the start of my career. Ironically, the best advice I got was from my father....who was not an agent nor even in the real estate industry. He told me "don't be greedy."

Don't be greedy!

What did that even mean? Of course I'm not a greedy person, am I? No...of course not.

Little did I realize back then how often that phrase would come back to me in my daily work. Every time I was faced with a decision involving money, I would have that little statement in the back of my thinking. "Don't be greedy." At times I would argue with it..."I'm not being greedy, but I did earn this commission." Oh...nothing good came from that. 

Most of the time I would follow that good advice. The results have brought me great success. I wasn't being greedy when:

  • I joined a real estate team to start my career, sharing 50% of my commission
  • I added agents to my own team and shared leads and commission with them
  • Worked for free for a young couple trying to buy a home (more referrals came from that one transaction than any other)
  • Used my commission to make transactions close

Each of those moves has brought me increased business, income and referrals. More than I can even track. 

When I've done the opposite...holding firm on my own paycheck, more often than not, those deals fell apart. Hmmm...something to remember. 

So my advice to newbies is just that "Don't be greedy." Think through options on their own merit and not just for the immediate financial opportunity. 

Comments(29)

Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

When anew agents, or even seasoned ones, focus on the money they are going to make as a result of the transaction, the clients will inevitably feel pushed and want to run screaming.  Not thinking about the money is the only way to do this business and earn tons of money.

Nov 01, 2015 12:59 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hey, Karen!

I included this post in today's "Last Week's Favorites".  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

Nov 01, 2015 01:30 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Karen- couldn't agree more, and to echo what Alan May said, it is also a favorite saying of Larry's "pigs get fat; hogs get slaughtered."  And you are proof that what goes around comes around and it has truly paid off for you. 

Nov 01, 2015 09:07 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Hi guys....yes, dad is still my best coach and mentor. Grills me at Sunday night dinners. 

Nov 02, 2015 10:12 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Great advice. I've seen agents make this mistake and suffer the consequences--not pretty.

Nov 04, 2015 03:03 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

             

                                                       Such great company.....

                   Truly a pleasure and your entry is well deserving of a win.

Nov 04, 2015 03:56 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Karen,

Congratulations on being a winner in Patricia Kennedy 's contest.  Being greedy does not work in any business, especially in real estate. A

Nov 04, 2015 04:00 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Karen, congratulations on winning second place in the October Newbie Challenge.  I wish you could buy shoes or something with the extra points.  Alas...

Nov 04, 2015 04:42 AM
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Missed this one before, but love it!  Great advice to heed, for newbies and experienced folks alike.

Nov 04, 2015 06:45 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Congratulations Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner .

Those 3 simple words can make or break any career!

Nov 04, 2015 07:25 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Congrats Karen on your post!

Nov 04, 2015 07:43 AM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Karen, this is excellent advice and so very true. Many times we have given up money to make the deal go through. I always tell Frank x% of something is better than 100% of nothing...

Nov 04, 2015 10:22 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Karen,

If you do right by others, they will do right by you. & you can sleep at night.

Nov 04, 2015 11:22 AM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

Karen,

Wise man your father. The folks who trod on anyone for a buck don't last long in this business. Whether a client, customer or fellow agent. Good words!

Nov 04, 2015 11:34 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Woo hoo!  Congratulations on your winning post and ethics in business. So true to not think of the almighty $ in your business.  Keep that in the back pocket if you need to get a deal to close.  Doing that next week!  Congrats!

Nov 05, 2015 07:54 AM
Marilyn O'Donoghue
Long & Foster Avalon - Avalon, NJ

Congratulations!  Great advice, too.  I try and apply the same thoughts to my business and it truly does come back if you are not greedy.

Nov 05, 2015 08:51 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Karen, congratulations on your win in the Best Advise to Newbies Contest!

Nov 05, 2015 09:31 AM
Tina Parker
EXP Realty Canada Inc. - Halifax, NS
Managing Associate Broker

Great advice, it's worked for me as well and congratulations on your second prize win!

Nov 08, 2015 09:21 PM
Tammy Adams ~ Realtor / Podcaster
Maricopa Real Estate Co - Maricopa, AZ
A Maricopa Agent who Works, Lives & Loves Maricopa

Congrats on your placing in the top!  The key finding that line on what is the right thing to do vs being silly. But you are so right. If you are holding on to something so tight you can't add anything new.   :-)

Nov 09, 2015 02:27 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Greed kills so much opprotunity.  There is a time and place to make money.  But when you are new work for the priceless experience and don't worry about the split.

Nov 11, 2015 12:08 AM