There are several memorable firsts in real estate that you'll wonder if I made this stuff up. I still remember details vividly because I was inexperienced, but "willing to learn" as I had told seasoned agents.
My first sale started out as an open house was in McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale after being in business three weeks. I didn't have any listings and was told that I should ask a seasoned agent if I could sit one of his open houses to pick up buyer clients. He was a veteran with a team of agents. He asked me if I had any signs? I said, "No." He said, "What kind of agent are you?" To which I replied, "One who is willing to learn!"
Borrowing that agent's signs, I set up the open house for this beautiful home with several visitors walking through. One of the buyers had driven straight from the airport. This was a middle aged couple looking to buy their SEVENTH investment property, but their first in Arizona. I greeted them and said, "Do you want me to help you save gas and time?" I had no idea about a lot of areas in the Phoenix Metro Area because I'd only just moved here 2 years before and this county is over 400 square miles!
Showing them homes the next day, I had post-it notes between pages to direct me. The buyers saw this and asked how long I'd been in business. I told them, "Not long but don't you worry, we'll get you a house." I wrote a contract that night with them and sealed up the deal the next day. But that's not as wild as my first listing.
I was in Michaels one day getting a picture framed. I was dressed for work and had my real estate name badge on. The store clerk remarked that she "needed an agent to help her with her mom's house" I said I'd be happy to help her. They weren't ready to list yet and so I told her that's okay, we'll meet and chat. When I learned of their time frame to list the house for sale, I shared with them that I was scheduled for major leg surgery. I told them not to worry I could still help but to expect me to be on crutches.
When I showed up at their house on crutches and with a full leg brace they realized I wasn't kidding! I could hardly bend my leg as I had an insert of cadaever bone in my thigh and all ACL removed. I still have no idea how I drove so well and I wore that brace for 2 1/2 months ( in 2001 and 2003!)
I showed them a comparable house listed for sale around the corner, crutching my down the street to the house. Bending on one leg to access the lockbox, I must have aerated the front yard with my crutches and probably looked like I'd fall over!
We viewed the home and went back to sign the listing documents.
We sold that home in a few days for full price and with minimal repairs. They bragged to me that the big agent with the listing down the street hadn't done so well with his sellers. They had to fix everything on their list!
I was also going through a nasty two and a half year divorce, and changed my last name back to my maiden name, Green during all of the above. Prior to that I went to community college for two and a half years trying to figure out what I was going to do. Using my past business skills has helped me immensely and real estate is a great fit for me.
There's one person I owe a lot to at that office but she's now retired. The receptionist that we had was so amazing and was the voice on our recorded messages. She started me on a great path and greeted everyone with a smile, a good lesson for a new agent.
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