Raining on a new Agent

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Property SL3307595

I had a SOI call this morning from a new agent who knew me from the past and was reaching out for referrals.  She was a personal fitness trainer in her previous life-mine, actually.  After we discussed that I was an agent, she inquired what worked for me when I started out 3 years ago.  Not surprisingly, I mentioned Activerain.  I explained how the blog posts of this community helped and inspired me from the very day I joined. It made me think of when I started..

Three years ago, I became a real estate agent!  And had no idea how to proceed.  I called my cousin, Jeff Dowler, an awesome Realtor and Rainer and asked for advice---Join Activerain(!) was one of the first things he said.  So I did-as well as ending up with a long with a page of scribbled notes about websites and blogs, which, at the time did not make a lot of sense.  By the way, I still have that page of notes and I refer to it about once a month.  And all good things started to happen!

Well, mostly good... I managed to find some awesome buyers who wanted a condo on the water in West Palm Beach.  As a first deal, so difficult- the Seller lived in Rome.  The Buyer lived in Chicago.  Good thing the airport is minutes away.  So many things to find out about, Condo Docs, Reserves, Financing, FIRPTA  Rules, Attorneys.  Contracts, Counter-Offers, Can we close in less that 30 days? Right before Memorial Day Weekend so they could enjoy their new vacation home?  Eek.  The Seller has to fly from..Croatia!, to attend the closing.  Condo Board acceptance! Nothing could go wrong and the pressure was on.

As exciting as this sounds, I was no way prepared.  I turned to the Activerain Community and started to read by topic and found a wonderfully interesting and valuable source of information and help!  So, I want to extend  huge Thank You to every blogger in Activerain that unknowingly provided information on every step of this complicated transaction. In my haste-like I said-30 days to close-I probably didn't thank each and every one of you!

The story ended well.  The Condo closed on time!  The Buyers love their new home with the awesome view.  And I learned a lot with the help of Activerain.  I'm very grateful to be part of this community.  And I hope the new agent I spoke with this morning joins this amazing group of Realtors!

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Re-Blogged 1 time:

Re-Blogged By Re-Blogged At
  1. Ginger Harper 03/18/2017 06:29 AM
Topic:
ActiveRain Community
Tags:
advice
south florida
condominiums
west palm beach
new agents
thank you
activerain

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Rainmaker
2,221,057
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
New Hampshire Home Stager

Welcome to the Rain and congratulations on your Feature! Great story!

Your cousin is a favorite of mine. So glad you followed his advice and joined our wonderful community!

Mar 18, 2017 11:59 AM #29
Rainer
258,899
Mick Michaud
Distinctly Texas Lifestyle Properties, LLC Office:682/498-3107 - Granbury, TX
Your Texas Lifestyle is Here!

This is a great community.  I've learned a thing or two. 

 

Mar 18, 2017 12:41 PM #30
Rainmaker
5,219,036
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Christina,

Congratulations on your first post, and I really enjoyed reading your post.  And how nice that cousin Jeff Dowler gave you great advices.  Congratulations on your feature also.  Looking forward to reading your future posts.  A

Mar 18, 2017 02:13 PM #31
Rainer
174,864
Mary Jo Quay
EXP Realty - Minneapolis, MN
I Move You Home

Good post.  It's great to know that you have resources at your finger tips, and that there are answers.   No one can know everything.

Mar 18, 2017 06:04 PM #32
Rainer
557,916
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Christina,

You probably get a lot of international buyer & sellers in your area. I find them to be really fun. Makes me live vicariously while slaving away in the office.

Mar 18, 2017 07:59 PM #33
Rainmaker
3,531,844
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Christina nice to be related to a Top Active Rain Agent:) Congratulations on your first post as well as your Featured Post, keep it up. On a side note thank you for the follow, Endre

Mar 18, 2017 08:25 PM #34
Rainmaker
357,395
Shirley Coomer
Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

Congratulations on a great post and congratulation on following Jeff's advice.  I tell many agents about AR, but not enough of them take advantage of the great learning opportunity!

Mar 19, 2017 06:29 AM #35
Rainmaker
523,961
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

There is much information shared her in the Rain.   I learn something new each time i log in.   Congrats on the feature!

Mar 19, 2017 12:53 PM #36
Ambassador
3,007,199
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I totally agree it was great advice and I've learned so much here.  And I'm by no means a new agent.  I've been in real estate since 1992 and I still learn something nearly every time I spend time reading here.

Mar 19, 2017 01:54 PM #37
Rainmaker
2,966,259
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate

Jeff Dowler is good peeps.  He gave you great advice. There is a lot to learn here in the AR community. Sadly, brokers "should" be helping new agents but as we all know ... many don't.  I'm still learning in this community. There are some real smart people here ... and some real smart$sses too.  We have fun ... we banter ... we learn and grown. 

Mar 20, 2017 08:46 AM #38
Rainmaker
1,643,917
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Because I write real estate bios, I speak with quite a few new agents - and I tell every one of them to join Active Rain.

An interesting thing - I have a site dedicated to new agents, and it includes the same advice, along with a link top Active Rain. Every now and then I get notice that an agent I've never spoken with has joined, thanks to that link.

Welcome to the Rain - and I wish you great success.

Mar 20, 2017 11:57 AM #39
Staff
45,195
Tim Ensley
ActiveRain - Seattle, WA
Director of Advertising

Love hearing stories like this, thanks for sharing!!

We are working very hard on the backend to provide more education, training and content for all our valuable members. 

Mar 20, 2017 01:57 PM #40
Rainmaker
1,590,039
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

You've had a good mentor and I hope you can pass on the torch to your old personal trainer too.

Mar 20, 2017 03:21 PM #41
Rainmaker
1,525,099
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Welcome to Active Rain and congrats on your first blog post.  This is a wonderful network of professionals.  I hope you enjoy your interaction with them. The A1A sign reminds me of when I lived on Amelia Island and makes me homesick.

Mar 20, 2017 04:37 PM #42
Rainmaker
611,495
Eileen Burns
Trans State Commercial RE Ft. Lauderdale/Miami/Palm Beach - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FL Probate Agent, Hotel & Land Specialist

Congrats on your featured post Christina Steinhaus and glad to hear you will become more active in our Raining community.  Since you are closeby we will anticipate meeting you in person at our next live #Active Rain meetup.

Your story gets an added bonus today because you are now....

newbie  glad Jeff Dowler is providing such sage advice

Mar 23, 2017 12:21 PM #44
Rainmaker
806,787
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

I have learned a great deal in Active Rain too - I'm sure you helped that new agent immensely.  You've got a great cousin too! :-) Kasey

Apr 04, 2017 05:45 PM #45
Ambassador
2,029,063
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Your cousin gives such great advice Christina Steinhaus I have been following him since 2009 . I have learned so much here in the rain . Keep blogging and not only will you learn but clients will start calling you -- Welcome

May 31, 2017 02:19 PM #46
Rainmaker
1,231,318
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Kudos, Christina Steinhaus . I look forward to your future posts.

Jun 01, 2017 12:50 PM #47
Rainmaker
4,799,256
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Hi, Christine.  Don't stop blogging.  There are real rewards when you continue on this platform.

Jun 02, 2017 04:49 AM #48
Rainmaker
6,210,832
Roy Kelley
Realty Group Referrals - Gaithersburg, MD

I was looking for your current blog posts. I hope all is going well for you.

Feb 20, 2018 07:42 AM #49
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Rainer
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Christina Steinhaus

Real Estate Agent serving the Palm Beaches
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