Admin

My "If I Had To Start Over".

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

Number 1

If I was to start over I would have paid better attention to my Brokers training course. I'm talking about me as a salesperson (not my training to become a Broker). Initial salespersons training was excruciating to me as I wanted to just get out there and sell, not watch my trainers lips flap around for endless hours.

Number 2 

I spent way to much time on unqualified Buyers early on in my career. These were people looking to purchase a home by "Contract For Deed" during a time our market was booming as never had before. It was a Sellers market to the extreme. There were other crazy requests out there but I will label them all as the lunatic fringe.

Number 3 

I would walk away from unreasonable Sellers. Again this applies to my earliest months in Real Estate and my zeal to get every listing on the market. Taking over priced listings is just as toxic to your reputation in the Real Estate sales circles as a turd in a punch bowl. Agents learn not to bother showing your listing if they are always over priced. In all fairness I should say that it isn't always the Sellers fault... there are always agents (often newbees) that "buy" listing by playing upon the Sellers greed to make a lot of money on the sale of their home.

Number 4

I felt that I needed to get my Brokers license because I am a bit of a maverick and I wanted to do things my way. I don't regret this but what I do regret was looking for salespeople to work under me. I think I would have done BETTER than I did had I just gone solo. That being said I would still hire a full-time secretary to keep up with the required paper trail.

This is my entry into the May 2025 challenge: If I Had To Start Over by Carol Williams 

 

Posted by

Do you enjoy the cartoons written by my son (Timmothy N. Timm) which I use as a springboard to write my daily posts? His strip, Titus & Philemon, has run in two newspapers for years as well as being printed in my blog every day. Titus & Philemon (pronounced Phi - Lee -Man) are guinea pigs. Their owner is Joe. Timmothy has never repeated a joke/comic strip in the 12 years he has been writing it. He has never copied another strip, such as Peanuts or Garfield. You can follow Timmothy on FB as Titus & Philemon and you can also check him out on Instagram as Instagram.com/titus and philemon/ .For Timmothy's website type timmtimmothy.com into your browser. I tried to put it in a link here but it refuses to work. Do NOT put anything in front of timmtimmothy.com or it will not work. 

Comments(10)

Show All Comments Sort:
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Bob "RealMan" Timm  Great post for the challenge. Learning to close overpriced listings is the secret. Overall, I think you learned from your mistakes, which is the best way to learn. Have a fantastic week Bob   

May 12, 2025 12:45 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Hannah Williams . I also believe that failures are a means to learning.

May 12, 2025 01:36 PM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Inactive/Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Hey Maverick! I mean Bob "RealMan" Timm  - I get it! You felt like you were able to grab the bull by the horns and succeed quickly without the blah, blah, blah training that wasn't interesting or exciting. What I liked best about your entry is that you're a straight shooter and you're not so blah, blah, blah when it comes to answering questions. 

Without a great Instructor who keeps the class engaged, your time is wasted. 

Yes! I like your son's cartoons!

May 12, 2025 02:35 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Patricia Feager . You are spot on about teachers need to inspire their students, not to put them to sleep.

May 12, 2025 06:31 PM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks for sharing your honest reflections , Bob "RealMan" Timm — it’s a great reminder that we all learn and grow through experience. I appreciate your transparency and the lessons you've shared; they’re valuable for anyone starting out  even for seasoned pros. Grateful for your share, Bob! 👍🏼✨

May 12, 2025 05:03 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Lew Corcoran , I really appreciate your comments.

May 12, 2025 06:38 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Bob,

I think you submitted an excellent entry into the May Challenge! Learning not to take overpriced listings is certainly a good lesson to learn! We have all been there.

May 12, 2025 07:26 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Dorie Dillard Austin TX . Sometimes it's the agent who has caused the listing to be overpriced. Home owners put a lot of trust in us and we should not shatter that trust by giving unrealistic expectations.

May 13, 2025 05:59 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - beginners in any field often look to quickly learn the ropes.  They also want to understand the lay of the land.  Those earliest days can be difficult - surviving is good but thriving is better.  

May 13, 2025 03:10 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thanks Michael Jacobs . I love the sentience: surviving is good but thriving is better.  

May 13, 2025 06:06 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Bob... I learned very quickly how not to take on the wrong clients and if I made a mistake and did, how to fire them quickly. As for working solo.... I had a team at one point. Disbanded it in 2010. I realized I had no desire to manage people any more or to want them to do well more than they did.

May 13, 2025 04:56 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

But you LOVE cats Nina Hollander, Broker . 😁😸

May 13, 2025 10:39 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Bob "RealMan" Timm loving cats and herding cats are two totally different things! 😺

May 13, 2025 12:25 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Bob "RealMan" Timm hi Bob... I got my initial license in NC in late 1998. Four months later after taking an intensive broker course and passing all my exams I had my broker's license. I've always had a broker's license, including in NY City. I am also what is know as BIC eligible... further licensing to serve as a Broker In Charge. I maintain my credits, but you couldn't pay me enough to herd all those cats.

May 13, 2025 10:00 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Nina Hollander, Broker I really wish I would have caught on to; just because you have a Brokers license doesn't mean you have to have agents under you.

May 13, 2025 06:08 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Those are good lessons to share for new agents. Determining who is a real client takes time and experience - and most new agents want to help everyone so you're not alone!

May 13, 2025 05:08 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

That was certainly my problem coming out of the gate Kat Palmiotti . I wanted to work with everyone who walked through the door.

May 13, 2025 06:10 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

With the lessons that you have learned, you would be a very good mentor for someone getting into the business!

May 13, 2025 07:35 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Brian England regretfully I am a little short on patience to be a mentor.

May 13, 2025 10:36 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Bob, great post for this month's challenge, and amazing how these early mistakes sure pave the way NOT to do them again!

May 13, 2025 10:11 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

If only I would have learned them the first time I encountered them instead of repeating them 2 or 3 times.

May 13, 2025 10:37 AM
Bob Jakowinicz
National Realty Centers Livonia--Bob Jakowinicz - Livonia, MI
Michigan Real Estate Agent-- MI Real Adventures

Looking back on all the time and energy I spent on some real almost impossible situations and then watching others do the same thing -- lol.  I think many of us just have to go through our own lessons as we learn and grow in this business (lol and in life).

May 16, 2025 03:39 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I agree Bob Jakowinicz . Back when we went on brokers RE tours a lot of eyes were opened as to who were "dreaming" when it came to pricing.

May 30, 2025 10:39 AM