Confess your sins

**PattiSmith** · 05-18-2008, 05:36 PM

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen. I have found the best way to learn is by learning from your mistakes. Allow me to learn from YOUR mistakes.

1. As a beginner, what did you do that you would never think of doing today?
2. If you had one motto to live by in the industry, what would it be?

Thank you in advance to all those who respond to these question.

**AustinBroker** · 07-05-2008, 09:41 PM

I used to never preview. I regularly preview now to save myself time. I can rule a house out in 3 minutes inside without a client or spend 10 minutes talking to a client about a property and viewing it inside with them present. I would always preview when possible.

Joe Cline
Austin Texas Realtor

**Texas_** · 07-07-2008, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by PattiSmith

1. As a beginner, what did you do that you would never think of doing today?

As a new agent years ago I took business that I didn't really want, and was actually embarrassed to put my sign in front of. At the time, I thought 'a crappy listing is better than no listing.' Not true. The obvious truth is that the more desirable the property or the client, the more competition there will be for the business. It takes lots of hard work and serious networking to build your reputation and earn the 'prime' business. And you don't earn that prime business by taking any old thing that drops in your lap. Of course, if your goal is to sell UGLY HOUSES... more power to you. Some folks have gotten rich that way!

**DrewMurr2** · 07-21-2008, 02:16 PM

Dont let your clients tell you how much houses are worth, advise them that they are sadly mistaken if they think their house is worth 50% more than it's really worth. Or if they dont listen, you can just use it to pick up buyers.

**RE Consulting Services** · 08-07-2008, 02:36 PM

Okay so the one main thing I want to share is ALWAYS be prepared! I made more mistakes as a new agent by not being completely prepared and just grabbing everything at the last minute. I always forgot something, never had anything organized, ended up frazzled and nervous and did a terrible job... Making sure you have an organized desk and office, and an organized car is imperative! Keep a mobile office in your trunk... I always had a clear plastic tub in my trunk with extra listing and sales packets, blank notebooks, pens, my digital room measurer, pliers, scissors, and plastic ties (for signs and riders), and whatever else I could think of that might be helpful...

The most important beginner thing I can think of that I would never do today is a trap I think most new agents fall into and that's signing up for various systems and services online. There are very few that are actually necessary and you have to know which ones are great and which ones are terrible. A lot of agents sign up for all sorts of things and end up spending a fortune when in reality, they don't need any of them to get going.

Hope that helps...

-Angela