I Don't Work For The Money!

Mirela,

Great post and information about how you approach your profession. I share most of those same passions and have on occasion refused to write a contract. If it is not in my clients best interest, I tell them so!

I love to refer to Realtors that have our same values!

I flagged this one for a feature!

Mike, thank you so very much!

I do the same thing (refer to the same kind of agent).  I am compiling a data base for my referrals (a lot of my clients need to sell their properties back home).  I would like to refer my "Dyersburg, Tn. clients to you.  Which exact areas do you service? 

Mirela,

I think we are cut from the same mold.  It is much easier to say "no" to a client than to allow them to put themselves in a bad place... this business is not about the paycheck, it is about the client and the relationship, after that the referrals come naturally and the paycheck will soon follow.  It is refreshing to see some one that is a true professional.

Rob

Rob:  I want to work with you! 

Doing the job with passion and for the right reasons will garner the right results.

Thank you for the comment!

   The money comes and as usual the money goes. May as well make the most our time in the process.  Have a tendency to say no more than I say yes in this business.  And I still get excited when one of my agents has a great day.......makes me feel as if I helped in some small way.  

   Great post and great attitude...

Mirela, I want to work with you too! 

Rob:  Ok, then!  Let's do it!  Can you finance a condotell, oceanfront efficiency with only a nominal kitchen (refrigerator & microwave)?   It is over 400 sq. ft. (that's the only good part).  The LTV is 90%.  We ran into a snag with this one yesterday.  If you can help, please let me know! 

Kim:  Thank you very much!  Life is GOOD!

 Hi Mirela... I can so relate to "I love what I do, and it shows!  This is the only business that has managed to hold my attention for 20 years!"...

 While I've enjoyed multiple careers, doing what you love to do is always a great motivator. Success and $$$ just seem to come naturally when you're doing what you really love.

 P.S.   I love the Realty Man cartoon!!!

Marti:  Thank you!   

I know you love your job; it shows!

I love the Realty Man too!

Marti:  Thank you for making this a featured post!

Appreciation from you, Marti, is a big compliment to me.  I hold you in very high regard; you have taught me so much!

Hi Mirela,

You are sooooo........ real...............!  You are experiecing self actualization.  Your deep core values are transparent. 

You live freely and lightly!  Thank You for being an inspiration to all of us!

Dan: "I live freely and lightly!"

I love that!  That is definitely my journey!  It's been a good life too!  A grand adventure...  an enjoyable experience, full of surprises and joyous occurences.  I have been able to affect people and re-awaken in them that passion for all the possibilities. 

Helping people change directions has been the most magical and gratifying thing I've experienced on this journey called life!  It has energized and infused my own existance with beauty, grace and serendipity!

Not Yet Licensed:   Thank you!  When are you getting licensed?  Can I help you hurry the process along?  I've read a lot of your comments and I "get" you.  You will be good Realtor!

Not Yet Licensed:  1.  Please let me have your name!  I feel weird calling you "Not Yet Licensed"!

2.  DO NOT LISTEN TO THE NAYSEYERS!  NEVER do that! 

When I entered real estate in 1988, they all told me the same thing.  The market in Sacramento was lousy and agents were exiting faster than rats out of sinking ships... 

I did not listen (I ALWAYS follow my heart) and I had 3 transactions during my very first month in Real Estate and I've never looked back.  My business is thriving right now, and all my agents are making good money, while other agents are exiting the profession. 

Just follow your heart!  Cutting your Realtor teeth on this market will propell you forward much faster.  Just garner as much education as you can, either before you start working, or while you are working in Real Estate.  I garnered my GRI within my first few months of being a Realtor and it has helped me a lot.

Good luck! 

I just want to say I enjoy your posts - it is obvious you do what you do from passion.

Ron:  Thank you so much!  I appreciate you being a regular reader!  I appreciate your kind words!

 Mirela you're too kind and the feeling is totally mutual, I love your style!

Mirela, You have the perfect attitude!!! If we love what we do and we take care of folks the money will take care of itself. Well done!!!!

BTW......tell Rich to leave your star alone:) 

You sound like a great real estate agent and a great person.  Nicely written blog.

Another awesome post my friend and people love "Real People" they can connect with.  My dad had a 3rd grade education and was illiterate but extremely personable and loved humanity.  He became a very successful farmer which is proof that a hard word ethic combined with a great personality that connects with people is a great combination.  You are one in a million and an amazing lady!

Mirela, And it's this attitude that has made you successful and happy. Congratulations

great attitude! when you love what you do, you become successful and make money

Not Yet Licensed:  Part time may be the way to go.  What you do with that allocation of time is what counts.   If all you have is two hours per day, fill those two hours with calling expired listings, or fsbo's. 

Once you get a listing, advertise the heck out of it.  Read my blog "Listings Made Easy; This is Awesome!"  Send "just listed" cards out.  Again and again.  Hold open houses.  Have a one site listing for that home.  Write blogs about that listing here on AR.  Have a "Google this home" rider on your sign (you'll be first page on Google for that address if you blog about it here).  Hold open houses.  Meet the neighbors.  Know the history for that neighborhood.  What sold last year and the year before, etc.  Know exactly what is on the market in that neighborhood, how it compares to the immediate area.  Know exactly what has sold in the neighborhood the last 12 months.  When you sell it, send out"Just sold cards".  Pretty soon you will be the neighborhood expert. 

Whatever you do, follow your heart!  If you like people and you like real estate, you don't want to say: "I should have done it!"  Just DO IT!  See yourself as the neighborhood expert already! 

Not Yet Licensed:  When I first started my business, my very first listing was a lady who was putting up her FSBO sign.  I turned the car around and I approached her.  I got her number and called her once a week.  After 5 or 6 weeks she gave me the listing because she said I was the only one who kept calling.  All the other agents called her once or twice and gave up.  She told me:  "I figured that if you are THIS persistent, you'll probably sell it".  I did just that, then sold her another home, then sold her friend a home, her neighbor's, then another neighbor and then another friend... 

If you deliver the goods you'll stay busy.  After your 2 hours a night make you as much money as your full time job, it's time to quit the other job and pursue Real Estate full time.

Go get licensed!  I'll mentor you, if you want!

Mirela, I been in the biz going on 2 years the wife 5+ the hot times...  Slower now we are working on getting into the REO's by way of BPO and have signed up all over the place.  Any pointers?

Oh, Can I take you up on the mentoring?

Richard:  I would be glad to.  Feel free to call me and ask me questions.  Maybe I can figure out how to videotape our training sessions for my staff & send them to you, or maybe I can podcast them.  If I can learn how to do that, I'll gladly share our training with you. 

I have trained several top producers in my area.   

A good start would be to subscribe to my blogs and read my posts.  Many of them will help you in your practice. 

Helping you become more successful will give me a great deal of pleasure!

As for the REO's I have a lot of pointers.  I have been educating myself here on AR and everywhere else.  I am now getting ready to participate in the foreclosure bidding process, after about 8 months of studying it.  It's not a cake walk, but it can be extremely lucrative.  You need to garner the education first though!  Remember, the higher you climb, the more you can see.  Just start on it today!

Mirela,  Love your post and your attitude.  People ask me about business and I tell them I am busy and they seem surprised too.  I have turned off my television and don't listen to all of that negative talk.  I live in my own world, they know me here and I am quite happy.  Good for you.

Bravo Mirela.... Do what you love and the money will follow... Fantastic!

Mirela~  You are astounding and I wish I worked with you in the Myrtle Beach area! 

Mirela - great post! In addition to it being the right thing to do, it is also smart to turn down business that doesn't serve your client's best interests.

Doing a great job for the referral is what motivates me, but the money secures the deal.

Great attittude. We need to keep the fun in this business.

Veroncia

Mirela- When you speak from the roof tops like this it makes us all look good. Having worked in other industries I switched to real estate largely for one reason- There's something noble about seeing ones name on the title. Sure... property changes hands and land doesn't yearn for us when our mortal turns to dust but still... in this lifetime it's great to own something... to dream about what could be and going out there and making memories. I love that you stand your ground when your experience tells you that certain planned purchases would not be a good move... every client deserves this sort of representation. This post should be printed on a card and delivered as a locker room speech to every down-trodden agent out there who fails to see the many opportunities that await them.

Chuck:  Wow!  Your words paint such a beautiful canvass!  You sure know how to express yourself...

I love your paradigm and your prism!  I love the way you describe it to us! 

It is such a pleasure to be affiliated with you!

Veronica:  Right you are!  Thank you!

Susan:  Thank you for being so candid!

Jackie:  Thank you!  I think so too!

Vickie:  I wish you did too.  One more redhead in my office...  You certainly would be in good company:  there are 4 of us (redheads) there now. 

Audrey:  Thank you!  I miss your posts on our Optimist board!

Great post for all the consumers in your area to let them know who you are.l

Russ:  Yeah!  Not too shabby.  I just realized that!  Wow!  Wow!  Wow!

Mirela, how can you not do great in this business? You have the right attitude, and a great personality (comes through in your posts); and you truly care about people (clients or not) ... of course the money will follow. You're in it for the right reasons.  Continued success!

Sylvie:  Thank you so much!  I've been so blessed!  I just want to spread it around! 

Life is so short.  I made up my mind very early on that I was going to enjoy it full throttle ahead.

Curious by nature, I've always had a keen interest in people.  We are so complex; it is absolutely fascinating!  I forgive easily and I forget bad things rapidly.  I believe that everyone has a lot of good in them. 

I am one of the most flawed individuals, and I accept each and every flaw in myself and others.  We are created in God's image, but we need a lot of practice to come close...

Love can conquer all, but not necessarily in our time frame. 

Good intentions acted upon, can change the world, one person at a time.

My daughter and I were talking the other night about my 95 year old grandmother.  At one point I said:  "We'll all get there if we're lucky", to which she grimaced, not understanding what I meant.  I had to explain it to her.

I was a very loved child.  My idealism spans from that.  Parents:  remember that!

That is great - it is wonderful to love what you do!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! A star well deserved.

You are my star!

Arina:  Thank you!  I'm so excited about it!  I haven't had one of those since I lost the other two!

Emily:  It sure is! 

Thank you for the comment!

Great post and attitude Mirela. It's not really work when you are doing what you enjoy.

Mirela, we all have to follow the passion ( people being a great big part of that) and with any luck at all the earnings will follow and one needen't worry much. The greater difficulty comes with so many aberations in the market. Today even after my first 20 years in business, it  still leaves me wondering sometimes , "how am I going to handle this one" ? Obviously we get there and think we have seen it all, not so. Everyday is new and has it's own unique challenges.

Excellent post...and I don't say that very often.  Love your pic too!

Mirela.. Great post.  Not only do I get another approach to the real estate business, but also your personality.  I agree with you, conversation is your best *business card* when it comes to people.

Mirela, I get a shocked look too, when they ask me how is the market, and I answer I am so busy. OF course that is not what they are reading in the newspapers.

I love what I do too and the money always follows.

Well I'm happy to know I'm not the only one who doesn't wear my Realtor pin to the grocery store. 

A while ago there was a book called "Do What You Love, The Money Will Come"....it has to do with positive attitude and pursuing your career with passion...and as you know...it works !

Great post, I love dealing with pleople like yourself who actually bring somthing to the table!

Life is too short if you dont =)

Dan Tucci

I'm busy, but in different ways than in the past. Our market is not hopping by any means, but when you keep working, working, working, when the market does turn around I will be in the perfect position to capture the business! :)

Love your attitude & work ethic.

Mirela~ Redhead?   I  didn't know I was a redhead, LOL. Well, I guess do have some red "highlights"  Have to cover up the gray...... 

I do work for the money...but I also enjoy getting my clients the best deal possible.

Great post.

Enjoyed so much.

Could you bottle and sell your attitude???

Sometimes, we forget to count our blessings......you are one to AR.

Thanks.

Linda

Just yesterday I was trying to explain to someone that I don't sell anything.  My job is to help people find the right home. My job is to HELP people  ...

The houses will sell themselves ... but whether or not we are making full commissions, we have helped that family and that house come together; and it is a great thing to see how happy we've made someone.  I left the lawyer's office yesterday very emotional, watching my client (the buyer), getting the key to his new (old) home; and getting an almost $50K cheque I managed to get back for him, to fix all the problems we found.  He was so happy he could barely speak.  He called me later from the house, to tell me again how happy he was, and that no one else would have fought so hard to get him everything I was able to get back.  He went on and on, and in the end, I think I was happier than he was... Because I cared about helping ... not because I was thinking about how much money I would make.

Sylvie, I love your comment: "Just yesterday I was trying to explain to someone that I don't sell anything.  My job is to help people find the right home".

...And this one speaks volumes: "I left the lawyer's office yesterday very emotional, watching my client (the buyer), getting the key to his new (old) home; and getting an almost $50K cheque I managed to get back for him, to fix all the problems we found.  He was so happy he could barely speak.  He called me later from the house, to tell me again how happy he was, and that no one else would have fought so hard to get him everything I was able to get back.  He went on and on, and in the end, I think I was happier than he was... Because I cared about helping ... not because I was thinking about how much money I would make.

Bravo Sylvie!  That's what our job is about. 

Thanks, Mirela.  I truly am trying to make a difference in people's lives, and be there for them, and help them ... it was never about the money for me.  I really give away more, helping my clients, than I keep, but I do love helping people, and I get more excited than they do, at times, when I see how happy they are.  Sometimes I have to remind myself, that this is a business. It's my business. It's how I make a living.  But if I didn't do it the way I've been doing it, I don't think I could stay in this business.  (I certainly would not be able to carry on, if I did business the way I watch some colleagues do it; how they go from deal to deal; and forget all about the 'person', once the contract is signed ...)

I guess we all have to do what works for us. 

Sylvie:  That's why you ROCK!

Mirela.... I have enjoyed your posts, and had to leave a comment on this one....People deal with people they like, and then refferrals come from people who would like to do business with you again.

I too have walked away from deals, mostly involving mortgage fraud, and have warned my customers as well...Thats another big reason for not working both sides in my opinions...I now work just in commercial investments and that just means dealing with a select group of investors over and over..If you lose your credibility there is no other way to go but down....Good post   ......best wishes

Mike:  Thank you very much!  I appreciate knowing that your read and like my posts!

Mortgage fraud...  I remember...  I could have made so-o-o much easy money....  But no thanks!  I told them I did not want to earn a stay at Club Fed!!!

You can't be a little bit pregnant, or a little bit of a liar...   a little bit of a cheat...  or a little bit of a "Frauder"...