Transitioning to Real Estate

Speaker 1 0:30

So how's everything been since the changeover ?

Speaker 2 0:37

Good , I mean , you know , I was with the Cloud Brokerage for like six years before I joined Platinum and Pearson and then I went with Platinum to Real and Real is different but same in terms of like kind of the way they're structured , so it wasn't really like a big deal to me .

Speaker 1 0:57

Much of a change , okay , I mean and I see you guys have a lot of community events . You guys are always getting together for different or at least the real . Yeah , I mean .

Speaker 2 1:05

I was an individual agent for six years and being on a team is definitely nice in terms of you as an agent . I think you can start to feel a little bit like lonely and like on the island by yourself . So I think , sometimes it is very nice to be on a team so that you have camaraderie , people you can ask questions to do , just hang out , you know . So it's nice , yeah , yeah .

Speaker 1 1:28

Awesome In terms of how you got into real estate . What's that story Like ? What were you doing before ? What ?

Speaker 2 1:34

was it . I've done a lot of things .

Speaker 1 1:39

So I don't have to experience doing things .

Speaker 2 1:41

No , out of college . Well , I was going to internship and then , out of , they hired me and I worked at the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra for like two years . Wait , what were you doing there ? I was like not doing music . Okay , the back end of like that , like all the administrative type stuff , green rooms , you know all the stuff you need to do to on the back end , business wise . And then I moved to the Madeira school , okay , and then we took the Madeira school for , I think , two years .

Speaker 1 2:09

What did you do there ?

Speaker 2 2:10

I was in the offices and I did . Well , I'm trying to think I did . I had a huge summer program there , so I did all the summer program stuff and then I helped with like the HR stuff within the school .

Speaker 1 2:21

So a lot so more like administrative keeping things organized .

Speaker 2 2:24

Yes , and then randomly I went and worked for a government contractor , small business contractor , and then I did recruiting , project management stuff like that , then had kids stay home and then I managed some properties for those same people for about a year . They had that , I want to say , five or six residential and one or two commercial , and that's kind of where it started with the real estate . So I was doing that part timish . My kids were teeny , teeny tiny , so I didn't want to do full blown job , but I wanted something to do because I was needed to do something with my brain . And then I was just thinking maybe I should just get my real estate license . I don't really know why , but I'm just going to do it and I did all the courses from home , you know , at night , when the kids were sleeping , for like six months , and then I just took the test and then I was like , well , maybe I will just do this . So really that's how it all came about .

Speaker 1 3:22

So a lot of it came from well , maybe , well maybe , and you just get like taking advantage of the different opportunities that are presented .

Speaker 2 3:29

I was just trying to find my thing , I think , and I wanted , I think I realized I just wanted to work for myself . I didn't . I worked for people . I worked for some lovely people . I've worked for some people that were more difficult and I just really wanted to do I like things , to do things my way too . So I think there's some of that and I totally want to admit that . So I mean , as a business owner , it is , you know , can be stressful , but it's also nice that you have your own thing , your own boss , and you can do the ways things you want to do them .

Speaker 1 4:04

I'll say how has that been with balancing , being a mom , being a business owner , having 15 different bosses aka clients ? Like , how do you , do you put boundaries in place to ?

Speaker 2 4:18

help you manage . So I would say in the beginning I was not good about that . But my kids were also very small . So I would say the first few years I wasn't like like totally into it because I was still the primary caregiver . They weren't in elementary school yet , so I was doing real estate , but not like really I would say full , full time . Then , as the years progressed , I was really working harder at it and I didn't have boundaries .

Speaker 2 4:46

Someone , I think too , you're a little bit hungry when you first start out like sure , a random Mr Bob guy , I'll show you a house , even though you know you really haven't committed to working with me , and I just , and then you realize you just wasted a bunch of time on someone that wasn't serious .

Speaker 2 5:01

So I think that comes with just learning and becoming better in your craft and realizing that , okay , I need to be better at this in terms of , you know , really qualifying people and just making sure they're there to work with me and not just waste my time , because , at the end of the day , time is the most important thing you have . And you know I don't just drop things at a dime to just run and show a house to some random person . You know , obviously , if something , there's an emergency , you know , of course , help people , but it's more of okay , these , these , this is when I'm available , this is when I can meet you . No , I can't meet you . You know , at five o'clock I already have an appointment and it's okay . Like everybody , everybody , no matter if you're an agent or , or you know , a lawyer or you work in the service industry . We all have other commitments too , and that's okay and . But I think when I first started I didn't realize that and I was kind of running ragged , yeah yeah , it's hard .

Speaker 1 6:12

It's hard , and then it's almost like you need to get burned so many times until you're like , wait , something's not working .

Speaker 2 6:18

Yes , yes , and I'm not saying that occasionally , even now . Sometimes people will let you down , but it's not a thing that happens often , because you learn what questions to ask Qualify people . Yeah , and I think too honestly , kind of sometimes in this industry you have to trust your gut instincts too . What do you mean ? If something doesn't feel right or too good to be true , or it just doesn't feel right , it probably isn't , probably isn't yeah .

Speaker 1 6:49

Yeah , I mean , we get those photographers , we get these like little scans that will message our business line and it's like hi , sir slash , madame Looking for a photographer for my reunion will send over $15,000 prepayment , beforehand , of course . And I've got my coordinator that's like is this a real thing ? I'm like no , it's not , no , I've only right .

Speaker 2 7:14

I wish it was . No , I can't even tell you how many texts and calls our industry gets . It's a scam , but also just someone trying to sell you something , and I think that's important too . The shiny object syndrome Like , oh well , this shiny object will get me more clients because they offer X , Y and Z , and then you sign up and then you just spent several grand on something that really is not going to get you what you need . It's not as shiny as you thought it looked . Because it really is about relationships , I think .

Speaker 1 7:46

Yeah , yeah . So , speaking of relationships , how do you bring in clients ? How do you grow your business and

Real Estate, Marketing, and Future Plans

Speaker 1 7:53

your ?

Speaker 2 7:54

Well , I would say most of mine is either people I know or referrals or pasts people I've worked with in the past to buy or sell a home . So because I actually do like almost all of the people I've worked with I have liked I mean obviously occasionally you have someone like , wow , that was fun .

Speaker 1 8:14

Yeah , but wow , I learned a lot right .

Speaker 2 8:18

But I mean I really do and , like I have a lot of families . There are families . Sometimes they're going on to the next fun chapter where they're downsizing and traveling . Sometimes they're just buying the first home . So it's a really mixed bag of where people are in their life . But I like them and enjoy them and I keep in touch with them and I send them cards and I email them and take them little gifts and things like that . And it's not just because I don't want to . I mean , I want to do those things , I want to be involved , because it's about relationships and that's kind of a lot of what real estate is , yeah . So I think I don't think you have to be an extrovert to necessarily sell real estate , because I wouldn't say I'm a huge extrovert , but I think you have to do in some way like people , yeah , definitely , and enjoy them , not just during the process but , you know , get to know them .

Speaker 1 9:12

Well , so you do marketing too , though I've seen your social media . Okay , you do like video content and you do photo content .

Speaker 2 9:21

But it's a stretch for me . Yeah , I mean , I have to really be like okay , today's the day You're going to record something . It doesn't matter what it is , it's going to not be great and that's okay , just post it . I mean , really that's a ticket though . Yeah , I mean , and I think too it's . You do see a lot of people , whether it's this industry or another industry , their stuff is good . But then you have to remind yourself a lot of those people too are paying people to help them . Right , and that's great too , I think , if that's where you're at or if that's what you're comfortable with . But when you no-transcript not with the housing , with the marketing , when I have a house or a listing , obviously I hire someone to do that . But just the little videos on camera , I do them and it's okay , like as long as it's there , I've done it . Tell a lot of it as content too .

Speaker 1 10:08

If you're giving good quality content , nobody cares if it was filmed on a $20,000 camera or if it was filmed on a $1,000 iPhone . That's right .

Speaker 2 10:20

My iPhone .

Speaker 1 10:20

that probably needs to be updated , to be honest , but as long as the content is there and you're providing quality information and it's a good use of somebody's time to listen and nobody's gonna care .

Speaker 2 10:30

Yeah , I think that's the hardest part . I need a content and then you're like nobody cares about that , I'm not gonna post that , but they do right . But then you just do it and everything you watch and stuff like you post all the different marketing people out there just do it . Just do it Like don't be afraid , and I think people obviously get more used to it as they do it . But I think definitely there's people that are really good at it and people that you could tell , oh , they're nervous , like me . I watch them , I feel like I look nervous or I'm kind of struggling , but that's okay .

Speaker 1 11:02

I was gonna ask you how did it feel when you first started versus now , it's better .

Speaker 2 11:07

I mean , I've definitely gone back , schooled , way back on Instagram and Facebook and watched things I did four years ago and I'm like gosh , that was cringy , yeah , but I'm sure I'll say the same , you know , three years from now because who really ? I can't imagine people really enjoy watching themselves .

Speaker 1 11:28

What do I say to you , Lil ? For all my videos , when I'm like yes , I'm like I don't wanna watch it , I'm worse critic .

Speaker 2 11:36

So , oh , I didn't pronounce that correctly . Oh , I kind of saw my wear there , or just the sound of my voice . My eye looks lazy there , all my hair sticking out , but nobody else sees any of that stuff that you can think of . But really , are people noticing that ? I don't know , I don't think so I don't think people care . I think we think they care more than they do to be honest , Exactly , yeah , that's what I'm saying .

Speaker 1 11:59

until somebody is like wow , your lips look crusty , like nobody is gonna care about it . You know ?

Speaker 2 12:03

Yeah , I mean they could be thinking that I don't know , but they're never gonna tell me .

Speaker 1 12:08

So you know , ignorance is bliss , I guess , and when they do , that's how you know you're getting big enough to where complete strangers are commenting on your videos .

Speaker 2 12:16

Giving you negative feedback .

Speaker 1 12:18

Well , I don't think I've gotten there yet , so I keep working on it , and so you get a couple of those hater comments and you're like okay , I'm making it now . Yes , yes , that's what I tell myself at least .

Speaker 2 12:28

So that's difficult if you get those hater comments .

Speaker 1 12:32

I mean I don't think I have . They're strangers . That's the whole point Is they're strangers . They don't know you , it's no context . You know there's either jealousy or there's just plain out trolls . So I'm sure that's still tough for people .

Speaker 2 12:46

Yeah , it is . I'm not famous enough to have a hater .

Speaker 1 12:49

I'm not famous enough to have a hater . Keep posting . One day you'll get those troll comments too . That's a goal In terms of growing your business . Where do you see yourself in five years ?

Speaker 2 13:01

Oh my gosh . So I asked if I could have a list of questions before it started , and they were like no .

Speaker 1 13:08

It's conversational . You can literally be like I have no freaking idea . We'll see where I end up .

Speaker 2 13:13

So in five years I'll have one child already graduated in college Is that exciting , Are you like ?

Speaker 2 13:20

yes , you're right , it's so bittersweet . Okay , kids growing up is bittersweet , but I don't think you realize it's bittersweet until you get through , like the elementary school age , because elementary school they're so little . They still want you , they still need you , they're still , you know , they're just , it's just different , right , but they also still need you a lot and you're always on . You always have to watch them , you always have to make sure they're , you know , brushing their teeth , things like that . But when you kind of get to that teenage years , they're self-sufficient . So , yeah , well , to an extent . I mean their clothes are still everywhere and , you know , not cleaning up their rooms , but they can get themselves dressed . They get off to school , you know , they do their homework , you know it's they're their own people now and they're figuring out their own way , and so they don't need you as much in that regard , except for when they need to ride .

Speaker 1 14:15

Yes , all the time .

Speaker 2 14:16

So I think that's when it becomes better sweep , because you realize I've already had a lot of last times with them , right ? So and then ? So in three well , in three years , my daughter will graduate , but my son is in eighth grade , so in five years he will be graduating in Gopta College . So I will be essentially an empty and nester and I'll be like I'll be a wreck at home . That's what I'll be doing . I think initially I will . But the question is , what am I going to do with all my free time ? Cause now , if I'm not working , going to visit them If I'm not working , yeah , or maybe occasionally doing something fun with friends or someone . I'm doing something for them , right ? So what ? What is that going to look like ? And we haven't had time without children , and it'll be well . By then it'll be 21 years . So I don't remember what I did with my free time 21 years ago .

Speaker 2 15:11

They'll be figuring out like who you are . So I think a lot of five years from now will be a lot of that Like what hobbies can I do , what you know ? As far as work is related , I mean , I hope to still be working . You know , my goal is to always help 18 to 20 families a year . More is great , but that's I work on my own Meaning .

Speaker 2 15:33

I , although I'm part of a team , our team is different and cool in the way that you can be your own person . So you can . If you want to use , you know , different colors , as long as you have the logo , you can . You can market yourself the way you feel comfortable , which I love . So but so I don't have necessarily an assistant icon , which is not necessarily a good thing . But I again the control part of me comes out , so I do kind of everything myself . So I tend to only like that 18 to 20 clients a year , just because I can manage that myself . I think once you get past that point you kind of have to start . That's a little bit of a team , yeah , a team with just administrative work really . So I'm not opposed to it , I just it's more of . I need to let go of the control aspect of it .

Speaker 1 16:23

Or do you want to , or do you like you know what I mean ?

Speaker 2 16:26

Yeah , I know I have been times where I've like parts where all of a sudden everybody at once wants to sell or buy and I get busy . You know can bring a transaction cornmeal around to do a few files for me , but in general I will process all that myself , yeah .

Speaker 1 16:42

And there's nothing wrong with that . That's what I tell people . I'm like sometimes when things are crazy at the studio crazy meaning we're busy , but then something's off with the team and so I'm now having to play HR or trainer or you know like , and it gets crazy . I just think it would be so much simpler if I was just a one person show again .

Speaker 1 17:05

Like I dream about I love you , lil . It's never you , okay , but you do think about that Like gosh . Things were simpler in the beginning , where if there was a mess up it's cause I did it and I get to 100% control it . But I will say I am so grateful for my team and it's amazing to be able to look at the schedule and be like , okay , I'm only coming in on Wednesdays and Fridays for these amazing podcasts and then everything else the team is 100% handling .

Speaker 2 17:34

You know , I mean it sounds great . I mean how could you not like that ? No , I get it . And I think that it really depends on the person and what their goals are . I mean , I've even been to conferences with agents who do crazy amount of business and one girl was like I don't know something . Like I sell $40 million real estate a year and I do it all by myself . I don't have an assistant . And everybody was like what Do you sell $5 million homes ? Yeah , like you have no assistant . And then you hear of people who do the same and like , oh no , I have a transaction and I have this .

Speaker 2 18:10

So I really just think it depends on the person and their comfort level . I mean , sometimes people don't really like you know managing people , so that's maybe not their thing . So it really just depends , I think . And honestly I feel like I'm more I am more . The busier I am , the better I am Meaning I get more done when I'm busy . If I'm slow , I actually become lazy and I do less stuff , and I know that sounds crazy , but if I'm like slammed , I feel like I can just knock out things .

Speaker 1 18:45

It's such a weird brain-bind thing that goes on Nothing and the kids are with their dad . I'm like so lazy and I'm so disappointed at how much didn't get done , versus like when the kids are with me and I've got like things to do , I'll get all those things done , plus fit in like five extra projects .

Speaker 2 19:07

Yeah , no , I know it's , it is I mean , but I do think that sometimes it's good to have a weekend where you just watch Netflix and maybe go shopping .

Speaker 1 19:17

You know .

Speaker 2 19:18

I think that that's good for everybody , no matter who you are , because you do need those breaks , true ? Because I think living around here we it's a little bit of a rat race and you know , kids doing a billion things , you're trying to do a billion things and then sometimes you're like I just need today not to do anything . So that's okay too . But I think when work gets slow you do kind of have that Like okay , now I feel like I'm not doing enough and it's hard to get that momentum going .

Speaker 1 19:48

So Do you have a morning routine , like a special morning routine ? I'm not a morning person . You look like I get up at 11 , aliyah .

Speaker 2 19:55

Oh , I wish . No , I actually don't sleep super late , but I'm not a morning , but I don't get . I'm not a oh . I get up at 4 am and I write my journal and I have my coffee and I exercise . I want to be that person Like I . If someone said whether there's something you want to change about yourself , that would be it . I have tried it . I . I hate it . I hate it . It makes me miserable . I'm like why am I doing something that's supposed to make me like be more productive and happy ? And I'm just kind of dismissible . So no , I am not .

Speaker 2 20:24

I don't have a huge morning routine Right now . My biggest root , biggest rule is because I only have three more three more years with my daughter before she's off doing college or whatever , wherever life takes her , and only five more years with my son . Is that in the mornings , I even though they do not need my help they probably don't care that I make sure I'm okay . Do you have your lunch ? Do you have this ? Even if I just sit there while they eat and they don't speak , that's okay , I am present . So that is really my goal right now . My mornings , I mean , obviously I check my emails and I'll start a little laundry . You know , sometimes if there's still showering I'll take a quick walk , like things like that . But I don't have a strict like . This is everything I want to get done before seven am .

Speaker 1 21:13

Yeah .

Speaker 2 21:13

I just was like that's my priority , and then I just sprinkle in what needs to be . I want to get going for that day , yeah .

Speaker 1 21:21

Yeah , that sounds like such a nice morning routine .

Speaker 2 21:24

I mean I feel like when I say it , people are like , oh , she's lazy , but I'm not lazy

Health and Empathy in Society

Speaker 2 21:29

. No , I'm actually . You know , I wish I could be more of a night owl , but I think with life right now it doesn't allow me to stay up . But so late , yeah , and my husband gets up early to work out , so he's really great . He goes at like 5.45 . So he's a morning person , yeah , but , and he's like you should get up and go to him , like I should , you're right , like I totally should , but I don't .

Speaker 1 21:53

Yeah , no , I think it's great . I think it's great because you've got your priorities and you work on that and everyone's got their routine that helps them become the most productive person . Yeah , yeah , yeah . So he just gave permission to people , though that don't have that morning routine , to be like okay , it's okay .

Speaker 2 22:12

You know Like you don't have to , and there's plenty of people who are very successful that don't get up before I am . You don't have to get up before I am to be successful . That's right .

Speaker 1 22:22

I agree yeah .

Speaker 2 22:23

This is what I tell myself , okay .

Speaker 1 22:26

So , in terms of before we wrap things up , is there anything in your life that's happened , where it's helped , shaped you to be who you are today ? Hmm , or anything that you learned ? Aka , like I always say , learn like something bad's happened , right , and I'm like well .

Speaker 2 22:44

That's how you learn when something bad happens unfortunately , I think , for me . So I've had major health issues in the past , so I think not that it was a good thing at the time . But I think what it taught me that is , your health is the one of the most important things you can have and that it taught me to be a little bit more empathetic or sympathetic to people , because I think , as we all get very busy , you know everybody has something going on in their life , but sometimes they don't share it . I mean , I didn't even share some of the things I was going through with people so they didn't know . But I think now when people tell me something , I'm like that sucks . I'm so sorry that happened to you . You know , can I take you to coffee ? You want to go do something just to get your mind off of it ? Whereas before not that I wouldn't have felt empathy or sympathetic for their situation , I just might not have acknowledged it , if that makes sense A hundred percent .

Speaker 2 23:49

So I think I did not like going through that , but I think that it made me realize your health and you know , being empathetic to someone or sympathetic based on what they have going on in their life is really important , and I think unfortunately I was just telling , I think I was telling my husband this we were talking about this the other day I think that that's lacking in general in society right now . Which kind of stinks , what do you mean ? So just I think overall , I think and I don't think people mean it to be that way , but I just think we are so busy and we're so wrapped up that we sometimes I'm still guilty of it don't take a step back and look at what's going on with their neighbor , their friend or whoever is in their life to realize , oh gosh , I think they actually need some help , whatever that may be .

Speaker 1 24:41

And I don't mean to blame it on social media , but I think social media has a big play in that , because I feel like I know everything about everybody by doing a quick scroll on Facebook , but here's the thing nobody actually shares what's going on in their life .

Speaker 2 24:54

Mostly it's the happy stuff , right , and occasionally people will say I just want to let you know I have cancer , things like that . But I think for the most part we're all sharing the happy things because nobody really wants to go online and share all the awful things that are happening to them . And I think , too , just social media in general has made us disconnect a little bit , because when you read about it versus your friend telling it to you to your face , it's a whole lot different . Or , if you agree , you can see the look on their face .

Speaker 1 25:30

You can see that their eyes , or what are it ? What's really going on ?

Speaker 2 25:34

Yeah , Whereas if they just text it to you , you might be like , oh , that stinks , but you don't realize how much it's affecting them because you haven't heard their voice , we haven't seen them in person . I agree , yeah , social media is definitely . I have a love-hate relationship with it . Personally , I think if I didn't do what I did , I wouldn't be on social media , I mean .

Speaker 1 25:55

I actually really hate it . We're all outing about how great it is .

Speaker 2 26:00

I mean , I think , there are some wonderful things . I think we have so many resources now and we know what's going on with the world , but sometimes it's a little bit overwhelming . And I think the younger kids it's really top four , because I don't think that . I think there have gotten on too soon and I think it's not necessarily a great thing for them . I wish honestly there was a law which I know there can't be a law about this but nobody under 16 and be on social media .

Speaker 1 26:31

Well , they need to know what life is like without social media . We know what it's like without social media .

Speaker 2 26:35

I know what it's like without even having a cell phone . I mean my kids still don't can't grasp that . Well , you played video games and we had a Nintendo and you had the cart . I mean it was like a whole thing . It's not like what you are experiencing . And I was like cell phone . I think I had a cell phone my freshman year of college and it was like the huge , you know , flip out one . I was like you could call in text . That was like the extent of it .

Speaker 1 27:02

It was like fancy when your parent got a car that had the phone in it . Did you guys ever get one of those ? Oh , we never had that old style phone .

Speaker 2 27:10

I know what you're talking about , though no , we never . We weren't that fancy and I just , you know , I tried to . You know , tell them I can't speak , even have internet . I mean , there was a dial up thing . I think my friend had my senior year , but we didn't have it at our house . It wasn't a thing , that was like 96 , 97 . Number AOL . Yes , did you see ? They knocked it down , it's crazy .

Speaker 1 27:32

I heard it . What are they putting out there ? A data center ? Yeah , that's what I heard . I didn't see it .

Speaker 2 27:36

I heard it though .

Speaker 1 27:39

Yeah , it's like a whole , I think , data campus there . Yeah , it's after , it's after . Well , thank you so much for being on the show today . This was fun . Did you see that right Conversation ? It was easy , got it . See you in business .