Every real estate agent has a first deal.
Some are smooth.
Some are memorable.
Mine was memorable… for all the wrong reasons.
I had been licensed for less than six months. I still had that “new agent smell,” a fresh stack of business cards, and the confidence that only someone who doesn’t yet know what they don’t know can have. In my mind, I was well on my way to becoming Laramie’s next real estate superstar.
My very first listing was a rental property at 2062 Franklin Street in Laramie, Wyoming. The sellers were friends whose kids attended the University of Wyoming, and I was certain this transaction would be simple. We’d put it on the market, find a buyer, close the deal, and I’d be home in time for dinner feeling like a seasoned professional.
That is… not how it went.
Looking back, I had no clue what I was doing. My entire business plan consisted of smiling confidently, nodding a lot, and hoping nobody asked me a question I couldn’t answer.
Then came closing week.
Because my timing has always been impeccable, my wife and I had scheduled our baby moon… in Hawaii.
Yes, while my very first real estate transaction was entering the most important stage, I was 3,300 miles away trying to decide whether my next tropical drink should come in a coconut or a pineapple.
Back in Wyoming, the agent on the other side of the transaction, Darla, was doing just about everything.
She was coordinating paperwork, tracking down signatures, keeping everyone on schedule, navigating inspections, negotiating repairs, and probably making a few miracles happen behind the scenes. I’m fairly certain she was also inventing several new names to call me that aren’t appropriate for a family-friendly blog.
And somehow…
The deal closed.
Despite my best efforts to unintentionally derail it, everyone made it to the finish line.
Fast forward to today, and Darla and I work in the same office.
She’s an outstanding agent, and she has never let me forget that first transaction.
Every so often she’ll grin and say, “Remember your first deal? The one I basically closed while you were in Hawaii on your baby moon? I thought you were going to be a terrible agent.”
Thanks, Darla Koenig!
I deserved that.
The truth is, every experienced agent has stories from the beginning of their career that make them laugh—and maybe cringe—a little. Mine just happens to involve Hawaii, a very patient fellow agent, and a healthy dose of beginner’s luck.
Thankfully, I’ve learned a lot since then.
These days, my clients can count on me to be present, prepared, and involved every step of the way. (And for the record, I no longer schedule Hawaiian vacations during closing week.)
As for Darla… thanks for helping a rookie survive his first transaction. I probably owe you more than a few lunches.
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