America loves a good come-from-behind story, especially when that story involves a lot of blood, sweat and tears along the way. We’re a country famous for falling down, dusting ourselves off, and getting back up again. Some of our most beloved national heroes and celebrities have failed and bounced back. Michael Jordan, for example, was cut from his high school basketball team. Championship boxers routinely get up from the mat—they never gave up, and neither should you.

Real estate can be a tough business, and you’re bound to lose a sale now and again. We’ve all been there; showing 50 homes to a client only to have them pick none of them. What matters more than the loss is how you put that past failure behind you and bring a winning attitude to your next client interaction.

Accept responsibility for the loss

In sports, the refs made a bad call or miss some of the action. The same goes for real estate. Sometimes it seems your clients missed an obvious opportunity on a property, or a fellow REALTOR® might misinterpret your communications. Still, it’s up to you to evaluate your own practices and ask tough questions about why a certain property hasn’t sold or about your own practices. After you evaluate, admit your mistakes. Instead of stewing, take each loss as a learning opportunity and move forward.

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