

1,472,626
I'm in the "Don't count your chickens til the hatch" camp. It is not mine until it is in my bank account.
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Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Greg Large
Grove City, OH
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
1,126,159
No, I don't even think about that. I'm superstitious and afraid that if I think about it, I will jinx the deal and it will fall through.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Greg Large
Grove City, OH
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Susan Emo
Kingston, ON
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
1,512,065
When I negotiated my first ever contact, I was excited. I told my wife and she was even more excited...thinking about the money that would be available to be spent. I told her not to make any plans since the money would not be ours until escrowed closed...in a month or so...assuming that it did close...which is not guaranteed.
What I said to her was, "It is not over until the Fat Lady sings!"
Also, "It's not over until it's over."
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Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
3,467,985
That is a Big. Hard. NO. for me Richie Alan Naggar
I am more of a saver than a spending consumer.
Funds are wired to my bank and the investments are made.
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Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Phoenix, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
2,197,925
It's not over until it's over. Best not to spend any money until it's in your hands or your bank! On that same note, I would never use one of those services that pay advance commissions... too many things can happen and I'm sure that service comes at a price.
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Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Karen Climer
Orlando, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
1,555,070
Typically no, but if I have a larger purchase planned I may wait until COE to make it.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
5,473,314
I learned a long time ago not to do that. In fact, I even hate calculating my commission for my brokerage's pending contract paperwork... I feel like I might be jinxing the deal.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
5,639,235
In the old days, no spending until the commission check cleared. Now, when the bank says I have good funds. Spend before you have it is a disaster in the making.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
6,847,525
When I was young and getting started it was a monthy challenge to make sure the kids were fed, the mortgage paid and the employees paid. At this stage each month involved frantic strategizing over which clients would pay on time, and how many it would take to keep us afloat.
As I get older this has not been much of a problem and I can deal with other issues that are more growth based and less about monthly survival.
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Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
196,289
Mentally? Yes. I try not to, but I think all of us occasionally think, "I'll buy that after I get that commission check..."
But I have always said that the deal isn't finished until the check clears the bank. (I guess I'm showing my age a little with that phrase, but that's what I've always said.)
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Karen Climer
Orlando, FL
5,135,779
I learned early on not to do that. I don't count my chickens until they hatch, haha.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Greg Large
Grove City, OH
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
2,315,204
The best time to get into real estate is when every sale requires lots of hard work and nothing taken for granted. Tough markets early on or growing up taught to go easy does it on the spending cools the impulse to spend spend spend. Live small, save for the possibility a listing sale falls through or there is a delay in the real estate commission income conveyor belt.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
942,689
NO. I always figured that's a good way to jinx the deal.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Alan May
Evanston, IL
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
885,037
I definitely am aware that it's not over until ALL are walking out of the closing room with checks in hand.... Until then, I'm cautiously optimistic.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
2,653,016
No I have not spent money before it's earned. I have spent it as soon as it's earned though!
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
2,142,780
When I was a newer agent (back in the Cretaceous period) it was hard not to think about upcoming commissions, but I was careful to never spend them ahead of schedule.
I had a colleague (who started at the same time I did... another dinosaur), and he made regular use of the "advance-me-my-commish" businesses, and he paid a pretty penny for their use. One time, he took the advance, and the deal fell apart and the closing never happened. It was not pretty, and was quite costly.
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Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Phoenix, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
1,661,575
Nope, it taints your service and negotiating if you do. I believe the beauty of my 23 years in this career is the patience I've developed and not living check to check (anymore). Those were the rookie mistakes you mention.
I never think about the commission, just the closing. My checks sit on my desk up to week sometimes after I get them until I can get to the bank.
Now, I will confess, when I closed that $5 Million Dollar deal last year, I did do the math, but it was a very long escrow and a lot of work - more than I'd ever experienced in a single escrow - so I used it as a way to smile through the extra due diligence demands and the many, many buyer requests.
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Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,125,568
Nope! It's never done until it's done done and done.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
687,897
mentally? yes. actually? never ever never. a transaction isn't over until the funds are in the sellers hands, and mine.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
921,504
I don't spend ahead but I do plan ahead.
My next 'reward myself' treat will be ANAP TR-004 4Bay Raid expansion enclosure with 2 4TB SATA cards.
Who doesn't WANT more than they need?
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Greg Large
Grove City, OH
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
803,379
I fortunate to be in a position that a closing doesn't affect my economic situation or spending habits.
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Shayne Stone
Fulshear, TX
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
697,890
I even had one deal close and thought, now I can celebrate. The investor the held the seller's note decided, even though I followed all their rules on a short sale, they were not going to release the lien unless I returned my commission. It was not right, but I could not afford to hurt the seller so I returned my commission. I learned that day that no commission is 100% safe.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
3,714,653
No I don't and haven't in years. It's not about a commission to me it's about getting it closed smoothly for a client and that is my marker.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
6,110,383
Never! After this many years in the biz, I know better!
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
477,626
I don’t have to…my SO already has it spent…when I am showing buying clients property.
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
437,393
mentally yes, but never actually. Been seeing an ad for commission advance company... uh no thanks.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Ray Henson
Goodyear, AZ
2,605,335
I have NEVER spent the birds in the bush Richie Alan Naggar even as a young man with a regular hourly pay job. That being said I once had a wife who always spent ahead. She had to go 😳.
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
5,358,095
I guess I always wait till the check is in my hand before I would spend it.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
938,575
No, I do not count my chicks before they are hatched (as they say...).
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
946,981
No. I do not. I've seen agents fall into this trap too many times.
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
783,622
I don't think anyone - including sellers and buyers - should ever count on anything until the property actually closes.
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA