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Richie Alan Naggar, agent & author  (people first...then business Ran Right Realty )

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Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I'm in the "Don't count your chickens til the hatch" camp.  It is not mine until it is in my bank account.

Jul 11, 2022 03:18 AM
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Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

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.

Jul 10, 2022 07:00 PM
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John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

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."

Jul 10, 2022 05:20 PM
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

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. 

 

Jul 10, 2022 04:41 PM
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Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

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. 

Jul 10, 2022 04:36 PM
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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Typically no, but if I have a larger purchase planned I may wait until COE to make it.

Jul 10, 2022 04:42 PM
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

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.

Jul 11, 2022 04:21 AM
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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

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.

Jul 11, 2022 04:01 AM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

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.

Jul 10, 2022 08:39 PM
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Karen Climer
Demetree School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL
Teaching people to pass the real estate exam

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.)

Jul 10, 2022 05:19 PM
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Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I learned early on not to do that.  I don't count my chickens until they hatch, haha.

Jul 11, 2022 04:46 AM
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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

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.

Jul 11, 2022 03:46 AM
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Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

NO. I always figured that's a good way to jinx the deal.

Jul 11, 2022 05:23 AM
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Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

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. 

Jul 11, 2022 04:40 AM
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Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

No I have not spent money before it's earned. I have spent it as soon as it's earned though!

Jul 11, 2022 04:33 AM
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Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

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.

Jul 11, 2022 05:29 AM
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Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

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.

Jul 11, 2022 06:49 AM
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Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Nope! It's never done until it's done done and done.

Jul 11, 2022 06:24 AM
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Greg Large
ERA Real Solutions - Grove City, OH
A Tradition of Trust

mentally? yes. actually? never ever never. a transaction isn't over until the funds are in the sellers hands, and mine.

Jul 11, 2022 05:56 AM
Rainmaker
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Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

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?

Jul 11, 2022 05:41 AM
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Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I fortunate to be in a position that a closing doesn't affect my economic situation or spending habits.

Jul 10, 2022 10:13 PM
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Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

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.

Jul 11, 2022 10:05 AM
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

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.

Jul 11, 2022 09:46 AM
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Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Never!  After this many years in the biz, I know better!  

Jul 11, 2022 07:15 AM
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J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

I don’t have to…my SO already has it spent…when I am showing buying clients property.

Jul 11, 2022 05:34 PM
Rainer
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Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

mentally yes, but never actually.  Been seeing an ad for commission advance company... uh no thanks.

Jul 11, 2022 09:39 AM
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

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 😳.

Jul 11, 2022 02:09 PM
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Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I guess I always wait till the check is in my hand before I would spend it.

 

Jul 11, 2022 10:23 AM
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Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

No, I do not count my chicks before they are hatched (as they say...).

Jul 13, 2022 06:26 AM
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Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

No. I do not. I've seen agents fall into this trap too many times. 

Jul 12, 2022 07:24 AM
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Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

I don't think anyone - including sellers and buyers - should ever count on anything until the property actually closes.

Jul 11, 2022 10:50 AM