Carla Higgins, a top producing real estate agent with over 18 years of experience, shares how her passion for real estate led her to become an award-winning professional.
Carla Higgins is an award winning real estate agent from Oakland, who has years of home selling experience. She believes that there’s nothing more satisfying than helping people find their dream home. Carla puts in the time and effort into identifying each client’s needs and designs a plan for each individual on how they can achieve their goals. She has been a consistent performer since 2000 and today, she shares with us the secrets to her success in the real estate industry. Check out Carla’s exclusive interview with PropertySpark below!
When did you start your career in real estate?
I am a mother of 3 wonderful girls. I have run a marathon on all 7 continents. I am the host of the YOUOWNIT podcast a podcast for the real estate community.
Please also in 2 short lines brag about yourself, if you really had to impress someone about what you do, what would you say?
I moved to the Bay area after graduating from The Ohio State University and realized how much more expensive rents were in the Bay than Ohio. So I bought my first property within a year and a half of moving here. I held on to it for 7 years and made over $200K. So I netted around $30K each year I lived in my condo and it fascinated me on the importance of buying real estate. I have been working in real estate, full time, for 18 years so I have experienced all different cycles and understand the importance of not trying to time the market. I was told a quote I believe in… “You do not wait to buy real estate, you buy real estate and wait.”
Comparing your business from back then to now, what has been the main thing that allowed you to expand your business?
I think educating myself on market trends and technology and understanding the importance of negotiating. My clients work with me because of the knowledge I provide.
What’s the most profitable aspect of your business, why do you think this is and how can others apply this to what they are doing?
I think running my career as a business and having systems in place is really key. Having a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly schedule is key. Also, I don’t focus on making money I focus on providing a service for my clients.
How Do You Work: (Do you wake up early, work late, communicate, what jobs do you do yourself, who do you talk to etc)?
I wake up every morning between 4:45 and 5:00, I exercise and focus on my most important tasks first. I talk to my clients, vendors and colleagues everyday. Communication is vital in real estate. I also provide calendar schedules for my escrows so there are not many questions along the way of what is happening when.
When did you realize you were successful/made it and how did you feel/celebrate?
When my clients refer me to their friends and family and call me when they are ready to buy or sell. That is a motivator for me to always provide the best service.
Looking back, what could you have done sooner to get to that point quicker?
Building proper systems so I did not have to recreate each time. Hiring others that are better than me such as someone to handle my disclosures, write my ad copy and do the many things that take up my time when I can be focusing on knowing the inventory and helping my clients.
What should other real estate entrepreneurs reading this be focusing on to expand their own business?
I think talking to experienced successful agents is so important. As the saying goes, success leaves clues… also, getting a coach.
What do you consider the main differences between those people who have been successful in your industry and those who have failed?
I think real estate can be very tough mentally. We see our clients at their best and their absolute worst. The agents who can bounce back the quickest from adversity are generally the most successful…also, being focused and time management. A lot of people say they are busy but if they are focused on the wrong things they will not be successful.
How has social media and online marketing affected your real estate business? How much more success have you had now after implementing social media and online marketing efforts?
Social media has enabled me to reach a wider audience. Most people are on social media so it is important to be visible and active on this platform. There are so many different real estate websites that it can be overwhelming for clients to get the correct information. Not everyone can be on every website but the vast majority of people, especially in the tech savvy Bay Area are on social media.
Our goal is to introduce you to the real estate leaders in North America. We hope this article has helped you to become a successful real estate agent and top producing real estate professional in your market. We invite you to reach out to Carla Higgins for an exceptional experience in buying or selling real estate in Oakland!
Check out Carla Higgins’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaHigginsRealtor/
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