stephenbiggans
stephenbiggans
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Feb 2, 2017 (9 years) |
- | 1 | 0 |
- Forum role
- Member
- Member since
Feb 2, 2017 (9 years)
- Last activity
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- Topics created
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Bio
I am a Realtor who was raised in Meadowbrook, Montgomery County and have resided in Fairmount for the past five years. I graduated with High Honors from The University of Pennsylvania, having studied related-areas such as Housing Markets, Urban Real Estate Economics, Marketing, Statistics, and Property Law.
As a Realtor and perennial student of the Real Estate industry and Housing Markets in Philadelphia, I am constantly in pursuit of epitomizing the agent who is best at his craft. To do so, I provide that which each and every client should look for in an agent: someone who acts exclusively in their interest and adds tangible value to a client. I am passionate about the market, the personal relationships that ensue, and the excitement of absorbing all the nuances of the business: from pricing, to inventory, to statistics. The very best agents and investors are those who fully recognize that a strong grasp of the mathematical fundamentals are what generate the best return. Bad agents, mediocre agents, and even good agents do not always understand the importance of this. That's what separates the good from the great. Greatness is achieved over time and is sustained by consistency, knowing the numbers, and having the intrinsic drive to always be learning.
Honesty and integrity are the other cornerstones of the value I provide. I'm personable and adept at negotiations, yet unabashed in telling every client when their expectations are not in line with the market or reality more generally. One of the greatest disservices an agent can do for a client is to lead them to believe that they can "sell" or do what no one else can. Numbers and financials tell the tale. I wouldn't waste a client's time, or my own quite frankly, on unsubstantiable expectations. Those are merely "pipe dreams." My client's goals and my goals must align. It is a singular, shared path to the purchase or sale of a property at the best price.
With that said, I'll also add that, as a fan and student of History at UPENN, I love what Calvin Coolidge once said and mostly rings true to me; "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." I agree to an extent, however, when persistence, determination, education, and talent align, very little is left to chance. Good things thus abound.
My Thoughts on Experience
Admittedly, I am not someone who has spent 20+ years in the industry, however, I am not new to knowledge of the business and the importance of fostering lasting relationships with those who can challenge and make me better. My education has emphasized Real Estate, trending local markets, Statistics, and negotiations, all of which translate into the tangible skill-sets which I offer my clients. I love to learn and it is wonderful when a client is actively engaged in the process. I encourage this. Everyone can and should try to be better than the day before. In what is sure to be one of the greatest financial investments a person will ever make, it is essential to be informed. I am my clients' devoted and unwavering fiduciary, but knowledge is power. No one is a better advocate than oneself. I am not afraid to admit when there is something I do not know, but I will always acknowledge it and find the correct course of action. I have the luxury of good networks and I learn from the very best. In my experience, clients respect this trait and I respect it in others.
My time in law school taught me two very important lessons in life, apropos to the world of Real Estate Sales and Sales more generally. In the vast sea of agents, I am often amazed by a certain truth that in many situations, sometimes those who speak the most are in fact the ones who say the least. I'm also self-aware and the irony behind this given the length of this manifesto. While confidence is key in Sales, there is a fine line between confidence and off-putting self-aggrandizement. I pride myself on my humility. The most brilliant people I have ever known are the ones who know just how much more there is left to learn and have a thirst for more.
Truly, above ALL else, my motivation is to add value to those I serve. The personal satisfaction that I derive from this provides a level of fulfillment far more valuable than any commission check. This is what it means to be a commensurate professional in my estimation.
I love this quote by Warren Buffett, the greatest investor and one of the most generous philanthropists of all time. His quotation below epitomizes my philosophy on both business and life.
"It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently."
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