21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me: Practical Advice for New Real Estate Professionals.

When I purchased this book, I never expected it to be so good! I am a new Real Estate agent after years of selling in other fields. This book gave me the confidence to know that my instincts were correct. The author imparts his information through real life agent stories, expert opinions and anecdotes, all of which are easy to read and understand. The lack of jargon makes the book very accessible to all. You need this book if you are a new agent, experienced agent or even considering getting into Real Estate.

I am 1 month fresh out of Licensing class and I bought this book once I signed on with an agency. I have already sold my first home using the information and techniques this author mentions. This is the best straight-forward, NO BS, full of usefull information, Book I have ever read. If you are still wondering if u should spend the money to buy the book, stop contemplating NOW and purchase the book. It doesnt matter if the book is NEW or USED, it has the same information and is the best investment a "Fresh out of Licensing Class" agent can buy. All Real Estate Authors need to take a writing lesson from Frank Cook.

This is the first book you should read if considering entering into real estate. Some of the personal stories are scarey yet true, but are important to face before entering a new career.A lot of other books are "rah, rah, you can do it" hype. This is one book that speaks about the sucesses and failures from a personal perspective. I have now read it twice once for pleasure and once to take notes! This book really does speak of the things your broker will never tell you.

I would have to agree that this is a great no-nonsense book for anyone interested or involved in Real Estate to any degree. I would go further and recommend it for anyone interested in business in general. It has lots of useful and truthful information and you don't have to specifically be in the field of Real Estate to benefit from it. This book will let you know if Real Estate is for you, or that it is not for you. It will tell you what you can expect and what you will need to pay attention to in order to be successful. Even if you are just a curious outsider, you will gleen some insight into the realities that Realtors and business people in general face. It's a book that is easy to read, formatted well, priced right and even entertaining. Equally beneficial for Realtors already in the busines, those studying for their license, people wanting to buy or sell a home, or lost unemployed souls like me who don't know what the heck to do to make money.

I am a liccensed CA Real Estate Broker. I ordered the book after I had read a positive review about the book from newspaper real estate columnist/investor/attorney, Robert Bruss. Bruss has never steered me wrong, and I highly respect his opinions.This book is the MOST straightforward, no BS, book I have read yet about any aspect of the business. I tip my hat to the author, who himself is a real estate columnist, for digging up the information... The truths are universal in this business (which is scary/weird), but I feel that anyone who is starting out in this business MUST read this book so you know what to expect, as I cannot think of any other business that chews up and spits out people so quickly. I imagine some will buy it looking for a way to riches, which this book is NOT about. It is about understanding how the business really works and what to expect, thereby giving one an edge against any disappointment and discouragement a "green" agent will surely feel in the first 18 months of this business. The dropout rate is high, and I think the author offers much encouragement. There has been so much stuff written about selling real estate, and all the "pump up" stuff to keep one motivated, but this book is not about that at all. This book would make an excellent gift to anyone who just passed their Real Estate test and is willing to take the plunge into a business where, quite frankly, every day that you wake up, you are seeking work! After reading it, you won't feel so distraught at the bumpy road which lies ahead. I'm sure even seasoned vets of the business would appreciate it, and may find themselves chuckling to themselves as they are reminded of the many hard lessons that were learned -and there will be many- as the book points out, or perhaps I should say, the book says "Look Out!"I read it in one evening, as it entertains the reader as well. Well done, Mr. Cook, and thank you for approaching a subject that I think few have touched upon. Your organization of the subject matter seems well thought out. The one underlying theme which he displays in various interviews with Realtors is one must certainly rely on hard work, rather than luck (we all know the stories about stepping out for a $4.95 sandwich, only to lose a $20,000 commission to the one agent who answered the phone), to make it. Plus, thank you for mentioning that this is a misunderstood profession, in the eyes of the public, and calling upon all agents to act professionally, and putting the client's needs before our own.Buy it, read it, and good luck to all the new agents out there. Office managers: make this required reading for new agents and you'll save yourself a lot of hand holdiing...