It’s Father’s Day, and Inman is celebrating the weekend with stories from agents and brokers about how their fathers shaped their lives and careers, and their favorite parts of being dads in real estate. We know that neckties, power drills or rare 18-year-aged whiskey will never be sufficient “thank yous” for everything that fathers do, but passing on their advice is one nice way to honor the great dads out there.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from your dad?
“What didn’t I learn from my dad? While he was never in real estate, he sure did teach me a lot about teaching and being a leader. Funny thing is he has probably taught me more in the 18 years since he died that I realized when he was alive.” — Sean Carpenter, Realtor at Coldwell Banker King Thompson.
“My father’s advice was to get into real estate. I was just leaving the military and my dad was ill and he was a very small builder and had just become a broker a year before he got ill. And that was the best advice ever, to actually go into real estate.” — Gary Rodgers, broker/owner at Re/Max On The Charles.
“Dad was the most honest person I’ve ever known. Brutally honest. I never heard him tell a lie. If you didn’t want an honest, truthful opinion, it was probably best not to ask him. He wasn’t the most tactful person, but you always knew exactly where you stood with him. I find myself being the exact way in my real estate career. If I notice a potential objection in a home on the initial listing appointment, I’ll bring it to the seller’s attention immediately. I try to be more tactful than dad, but I won’t sugarcoat it either.” — Tom Grisak, broker associate/Realtor at The Grisak Group.
“My dad was very optimistic and I have that same quality.” — Gary Gold, executive vice president, Hilton & Hyland.
“My dad taught me to never stop learning. He was a constant reader and learner. His library was full of books about self-improvement. I look back at bookshelves and I have similar books that my dad used to have like classics from Dale Carnegie, as well as newer authors like Tim Ferriss and Gary Vaynerchuk.” — Alex Wang, Realtor at Alex Wang Group.
“My dad taught me that everything and everyone matters and to always, above all else be kind.” — Nikki Beauchamp, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at Engel & Völkers NYC.
What are you doing to celebrate Father’s Day this year?
“Same thing I do every year on Father’s Day. I’ll play golf early and then I’ll go to the cemetery and sit with my dad and drink a beer by his grave. It’s my favorite beer of the year.” — Carpenter.
“Grilling. I am a great cook and a control freak so I like to be in charge.” — Gold.
“I’m currently in Orange County visiting family and friends. Nothing special, just good quality family and friend time. Can’t get enough of that, especially in this business.” -—Wang.
“This year after a recent loss — 4 weeks ago mom died, they were married over 57 years — I’m traveling with my dad. As I typed this we are leaving Scottsdale now and heading to Vegas before back to NYC.” — Beauchamp.
What’s the best part about being a real estate dad?
“Working hard and showing my children that building relationships, solving problems, and having fun is a great way to go through life. The vacations and golf outings and other things that come as a result of the hard work are nice too.” — Carpenter.
“I had a strict rule that I would drop the kids off at school, which was usually early, and I would be there every day when they got off the bus at 3 p.m. That was the best part of real estate. And I rarely missed any of their sporting events. It’s the extreme flexibility, if you want to be there you can.” — Rodgers.
“Flexibility… I’m able to spend a few days a week walking my kids into school in the mornings without having to ‘hurry into work.’ I also coached basketball for my two boys and this past season have been able to attend most of the baseball games and dance events this season.” – Wang.
