303 of 307 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too much fluff, July 28, 2002
This review is from: Your First Year in Real Estate: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional (Paperback)
I'm not really sure why this book got such high marks from the other reviewers. The book is page-numbered to 281, plus the introduction and table of contents, but it really should have been only 100 pages, and can be summarized with "Set a goal, be persistent, find a mentor." In other words, there isn't a lot of substance to be found.
Probably the best chapter of the book is Chapter 1, "Selecting the Right Company". In it, the book gives you a decent list of things to think about when you're looking for a broker to work under. There is also a helpful list of questions that you need to ask your potential brokers when you are interviewing with them. On the other hand, the chapter falls flat when talking about the questions that the broker is likely to ask you. While the book gives you a list of questions, it doesn't counsel you in any way regarding what you might want to say or avoid saying in your answers.
The first sign that this book is going to be high on fluff and low on useful real estate sales help is the book's wide margins and line spacing, and large fonts. This makes for a low info-per-page ratio.
Next you'll notice that there is too much of vague generalities about real estate, too much meandering talk of discipline and persistence and goal setting and self-affirmation. Illustrative of this point is the fact that the book makes no mention whatsoever about open houses. Nothing. If open houses aren't worthwhile then why wouldn't you at least spend a couple of pages explaining why and presenting some scripts for convincing your sellers (and perhaps brokers?) not to do them?
Speaking of scripts, on pages 35 through 37 Mr. Zeller uses a lot of words to convince you of the importance and utility of scripts. In a sidebar he even lists 25 separate occassions in which one could, and presumably should, put scripts to use. Will you find any actual scripts in this book? Sadly, no, you won't.
Another frustrating example is the small, two-paragraph section with the heading "How do I get more listings?" The answer given is basically, "Learn the fundamentals of prospecting," with absolutely no explanation of what those fundamentals might be, just the unhelpful assertion that you should "[b]ecome a person of action." Thanks. I didn't realize that.
So, this book boils down to not much more than another book full of platitudes on general salesmanship and self-improvement. If that were what I was after I would have picked up something by Zig Ziglar or Anthony Robbins. To be fair, the chapters on "Mastering Your Sales Skills" are pretty good, but they don't start until page 143, and I found their contents to be so meandering and disorganized that I would often lose my patience as I read them. On top of that, I found everything in those two chapters in Mike Ferry's "How to Develop a Six-Figure Income in Real Estate"--in a more organized and, for me, far more motivational fashion, too.
I suspect that this book is intentionally vague for a very specific reason. Call it bait and switch. In the back of the book you'll find an ad for Dirk Zeller's other tape sets and manuals, all of which are substantially more expensive, of course.
I highly recommend you give a pass on "Your First Year..." and instead pick up a copy of Ferry's book--or, for a different perspective, Danielle Kennedy's "How to List and Sell Real Estate in the 21st Century". Both of those books are well organized and contain tons of helpful ideas (some presumably more lucrative than others). Best wishes.
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67 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This will give you the lead you need !, March 22, 2002
This review is from: Your First Year in Real Estate: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional (Paperback)
I am a new real estate agent. Like most new agent I was VERY lost (i'm sher you know the feeling). I had no one telling me the "how to's", the "when to's", and most importantly the "why to's" of the business. Is that what I signed up for, i asked!? I was overwhelmed and nervous. I invested in books and tapes of the highest level in relation to real estate (they where very good) BUT they never gave me the BOTTOM LINE (starting for the moment you recieve |THE CERTIFICATE|to actualy thinking of making 100 000+/year)!The best investment I made was the book "YOUR FIRST YEAR IN REAL ESTATE". If you are new in the business and are looking for a mentor !? read the book. You dont know where to start !? Read the book. You want to build a solid foundation for your carreer !? Read the book. Dont be fooled by it's simingly "basic" cover, this is the book you want. Dirk Zeller's philosophy is fantastic. It is possible to work 4 days a week and still make alot of $ and have time for your family...
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38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Real Estate Agents Business Plan for Success!, July 23, 2002
This review is from: Your First Year in Real Estate: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional (Paperback)
Your 1st Year in Real Estate is a comprehensive and exciting plan for success in Real Estate and life. In the tradition of Jim Rohn, Brian Tracy and Zig Ziglar, Dirk Zeller challenges you to not only achieve your wildest dreams through a lucrative career in Real Estate but also maintain balance, for a life worth living. This is the business plan that I was looking for when I started my career as an agent... Dirk doesn't leave any questions about what you should do or how to do it. Dirk has put a tremendous amount of information into this book and I commend him for his honest and sincerity. Experience is the greatest teacher and Dirk has put all of his into the book!
Your 1st Year in Real Estate should be called The Fundamentals of a Successful Real Estate Career. Dirk tells you exactly how to create a business that is predictable and can be duplicated. One of the biggest worries for all agents is when and where the next closing (check) will come from. Dirk illustrates how to make your business proactive instead of reactive. He shows you exactly how to predict the amount of business you will generate based on activity, this information is priceless! Dirk even gives you the activities that pay! The book goes well beyond your 1st year in detailing the importance of time management and cost control. Dirk goes into extensive detail about these often-misunderstood elements of really high performers. It's in these chapters that Dirk details how to become the best of the best and achieve a high net income not just a high gross.
In my estimation this is a must read for every agent who wants to achieve any measure of success in Real Estate and have a life. Dirk's career in Real Estate was one of massive success while enjoying a life away from work. An often-stated accolade of Dirk's career was that he did it all while working a 4-Day workweek, but I believe even more important, with a moral compass and ethics. Dirk will show you exactly what to do every day to be successful and then he challenges you to maintain focus and balance, something I plan to emulate.
A great book that I continue to reread and find more value. This is an important part of my library.
Thank you Dirk
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