“When I was a kid, I daydreamed about being a TV journalist like former Miss America Phyllis George, the first woman to interview professional athletes,” recalls St. Louis native Sandra Coburn. With that goal in mind, she majored in English literature and communications at the University of Texas-Austin, and landed a job at the Daily Texan. “But I switched to real estate 16 years ago because I loved houses and I loved helping people—and it was potentially more lucrative than journalism!” She and her husband live in Olivette. Daughter Nicole, 21, is a student at Chelsea College of Art & Design in London.
I LOVE MY JOB I enjoy being an ambassador for St. Louis and communicating the big city/small town aspect that makes us so unique to buyers. A good agent is concerned not only about the client and the sale, but also about the welfare and future of our city. DOWNSIDE Part of premier service is honesty. But it’s very hard to tell someone their home is not worth what they think it is, and to detail everything that must be done in order to sell it. DON’T GET US WRONG Some people think it’s an easy job and agents do very little to earn their commissions. But from strategically pricing homes to timing listings, marketing the home, advertising open houses and more, good agents work tirelessly for their clients. FIRST SALE It was a house in Kirkwood, and making the sale felt phenomenal! BIGGEST SALE A $5 million estate in Ladue. GOOD TIMES I knew I’d hit my stride as an agent when my partner and I cleared more than $14 million without even realizing it, because we were having so much fun. BAD TIMES Every day brings a new challenge. Once when I was the listing agent for a commercial property, a buyer failed to show up for a closing. I took it in stride. EASY DOES IT I handle difficult clients with kindness, determination and a positive attitude. HOW TO SUCCEED To be a top agent, you need motivation, energy, problem-solving skills, an analytical mind and the ability to negotiate. STRESS BUSTERS At the end of a rough day, I exercise, do yoga, get together with good friends or read a good book. I also love to garden and volunteer. A WORD FROM THE WISE I’m always very honest with people who tell me they want to be an agent. If you’re looking for a 9-to-5 job with medical benefits and a steady income right off the bat, real estate is not for you. It takes time to build a solid reputation and a network of referral sources.
Photo: Bill Barrett