Today We’d Like to Introduce You to Debbie Weiss
Hi Debbie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have been in sales since I was a 12-year-old with my babysitting business (yes, I had a farm and yes, I did mailings, I started young!) and I’ve always been successful in sales as I love people, I love selling and I love being of service and helping people, all attributes you have to have if you are going to be in real estate! After I graduated from USC I went into the record industry and eventually in radio representing talent and programming. The problem with my radio sales career was even though I loved the people I represented on the radio (my clients, the talent) and the marketing part of the job, I didn’t love the product, the actual radio shows I was selling.
Just was never something that I was passionate about. So, when my kids got old enough for me to feel like they could handle me gone on the weekends for open houses and showings, I took the plunge! And I have never looked back. The many years of sales and marketing that I had clocked translated easily to real estate sales and I did better than I could have imagined pretty fast because the missing ingredient was selling something I was passionate about! I love what I do, I’m energized every morning to start the day, and I love both my clients and the product so it’s just a powerful combination. There are so many challenges in our job daily as a realtor but if you can keep a good attitude and remember how lucky you are to have the privilege to assist people and act as a helpful guide and fiduciary, a job I take very seriously, in one of the biggest transactions of their lives, you can get through some of the not so fun parts!
Real estate was always in my blood and always something I knew I’d end up doing when the timing was right. I was brought up with real estate, my dad used to buy rental homes and have my brother and me do the gardening for them on the weekend. We’d mow lawns and pick up leaves in the hot valley! But our reward after was Tommy’s hamburgers (an LA staple) and that was enough to get us through. I guess we were pretty cheap labor! I think the hard work ethic that was instilled in me at a young age has really paid off. I am so grateful to my parents for that.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
You have to have thick skin though and be ok with a lot of rejection in any type of sales job. My previous sales job prepared me for that so it never phases me. I know it’s a numbers game. Don’t give up, just keep meeting people and providing value and getting out there and being of service! This is a people’s business so you need to consistently be meeting people. If you treat every client as though they are a member of your family that you care about you'll do great in this business. It's not about the sale or the transaction, it's about the relationship. It's always about the relationship first.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love to help everyone buy and sell real estate and share my passion for real estate as the best investment out there, and help others to achieve the same results I have been so fortunate to have had. I specialize in Culver City where I have lived for 20 years, in the beautiful Carlson Park area, Mar Vista, Santa Monica (where I own property), Brentwood (where I grew up), and Mid-City, I particularly love Picfair Village in Mid City! It reminds me of Culver City when we first bought here, it’s such a charming community and I see it enjoying the same appreciation!
I love to buy and sell homes for all my clients and investors. I really have a passion for what I do and helping my clients achieve generational wealth through real estate. I am a very hands-on realtor, when you hire me, you get me! I have people on my team but I know my clients want to be able to get me on the phone during a transaction and I always make myself available for them, I think of myself as a realtor for people that are motivated to get in the market and want full lots of attention and an aggressive seasoned agent to help them get in the game, or for the repeat buyer that wants someone that is well connected on the west side and provides great service and understands their objectives.
For sellers, I provide a very concierge-like experience. If you want to sell a home, I manage the entire process with my team so my clients can relax. My goal is always to sell at the highest price in the shortest amount of time and make it as stress-free as possible an experience for my clients. I really love the process of listing a home and I end up falling in love with all my listings!
What does success mean to you?
Success is having a job that you never want to retire from, that you wake up excited for the day, security to do what you want to do when you want to do it, and enough time to regularly enjoy life with your family and friends. And of course, none of it matters if you and your family don’t have their health, so that is number one!
