Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Gardner.
Dan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Like most people I know, I fell into what I am doing today. It was 2008, and I was about to graduate from Brandeis University with my Master’s in Project Management. I was working full time as a property manager for the better part of 5 years since 2003. I was attending graduate school at night, four nights a week from 6-9pm. I felt overworked so I quit my property management job to focus on my thesis and I graduated with honors in the summer of 2009. I decided I would rent apartments and eat PB&J if I had to just to survive.
I worked at a rental agency firm, while finishing my graduate work and rented a few apartments during the week, I ended up renting a few commercial spaces along the way. Right as I graduated from Brandeis, I powered a pretty decent commercial real estate transaction that I used to pay off school debt.
Needless to say, I took one look at that commission, realized it was the recession, and gave up on a Project Management career and have been on commission since then. Fast forward to today, my business partner and I (Jim Lowenstern) run a real estate brokerage firm based out of Newton, with two other offices in Boston and Dedham. We have over 60 agents and a full fledge commercial real estate department.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve tried quitting my job at least 5 times that I can remember in the last decade. Real estate brokerage is hard. You really have to put in the work up front for countless hours in order to get paid six-ten months from the time you start.
Not many people can do that, and when I meet people that want to work on 100% commission, I am always impressed because I personally know what it takes.
It’s up and down all day every day, the deal is not done till that commission check you get in your hand cashes and the money clears.
Most of the people I know that are successful have stories that consist of maxing out credit cards, emptying life savings, 401ks and lines of credit out on their homes just to make it to the next deal.
When you see ads promising agents 100k in their first year, I always laugh and remember I made $25,000 in my first year and someone told me that was pretty good.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Castles Commercial story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in off market deals. Sales and leasing.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I always hated when I heard “I hope I get that listing or I pray I get paid on time.” There is no luck and prayers in real estate, you have to make it happen.
Luck does not exist.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.castlescommercial.com
- Phone: 7815913232
- Email: dan@castlescom.com
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