Dominika Earl
When I got into real estate three years ago, I knew there would be a lot to learn. What I didn’t realize was how much of it would have nothing to do with houses. Of course, I’ve learned about pricing, negotiations, contracts, inspections, and the market, but some of the bigger lessons have been about perseverance, rejection, ego, expectations, and accepting that no matter how hard you work, you’re not always in control of the outcome. I was born in Poland, but Saranac Lake has been home for most of my life. I’m a wife, a mom, and someone who genuinely loves this community, so building a career here has meant a lot to me.
One of the clearest lessons I’ve learned is don’t overprice a property. It’s understandable that sellers want to start high—their home means something to them, and naturally they want to get the most they can for it. But the market doesn’t always agree with what we hope a property is worth. Sometimes my job is to have a conversation that isn’t necessarily what someone wants to hear. I’ve learned that good advice isn’t about telling people what they want to hear; it’s about being honest about what I’m seeing in the market and helping them make the best decision possible. Getting the price right from the beginning matters.
I’ve also learned that rejection is part of the job, and that has probably been the hardest lesson for me. You can spend hours with someone, answer every question, show property after property, prepare for a listing appointment, follow up, and genuinely feel like you’ve done everything right—and still not get the business. Early on, I took that personally. Sometimes I still do. There’s an ego involved that I didn’t completely expect. You want people to choose you, and you want your hard work to lead somewhere. Over time, I’ve learned that you can do a good job and still hear “no.”
That goes along with another lesson: you aren’t in control of everything. When I started, I think I believed that if I worked hard enough and did everything right, I could control the result. Three years later, I know that isn’t how real estate works. I can control how prepared I am, how quickly I respond, how well I know the property and the market, and how honestly I communicate. I can’t control every buyer, seller, inspection, appraisal, competing offer, change of heart, or whether someone ultimately chooses to work with me. Learning to put my energy into the things I can control—and let go of the things I can’t—has been a big part of these first three years.
Maybe the simplest lesson is also the most important: keep going. Deals change, buyers change their minds, listings take longer than expected, and sometimes a lot of work leads nowhere. Then the phone rings again. Someone needs help, a new opportunity comes along, or a deal that seemed impossible suddenly comes together. Three years ago, I was the new agent. I’m certainly still learning, but I see the business differently now. I’ve made mistakes, had successes, been disappointed, learned to take rejection a little less personally, and most importantly, kept showing up.
Be prepared. Be honest. Give good advice. And keep going. I’m only three years in, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next three teach me.
