Dana Biggs

Dana Biggs isn’t your typical associate broker. While many agents are motivated by money, Dana brings his heart for helping and vast teaching career experience. As such, Dana combined these skills into his own business which continues to grow every day. As mentioned, Dana created Dana’s Colorado Homes, which he has used as a way to help other agents build their own businesses within eXp Realty and help people who want to save money for the long run. Dana Biggs is a true testament to the eXp style of real estate – using education and cutting-edge technology, he adapts and overcomes any hurdle or challenge that comes his way.
Dana continues to be extremely successful in his move to eXp and in his career with his very own Dana’s Colorado Homes. While many agents struggle at traditional companies, with the backing of the world’s fastest growing brokerage, eXp Realty, Dana continues to exceed the expectations.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

I did some research and learned that eXp Realty is the fastest-growing brokerage in the world. I saw eXp become more of a group effort with agents as shareholders in the company. Being independent and yet supportive of one another, eXp agents are exceeding expectations at every turn. I realized that this is what people wanted not just in their work life, but also in their home life. They wanted freedom, independence, control, better economics — they no longer wished to be trapped by big company hierarchies or old traditional practices where exceptional effort was punished for its success rather than rewarded to the individual. So, I saw an opportunity to create my own business within eXp, and that’s how Dana’s Colorado Homes came into existence. Now, with the help of a mentor and a sponsor within the brokerage, as well as a coach, I am happy to say Dana’s Colorado Homes has flourished.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

A typical day for me managing Dana’s Colorado Homes begins with an early morning walk or hike and then I reserve time to stay up-to-date in the field with daily research and trainings, answer emails, and monitor updates from my listings.
Then, I start working on business development calls in order to find new real estate properties for Dana’s Colorado Homes, generate leads, and talk about key trends in Colorado real estate.
After lunch, I take a break from the office work and spend time with family or head to showings. I proactively read streams on my computer for tips on how to grow my company more efficiently or write articles that my clients may find helpful.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I receive my best ideas when out in nature. The fresh air and beautiful scenery of the Colorado mountains provides me with my inspiration. After that, I follow through with my idea immediately or within a short time frame after considering any applications it could have. Sometimes, an idea needs longer consideration…then I am careful to give it time to see its potential beyond initial thoughts. I consider myself a problem solver. I was taught at an early age from my parents that consistency is the key. Keep working, trying new things, and don’t get frustrated if at first you don’t succeed. The answers, and eventual success, will come with time.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The one trend I am excited about is the resurgence of the single-family home. With more disposable income, especially with the vast amount of equity that has been built in today’s market, people are looking to live in desirable places where they can socialize with friends, enjoy the great outdoors, work from home, and live their best lives. Colorado is known for its ski lodges, hot springs, and many stunning landscapes for hiking. It’s also great for many other outdoor adventures like rock climbing and mountain biking. Colorado has become an attractive place to live, allowing homeowners to see home values increase by as much as 150% over the past 10 years. Colorado also has one of the healthiest economies in the country with its strength coming from the many entrepreneurial residents and innovative industries.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I try not to let myself get distracted or bogged down by procrastination. I am able to be very productive by tackling the toughest or least desirable tasks first. This allows me to be 100% focused on building relationships and doing what is best for my clients. I stay consistent in working through problems and try to accomplish something every single day that will scale my business.

What advice would you give your younger self?

If I could give my younger self a piece of advice, I would tell myself to not be afraid of change. We grow through change. The famous quote, “If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got,” is so important to remember. If you’re not sure if your procrastination is caused by a rational or irrational belief, for example, keep working on changing your behaviors to see if there are any changes in your procrastination. Keep trying different things until you find something that works.
I would also tell my younger self to set reasonable goals. You can’t expect yourself to accomplish a lot in a day or week when you haven’t been working very long. Maybe today, you might just set a goal to get a new article published, maybe in a week you set a goal to get one new client, the important thing is to keep setting reasonable goals!
Finally, I would tell myself not to be afraid of failure. Success only comes after failure.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Being a real estate agent is the best small business in the world. It’s not easy, there are literally millions of real estate agents, and 87% of them fail within the first two years. However, besides there being unlimited income potential, it is extremely fulfilling. You get to meet new people and help them through the biggest financial and emotional decision of their lives. Clients start out as strangers, but after getting to know them and helping them settle, they become family. A home is where we create the cherished memories of our lives, and I get to help my clients find that special place. Even after you sell a home and move on, you will always look at that property with fondness, saying “I once owned that house, we had so many great memories there.” I understand that feeling. I get to help honor that while also helping my clients get the money and value they deserve.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I spend a lot of time and effort focused on building and maintaining relationships.
Business, and life, is all about building relationships. I think it’s important to not just focus on what you can get from people but what you can offer them. A dear friend and mentor of mine once said, “you have to make many deposits into a relationship before you can take any withdrawals.” I have based my business on exactly that by helping and teaching people. I’m not going to hound you for business, or call random people and ask if you want to sell. Instead, I create articles teaching the ‘ins and outs’ of real estate. I give free advice to my sphere and am prepared to talk about the market at a moment’s notice. When you invest in building great relationships with the people of your community, your friends and co-workers, local restaurant owners, contractors, lenders, fellow agents, or people you just met, the business will come. Instead of someone pushy or only interested in what they can get out of you, people come to see you as someone they can trust to have their best interest at heart. Someone who is caring, honest, helpful and full of integrity…who wouldn’t want that with everyone in their lives?

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

If you want to grow your business, always remember that relationships are the key. There’s no point in rushing through leads and ignoring the people on the other end.
Because of eXp’s strong referral network, you can have a steady stream of referrals from others in the company as well as those outside of real estate who all know me because of my presence in the Colorado real estate market and through my career in education.
Generally, people are more likely to listen to others they know rather than a stranger. This is one of the reasons I always try to reach out personally to my leads first saying, “Hey! How are you?” I want them to know that I truly do care for them as a person first, and then see if there is a way that I might be able to help. I also try to follow up and stay in contact with everyone even after we have completed business. I want my clients to know I am always there for them even after they have bought or sold a house with me.
Finally, as a way of saying thanks to some friends I’ve made on the inside of this field and outside, I built Dana’s Colorado Homes as an online tool for everyone looking to buy or sell, or even maintain their current home. It has increased revenue and reduced my workload allowing me to focus on what’s more important: maintaining my relationships!

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Failure can be a scary word for some people. I’m not afraid of failure at all! I was a teacher before with no prior experience in real estate. I didn’t become a realtor thinking everything was going to be smooth sailing from the start.
I was afraid of what other people might think. In my first lead conference with Realtor.com, I remember being super nervous because I thought they were just going to laugh at my lack of experience. Luckily, though, it turned out to be successful!
There’s no such thing as failure if you credit everything to experience. Everything we do is like solving something – we either solve an equation or we solve a mystery – failure is nothing but a puzzle we haven’t solved yet. So, never let the fear of failure stop you from trying something new and challenging yourself!

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

If you will be selling houses in a neighborhood with a lot of trees or forested areas (I used to live in Oregon), try getting someone who specializes in tree cutting services to help get rid of any dead branches, trees too close to your home, or fallen trees from a recent ice storm. (I quickly learned by trial and error how to use a chain saw!) Plus, what a great way to introduce yourself as a local agent by working together with this contractor!

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

The best $100 I recently spent was for the help from my coach who is an expert in marketing and how to gain customers. I think everyone needs a coach. Tom Brady, seven-time super bowl champion, still works with a coach every year on his throwing.
My coach has taught me that visitors to my website appreciate a learning experience, something that’s not just “here is my name and number.” They want to read about other people who have made mistakes in the past so they can either learn from their errors or know better what could potentially happen to them in the future. In this case, at Dana’s Colorado Homes, I wanted my readers to get a little education before they start the process. Like what are the seven things never to do before buying a home? Hint: might want to wait on that shiny new Lamborghini!

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Having grown up with the personal computer, I actually am constantly looking for the newest technology or ways to make life easier. Joining a cloud-based brokerage like eXp Realty is a perfect example. One piece of software that has really helped me in the past is the Fiverr app.
It’s a website where you can find anything from business logo design to voice-over recordings for your videos. In order to build your business, you can either spend time or spend money. Hiring someone to do small jobs for me saves me time to do the things I enjoy doing. Fiverr is great because it gives me everything I need right at my fingertips and I can hire someone who is much better at certain jobs than I would ever be!

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The one book I would recommend for anyone in any business or industry is Cashing in with Content by Kevin Daum.
This isn’t your typical “how-to” book. It covers how to turn audiences into followers, followers to evangelists, and evangelists to customers, giving companies a reason to keep coming back for more! Another one I’d recommend is The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield. This book helps you face each day with a positive attitude. It’s not about an instant fix; there are no 30-day plans, just guidelines for people who want to improve their lives permanently! I personally have read this one many times.

What is your favorite quote?

I love, and find inspiration from, a quote used in the most recent James Bond movie:
“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I will use my time.” – Jack London

Key Learnings:

• Do what works for you. When you need information, ask questions or discover it yourself; but at the end of the day, do what’s best for you and your company.
• Nothing is impossible if you have the heart, the will, and the right people.
• Do not be afraid of change and failure; credit everything to experience.
• Building relationships with your customers and potential buyers is the key to business growth.