YOUR REAL ESTATE CAREER MAY BE SLIP SLIDING AWAY
As a real estate educator I love helping people figure out if they are well suited to a real estate career before they invest their time, money, and hearts. The fact is a career in real estate is not really what it looks like from the perspective of the casual observer.
Many a time I’ve heard potential Realtors say “I love looking at houses online” and “Every time I see a sign for an open house, I’m there” and while that’s a great start I must ask, can you organize a transaction folder, are you selfless enough to serve others, and if we read a contract together and I explain it fully can you later explain it to your client?
It is almost guaranteed that a full time Realtor works nine-to-five because during those hours banks, lenders, title companies, escrow offices, and the County Recording offices are open–and we need those businesses to survive. However, since many of our buyers also work those same hours the time spent showing property is oftentimes evenings and weekends, something many of you outside of real estate call your days off.
It is also guaranteed that new real estate agents will feel lost, overwhelmed, and uncertain about what all those very busy experienced agents are so very busy doing, and in that place of discouragement it is easier to step away from their new career rather than ask for help or push forth with another open house, or another call to a for-sale-by-owner seller.
Before you get your real estate license, invest the time to learn what the career is really about. When you meet with the owner or manager of a firm, ask how and when you will be trained. Ask who you will turn to when you have questions. Ask what they’ve seen new agents do that led to success, and what they did that led to failure.
Nearly half of all people who obtain their real estate license are out of the business within two years. When it comes to your career, find out who is willing to make the same sort of commitment to you that you are willing to make to them and their firm. Create the win-win. Its’ a great foundation for a great career.
