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ADVICE TO A FRIEND...

I was talking with a friend of mine from the office recently...

He is a newer agent. He has been in the business for about a year.

He works part time as a waiter. He really loves waiting tables. He makes good money at it. He takes pride in his work...

He has been working as a waiter two days a week, in order to devote more time at the real estate office...

He currently comes to the office 4 days a week, but sometimes finds it hard to stay productive all those office hours.

Money is tighter than he would like, and without a closing and Realtor dues to pay, he is questioning his dedication...

My advice was this...

Start working 4 or 5 nights a weeks as a waiter...

He loves it. He needs the money. And heck, it is probably a great opportunity to network...

Cut down the hours at the office. I know some agents need the structure of the office setting, but I have NEVER seen real estate as a 9 to 5 office job.

Go in once or twice a week. Bust your butt. Make your calls. Write your notes. Host open houses whenever possible...

Take one night's earnings and SPEND IT ON MARKETING. If no one knows you are in business, you won't be in business for long...

Pick a neighborhood and start farming it. Send out a monthly mailer. $150 per week will buy a lot of marketing...

And give your business some time.

Real estate takes time...

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

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Posted by Ken Tracy Realtor Naperville Illinois Real Estate on 04/22/2009 07:22 PM

Comments (23)

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Originally posted at: Ken's Naperville Real Estate Blog : ADVICE TO A FRIEND...

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23 Comments on ADVICE TO A FRIEND...

APR

hmm I would havee told him to quite his day job (waiting tables) because a hungry agent is an aggressive productive agent.. and I hate working deals with part time agents.. their clients suffer

Go Advice Ken! The market is not the strongest and the economy is rough too. So working another job is a great way to keep the bills being paid. With all the people he meets he could leave his card in every check he leaves at the table.

Really good advice, Ken. He also needs to define a niche, something he is passionate about. But he really does need to make a plan and then take the steps to achieve his plan's goals.

Kathy

Great advice-he needs to dedicate himself the the choice to make it happen.

Ken - it is good advice for someone who is hungry, however it is difficult to split your time between two jobs. For me, this is a full time career.

I am with Eric on this one. If he cannot devote his time full time I dont want to get one of his offers that needs lots of help to go through. Pick one or the other sometimes the hungriest realtors are the most productive and sharp ones out there. He will suffer for a little bit until he gets his feet off the ground.

An agent working nights does not seem so bad. He can still respond to offers. If he is working 4 days a week in the office now, I doubt he change in hours will affect him.

Hi Gary, Carol, Sharon, Pat, Kathy, Marcie, and Eric. Thanks for stopping by.

My thought is very little of a new agents time is spent actually negotiating...

I think he could keep up just fine...

And build up his business, online, offline, etc...

Thanks so much!

Ken

It is tought to do real estate and something else; however sometimes very necessary.

Hi Ken ~ I burned through 10s of thousands of dollars when I was starting in real estate - in a much better time. While I do tend to think it's always best to do this full or more than full time, I think it's really hard right now to survive as a new agent. Your advice is very good *if* the agent can really really focus during the time he's doing real estate work.

Liz

Ken-I think you gave great advice to this new agent, I once worked with a new agent that also was a waiter, and in time he was able to quit his waiter job and is now a full time successful Realtor.

Hi Ken ~ Your advice should help the new agent quite a bit. His waiter job makes him happy, he is earning money and being around people is a great way to market, if he wishes, real estate!

APR

Hi Ken!
You did your friend a great service...mainly because he is doing something he loves and earns good money from. If this is the case, there is nothing wrong with a career in it. There are a couple of restaurants I go to that has had the same waiters for over 20 years. I love going in there and having them help us...and they must love it because there are intelligent men who could do something else!

Hi Ken... it's a tough call for me to make for someone else... I can see benefits/opportunities in both scenarios. The bottom line is that each agent knows his/her own financial situation and how he/she works best. I think your advice shows a lot of thought and logic. My advice would be to your colleague would be to do what feels right based on his circumstances.

Hi Steve, Paula, Terry, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Richard. Thanks for reading.

And thanks for all the well thought out comments.

He is a good guy that may be getting a bit disenchanted because of the hard times. I am just trying to get him throught to the other side.

Thanks again everyone,

Ken

I would have given him that advice also. I own a hair salon and know it is possible to do both. Why? Being a waitress or being a salon owner we come in contact with up to 50-70 people a day and can talk real estate to many, Some full time agents sit at their dest and wonder why they are not busy. My reply is get social.....go where there is people and talk real estate.

Ken--I have to say spend more time doing real estate. This is not a part time business, however a few part timers have been successful. I know a waitress who wears her real estate name badge when she waits tables and picks up clients on the two night she works.

I quit my full time teaching job and worked twice as many hours getting my real estate career off the ground.

Each person has to find what works for them. I wish him the best.

Hi Ken,

I can see both sides of this one but sitting in the office with other agents isn't going to make your colleague any money unless he is prospecting.

Working nights could be dual purpose for now. Make some money plus social network. He really is prospecting as he is talking to people and that is what we are supposed to do on a regular basis.

I don't know if his boss would be too happy about him passing his cards out to everyone but I'm sure he hears lots of "real estate" conversations.

Being hungry for some agents may be motivating but for others it can cause anxiety and depression.

APR

Hi Jenny, Mary, and Nannette. Thanks for reading.

I do think it possible to do both. I split a lot of my time as a full time dad, but am able to grow my business at the same time.

Thanks for all the thoughtful opinions.

Ken

APR

If he listens to you he might go all the way. It is great that you are helping him. Thanks for sharing and I wish you the best.

APR

Hi Nate. Wow. Thanks.

I hope I go all the way too!:)

Ken

MAY

Ken,

I think your advice was great. I liked the idea you gave about spending one night's earnings on marketing. What a fabulous idea. Good luck to your friend.

Hi Vanna. Thanks much for reading.

I thought it was a pretty good idea, but opinions are mixed.

I hope all is well,

Ken

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