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Teaching another how to be a Realtor.

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass

My wonderful brokerage has a great mentoring program for new agents.  I was already seasoned by the time I started here at McEnearney Associates, but am honored and excited to have been asked to mentor a new agent.  I can see why they asked me to mentor this new agent - she's me, but probably better!  She's my age, a new mom, had a career in advertising before real estate and is very excited, sharp and eager to learn.  

I was lucky enough to have a mentor too when I started in 2004.  My mentor was my Realtor when I had bought a house, and she was also a former school teacher, so she was really good at teaching AND selling houses.  I learned so much from her and one of the best phrases she taught me was "Succeeding in real estate is just about throwing a bunch of spaghetti on the wall and seeing what sticks."  Sage advice, really.  I think back to the time I was being trained by her and there's no way I appreciated what she was doing enough.  You never do know until you stand in someone else's shoes.

My first listing, which I landed with the help of my mentor --------------->>>

I am not sure how good of a teacher I am, but we will soon find out.  So far, so good...my "mentee" has a new listing coming up next week (this is just after being licensed for about a month).  I think she got the listing agreement signed before she even got her Sentrilock card.  Quite an auspicious beginning for sure.   I really had nothing to do with any of it, although I go through and have them sign the listing agreement, they were sold on my mentee before we walked in the door because of who she is.   But I will gladly smile and take the thanks and credit for helping out.

I am a firm believer that Realtors only learn by doing.   Nothing I learned in my pre-licensing classes prepared me for how to sell a house.   Fortunately, McEnearney also has an excellent trainer and coach in house, and the woman I am mentoring seems to know a lot more than your average newbie before she even started being mentored by me.

We have a six month long journey together, and I took it on at a time that I am bursting with business and do not have a second to spare.  But some things, you just can't pass up.  And the chance to mentor a promising new agent is one of them.

Wish us luck!

Roy Johnson
Resident Realty - Denver, CO
Resident Realty

And so much to be learned by teaching!

Mar 15, 2011 12:43 PM
Coral Gundlach
Compass - Arlington, VA
Real Lives. Not Just Real Estate.

Ah, so true Roy!  

Mar 15, 2011 12:57 PM
Judy Jennings
Top Agent Plus - Middleboro, MA
Tap into Judy's real estate expertise & resources.

Coral - This sounds like a great opportunity for you and your mentee. I have to agree, nothing I learned in my pre-licensing classes ever prepared me to sell a house either. It is a very good thing to have a mentor. Best of luck to both of you.

Mar 15, 2011 01:13 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

My understanding is that mentoring makes for agents who last longer and do better in the business.  You are probably a good one!

Mar 16, 2011 12:03 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I have volunteered to be an official mentor at Long & Foster.  One day I'll have to write about my mentor when I entered real estate.  I am glad I discarded just about everything she told me to do.

Mar 16, 2011 04:15 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Wow Chris Ann!  Now you have me wondering if I know her!

Mar 16, 2011 11:58 PM
Kaera Mims
Liz Moore & Associates - Fort Monroe, VA
Associate Broker, e-PRO, REALTOR; Hampton, Newport News, York Co.

I do not have a mentee, but I have an instructor's license and teach the VHDA first time home buyers class - I have found the more I teach, the more I learn :-)!

Mar 22, 2011 03:35 PM
Tamara Inzunza
Realty One Group Capital - Alexandria, VA
Close-In Alexandria and Arlington Living

Hey Coral, I know your mentee is in good hands!  Way to introduce her to the real estate world through your blog.  Are you going to teach her about blogging too?

Mar 24, 2011 02:32 PM