YES...I Work Weekends!!!

Sunday mornings are spent with my family in worship - other than that, I'm all theirs :) And I love the showing service and the Sentrilock system most folks use over here.....not all do, and those are usually the nightmare appointments that I brace myself for.

I think people who do not want to work weekends should find another profession. They can make it tough for the rest of us....point about the businesses which close at 5pm is great.

There are some great points made here! This business carries some of the most unconventional hours of any industry I can think of. I've done everything from showing a foreclosure home with no power at 10pm (we brought flashlights!) to quickly dressing to head out the door 15 minutes after I got a call to see property on a day I thought I was free. We've got to take the business when we can get it, especially in today's market.

I work for a builder now and sit on-site, so I no longer have the flexibility of general brokerage. I have scheduled hours: 12-6 on weekdays, 11-6 on Saturdays and 1-6 on Sundays. I get two days off per week and they rotate; I do usually end up working on weekends and even though it burns me up sometimes when we're having fantastic sunny weather and everyone on facebook and twitter is talking about the amazing things they're doing that afternoon while I'm stuck in my sales office...well, weekends are when the buyers come out so I'm glad to be here.

I opt to be available as needed by potential buyers; if I've met with someone and they want to come back, you're darn right I'm willing to stay late, come in early or set an appointment on a day off to meet with them. Anytime I give someone my business card, I point out that my cell phone number is on there and they are welcome to call me day or night.

Randy:

We're Realtors. We work weekends and evenings to accommodate our clients.  I think it is in the definition of a Realtor.  Thanks for the interesting post.

Great post! I work weekends too, but you just reminded me I should let people know that, since some have asked if I worked weekends. I thought that working weekends came with the real estate territory.

I had 2 very nice sales in December because I answered my phone and showed property on a Sunday afternoon. I found out later that I was not the first agent the buyer called, that agent returned his call a week later and found out that he was in the process of purchasing 2 properties. I find that answering my phone and emails promptly pays off for me.

When we decided to go into real estate we need to realize that many people with 8-5 jobs are going to be calling us and asking us to show property.

Jacqueline Drake CRS

Smart! Yep, I work weekends too, and I think I will change my email signature to state just that. I picked up a listing the same way....answered my phone on a weekend. I was the third call....

It's tough to get away and take a day off but working the hours most buyers don't (weekends) is necessary.

lol.. Cindy in #2... I wish I got 2 days off everyweek...lol...Now to say that I might only work 3 hours one day and 5 another but I always have my phone on me an it does internet so I am always working really...Realtor calls me at 9 pm I answer.. 8 am I answer...You can get an appointment 24/7 to see my listings

Always wondered if those who don't work weekends make that clear to sellers when they take their listing!  Got a sale once beacuse my client said I was the only agent he reached that was civil to him on a Sunday

Randy, I work weekend too!  And luckily we have lock boxes that open with an ekey and we don't have to depend on the agent answering in order to get into the lock box!  That would be really hard to deal with!!

I can't imagine any RE agent not working weekends, unless he/she has others working for them. I'm not there yet, but that's one of my goals.

I don't think I'd notice it WAS the week-end if it weren't for the fact that my son usually comes for dinner on Sunday.

Unike you agents, I get to work my own hours, but since I love what I do, I work almost every day.

A listing is 365.  Access to the listing should be 365.  Planned personal time should include making sure someone has access to listings 365.  Access and Personal time are both beneficial to us.  Good points Randy.

I work weekends and nights, but not every night and not every weekend, and then sometimes I goof off during the week. 

Randy,

I usually work on the weekend....

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

I like to have Sundays off, but that being said I have not had one off in weeks.  My buyer clients work mostly 9 -5 (6, 7) jobs Monday - Friday.  Since I'm working with several buyers right now, that is when they are available and we do what needs to be done to accommodate our clients. 

I can't imagine not working weekends - whether it's showing homes, answering calls, etc.  If someone wants to show one of my listings, our office is open 7 days to schedule showings.  But we as agents cannot work 24/7 -- we need to schedule time off or we will burn out and become useless.

I made a personal decision to not work weekends for the sake of my family (4 small kids), but only after my business was built to the point that I could comfortable do it without any financial worries.  I'm also the young families pastor at a church an hour away, so Sundays are impossibles for work.  However, I respect your decision to work those days, and I regularly check my phone messages so I can get showing instructions to agents when they need them.

However, agents that call at the last minute (like at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday for an 11:30 showing) and then get mad when I don't call them back...are beyond ridiculous, and I have to deal with them all the time.  Hopefully you are not one of those.