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Real Estate is a Lifestyle, Not a Career

By Gail Robinson

Real Estate Agent with William Raveis Real Estate RES.0772823

July 30, 2012 02:42 AM

Black Rock CT This post was inspired by Broker Bryant's comment on Bill Field's featured post, "Is It Time for You to Retire?" Broker Bryant asserted that he doesn't consider real estate to be work, but instead views it as a lifestyle. That gave me pause. Hmmmm. I worked in a very demanding corporate consulting field before going into real estate and frankly, I did make the move because of the lifestyle.

While it's true that real estate is a 24/7 lifestyle and can wreak havoc with our personal lives, if we let it. It also allows us a degree of flexibility in our live to do things that we couldn't do, if we haId set hours and a boss looking over our shoulders. I enjoy the small pleasures of going out for a walk in late afternoon (and I'm still available to my clients by cell phone during my walk) or having lunch with my husband, who understands I need to answer the phone when it rings. If we are going out to dinner or going to a social event, I'll switch the ringer off and just check text messages for any emergencies.

While my husband has been in the hospital over the past week, I was able to keep working on my cell phone and laptop. I paid another agent to step in for me to do the physical work that I couldn't do via phone or e-mail. (My husband is back home now and doing well. For those of you who don't know, he has been battling pancreatic cancer for the past 2.5 years.)

I couldn't have cared for my ailing parents during the final years of their lives without the flexibility of this lifestyle or given my husband the level of care he needs to have the quality of life the still enjoys despite his devastating illness. The photo for this post is a recent one of my husband relaxing in a friend's pool. In fact, we will be going there this afternoon for a few hours to relax and spend time together, but I will still be in touch with my clients as I have five transactions underway and 12 listings to manage.

I live with real estate 24/7, so I consider it a lifestyle. I work in the morning, afternoon, and evenings. I work weekdays and weekends. I weave work and play into my life seamlessly. For those who want to get away from work on evenings, holidays, and weekends, residential real estate will make your life miserable. If you don't have the support from your family for the real estate lifestyle, it can be tremendously stressful for both yourself and your family.

Given your own experiences in this business, do you think there is value in thinking of real estate as a lifestyle?

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Shannon Milligan, Richmond VA Real Estate Agent/Associate Broker

RVA Home Team - Richmond, VA

RVA Home Team - Winning with Integrity.

It is a way of life that isn't suitable for everyone and I think that is why so many enter the field and then vanish as fast as they came because they learned that Realtors DO NOT make too much and DO NOT have a lot of down time. Being Type A, I would work all day long (and do sometimes) but have learned to set aside time for my family and self with the all important TIME BLOCKING!

I suggested this post b/c so many think it is so east without really understand the time put forth.

Jul 30, 2012 02:48 AM

Gail Robinson

William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT

CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Shannon - It would be so helpful if people considering entering real estate could shadow a real estate agent and see what our days (and evenings) are really like. It can easily consume our lives and very few agents create the mega teams that allow them to earn big bucks. For those of us who do this full-time and are the family breadwinners, real estate consists of long hours and hard work. I do time blocking as well. I couldn't keep my sanity without it.

Jul 30, 2012 02:56 AM

John Mosier

Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ

Prescott's Patriot Agent 928 533-8142

Great Post, Gail. I struggle with balancing the demands of my Real Estate work with my "other life." I need to expand my high tech knowledge so that I can get more work done via my Droid. Now if I could just remember the procedure for getting my pictures from my Droid.

It would also help if I could get my e-mail and phone contacts synced.

Jul 30, 2012 03:24 AM

Jane Peters

Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I have worked many years on my own, prior to real estate I was a recruiter. I think any career you work on your own is a lifestyle. I love the freedom and cannot imagine how I ever worked 9-5 in an office. I am glad real estate is your career and with all that activity we know you are very successful at it despite what it going on in your life right now and you are able to spend time with your husnband. You are a prime example of incorporating your work life into your personal one.

Jul 30, 2012 05:40 AM

Gail Robinson

William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT

CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

John - I finally broke down and bought an iPhone last summer, right before the new iPhone came out, of course. I've been using iCloud to synch my calendar and I e-mail myself the photos and then just download them onto my computer from the e-mail. You could try doing that with your Droid.

Jane - Believe it or not I used to work for NACPR (National Association of Corporate and Professional Recruiters) and a good friend's husband is a well-known recruiter, so I know that profession well. Lots of meetings in airports and evening/weekend hours. Not so dissmilar to real estate. Than you for your kind words.

Jul 30, 2012 08:48 AM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Gail I had not thought of what I do as a life style, but now that you mentioned it, I guess it is. And it is one that I see myself doing for many more years.

Jul 30, 2012 10:09 AM

Sussie Sutton

David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX

David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

For me it would be Lifestyle. I currently have two jobs so I don't have much time to do anything else. When I can finally be a full time agent, which is what I desire most, it still will be lifestyle.

Jul 30, 2012 11:58 AM

Mike Warren

Real Estate - Colorado Springs, CO

Yeah, I agree. It depends on us on how we consider our work. Good thing that you can balanced out all these things.

Jul 30, 2012 12:38 PM

Hella Mitschke Rothwell

(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI

Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Oh, Gail, I feel for you, and I'm glad that this "lifestyle" fits in with your priorities. And that's what it is, isn't it? Although you work many hours, it's not rigid such as when you work in the corporate world. Real estate does give you flexibility. And that's why it's perfect for my lifestyle. I've never been one to take vacations, as such, they were always work related. I'm just not the kind that can sit on a beach for days on end and do nothing. Or visit museums, etc. without there being a mission. Real estate has given me that sense of purpose that I need. FUN, yes, lots of it, but PURPOSEFUL fun. Does that make sense? It does to me.

Jul 30, 2012 03:09 PM

Paula Bradfield

Bradfield Ramsey Group - Salida, CO

Your Salida Colorado area Realtor Team

reblogging this and suggested it... It IS a lifestyle that is seamless for me between work and play.

Jul 30, 2012 10:31 PM

Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers

RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON

Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Suggested this Gail because it is so true. I think what makes it work for you so easily is your positive attitude. When the phone rings, you sound like you don't get upset you just answer it and carry on. That's probably why it works for you and can work for the rest of us.

Jul 30, 2012 10:43 PM

Gail Robinson

William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT

CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

George - With the hours we work and our availability, it becomes a sustainable lifestyle or we burn out. I know some mortgage brokers who work five days a week, but you aren't one of them. Your hours are more like real estate agents.

Sussie - Are you working two jobs in addition to doing real estate? Wow1

Mike - So far I've been managing.

Hella - I think I could handle lying on the beach for a week, but you know, it's been so many years since I had a chance to do that that I really don't know. I might just be twitching around on the beach blanket like a Mexican jumping bean. You really made me think. Not sure I could handle a vacation.

Paula - A few people have thought this should be Featured, but the posts you think will be featured never are and the ones you least expect, get featured. I don't care. I just wanted to share my thoughts and am glad to have so many responses.

Al & Peggy - Wow, another suggest! If the phone didn't ring, I'd get upset! The sound of a phone ringing is the sound of money. Not every call turns into a commission, but if your phone is quiet, then you aren't doing something right. Thank you.

Jul 31, 2012 10:58 AM