You take the real estate class and study hard.

You take the real estate test prep course and study hard.

You pass the class.

You pass the state exam.

You are licensed.

Now comes the learning process.

This is when you discover all the costs associated with the privilege of selling real estate. 

You can step right up and join your local association of REALTORS, which also means you become a member of the state association and also NAR, the National Association of REALTORS...all for a price.

Keep the check book out so you can write a check to join the multiple listing sytem.   This in turn allows you to have a key to open lock boxes, for a fee. 

Hopefully your phone is sophisticated enough to be able to handle e-mail and to access the Internet.  If not, dig down a little deeper in your pocket and trade it in for the latest model.

Be aware, not any old computer is going to do.  If you do not have a dedicated one at the offie perhaps you will find it helpful to have a laptop to cart around with you.  Dial-up will not do when you are at home and receive a call from a client that needs to know about a particular house quickly...and I mean quickly.

Is your car up to snuff?  Does it project the image you hope to present to the big wide world of potential clients?  This certainly does not mean you have to have a ritzy chariot.  However, it does need to be dependable and clean.  I drive a hybrid, a Prius, most of the time unless I need something larger.  Does that tell people I'm sensible?  If so, I must be fooling folks.

Is there room in your home for a "serious" home office where you can have some seclusion while trying to negotiate a contract?

Is the office equipped with all the tools you need:  a fax machine, scanner, copier, printer (or all in one), along with a shredder, file cabinet, storage area for supplies and a desk and chair where you can sit when you are not pacing.

Time, like money, becomes an issue.

It sounds great when we say that we are in total control of the hours we work.  If that is so we have either been working a very long time or we are not very interested in earning a living wage.  Residential real estate is not a 9 to 5 job.  We are compensated well (sometimes) for the very fact that life can get pretty irratic.

There are going to be times when you forfeit a special activity just so you can take those folks out one more time because this time they just might find the right house.  Plus even they must be getting tired of your company and so that cannot be the reason they keep calling you to go sightseeing househunting.

Be prepared to have your work follow you home.  In fact when you work from home a good part of the time it can consume you.  Balance is needed.  Boundaries are necessary.  But...how do you not take that call at 9:30 in the evening when you've been waiting for it all day?

Patience is another thing you need in abundance along with a positive attitude.

You need to understand that your time table is not everyone's time table.  Even though you have taken out the same folks for five consecutive week-ends, they still may not have found the home they want to purchase.

You will learn that sending out tons of mailers, be it postcards or market reports or offers of CMAs, you will receive very little response.  Do not become discouraged.

There will be times a good friend or a neighbor lists with someone else.  There will be other times that you will get a listing where another REALTOR has a friend, farms the area, or even lives in the neighborhood.

Some people will never buy no matter how many homes they look at.  Time in the business will help you learn to weed out these folks.

When you think you have taken care of everything something else will come along that must be done or another problem will pop up.

You have done everything you can think of to get your listings sold and nothing is happening.  Work hard to stay positive and keep your mind open for each and every new idea.

Just when you think you will never get another listing, never get another client, never write another contract, never get another lead, never earn another penny...along comes a great opportunity, and then another, and then another.

You will then be a full-fledged REALTOR®.  Welcome to the Club!

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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, please contact Kathleen "Kate " Elim.  Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate. 

Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web sites  and blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/