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You want Fries with That?

There has been a great deal written on agents leaving the business as sales have taken a down turn. My question is about the agents who have been able to stay in the business while supplementing their income in some way...even Real Estate Related. I will tell a personal story. I got an email from a company out of Syracuse, NY that was looking for photographers. I almost deleted it but something about it caught my eye. I responded and they were looking for people to take pictures of houses from the street for aide in valuating them. They would pay a photographer $10.00 per house. I signed up and have been taking pictures for the last 8 months or so. it is not always consistent. There are many days with no assignments but sometimes you get a chunk of houses.

The point is that there are things out there that agents can do that don't take them away from the business completely. If they get a part/full time job at Macy's, then they are there for their entire shift and don't have the opportunity to perform any of the the functions of Real Estate.

I am curious if anyone is or knows of someone making some side money while still very much staying in the business.

Posted by Jim Hirschhorn, GRI, Real Living - Orlando on 05/06/2008 12:08 PM

Comments (12)

real estate, real living real estate solutions, jim hirschhorn, marketing

Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Real Living

12 Comments on You want Fries with That?

Jim, I beleive your blog screams "RESILIENCY." This is sage advice for folks who can gut it out and persevere.

05/06/2008 12:14 PM

by Andrew J. Lenza (ABR*GRI*MBA) Monmouth County NJ Real Estate Broker (Andrew J. Lenza Realty)

I sell Home Interior on the side. I get little groups together and we play Bingo for Home Interior. It is alot of fun.

05/06/2008 12:18 PM

by Angelia Garcia (Francesca Realty.LLC)

I have been busier than normal. I have been working an international relocation company to help expatriats from various countries that are going to be working in the US for a period of time find housing, get acclaimated to the area they move to and get their social security cards, etc. I still get to use my real estate background and it is somewhat flexible.

I also substitute teach when I know that I don't have anything going on. I'm usually out by 2:45pm and on the prep time and lunch I can still do real estate.

Thanks for the post.

05/06/2008 12:23 PM

by Ronda Myers-Waters (Willems Realtors, Principal Broker)

Andrew, I have a simple explanation. I am from Philadelphia so it must be a tri-state thing!

Angelia, What is Home Interior? Is it Interior decorating?

05/06/2008 12:24 PM

by Jim Hirschhorn, GRI, Real Living - Orlando (Real Living Real Estate Solutions)

That's great Ronda. We keep telling our agents that overseas is the place to market right now as the Dollar is so weak.

05/06/2008 12:25 PM

by Jim Hirschhorn, GRI, Real Living - Orlando (Real Living Real Estate Solutions)

I know several realtors who are making decent money on the side selling Monavie as a MLM, I havent tried is personally but they say they are enjoying some success.

05/06/2008 12:30 PM

by DSF Mortgages

Jim,

My company started a division that handles rentals. There are people that have had to relocate and can't sell their home either price range isn't selling or they are upside down. If we find the renter we get paid. They can choose to manage the property themselves or have us do it for a fee. This has become pretty popular in our area.

05/06/2008 12:39 PM

by Ronda Myers-Waters (Willems Realtors, Principal Broker)

It is certainly a challenging time. I know some people working part-time in real estate - however, they only do the listing side as working with buyers is just too time consuming. It seems to be working out. One is with lender doing administrative work, a couple of nurses.

05/06/2008 12:46 PM

by Joan Whitebook, ABR, e-Pro, CEBA (Buyer's Option Realty Services)

Richard, sorry for my slowness but is Monavie a product of some sort?

Ronda, we are also starting a property management division. Starting slow with just our agents customers but who knows...

Joan, I have had a handful of agents ask if they could go 50/50 with me. I do all the work and they get 50% (kidding)

05/06/2008 12:48 PM

by Jim Hirschhorn, GRI, Real Living - Orlando (Real Living Real Estate Solutions)

I just closed a deal last month in which the listing agent has been moonlighting on the weekends as a wedding photographer. Plus, I just called a listing agent for showing instructions for a house to look at this Thursday. That particular agent answered her cell phone while teaching a kindergarten class (I didn't ask if she was being a substitute or if it was a full-time gig but she happily told me she was teaching). She just said it was a little bit slower part of the day, so she was able to answer the phone, and then she told me she'd call me back to get more info re: "What are Nehemiah and AmeriDream?"

05/06/2008 09:15 PM

by Lisa Spalding (Watson Realty Corp.)

I know several agents who are involved in catalog sales part-time. Some are successful and are making extra cash, and some are not.

05/07/2008 10:38 AM

by Rosario Lewis ~ DDR Realty, Orange County, NY (DDR Realty)

Lisa, that is hilarious. Can they at least get you discounts on wedding photos?

05/07/2008 02:04 PM

by Jim Hirschhorn, GRI, Real Living - Orlando (Real Living Real Estate Solutions)

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