Weaker Market = Part Time Agents

Every market is different and I can't imagine an agent trying to work in our current market part time.  I'm spending hours a day on the phone with clients, agents, lenders and banks.  Every deal seems to take more time out of the day than it used to even if it isn't a foreclosure or a short sale.

So much in our business is based on timely communications and setting expectations. Whether it's a part-time agent or a full-time agent, letting people know what to expect - clients and other agents - certainly helps make successful transactions and relationships.

What I find funny is those that say "Part-timers" or "new agents" are ruining the business for the rest of us!! Sounds like the Chicken Little story with the "sky is falling" bull.

Yes, I am a relativeity new agent, nothing wrong with that because without new agents there cant be any retired agents, heh. Everyone was a new agent at one time, like it or not, but you do not need to run down others just because they dont meet "your" personal standards. Also no need to tell them to become part of a team or an assistant, ya know? Not everyone has that option or wants to be tied in like that. In additition I've meet some pretty lousy experienced (6yrs+ experience) agents that take forever to respond even when RE "is" their FT job. 

I agree that some agents, working RE FT or not, should always try to list an alternate agent, it helps greatly if they can. But in this time, no matter when or why they got into the business, people have to make ends meet. Not everyone has a spouse, or someone who can help support them as we all know how expensive this business is along with the cost of living these days.

Do the best you can for yourself, dont worry about what another person is doing, try to give people the benefit of the doubt & if we help one another then you will have some great karma/payback due for the future.

There are some full time + agents (80-90 hours a week) who can't even handle what they do because they are so busy right now.  I don't know what the solution between the two types is other than patience, and picking up their slack.

:shrug:  There's gotta be a happy place somewhere in between huh?

We are seeing the same thing happen in our market too. Many seasoned agents around here are taking supplemental income as well.

Ardell - I'm with you, it's all about the truth.  I found out several days into a transaction that the listing agent was working another job until 3pm every day, I couldn't get her on the phone and the seller was calling me directly.  When I finally asked what was going on, she said that she was waiting tables.  If she just would have told me upfront, I would have know what was going on and I would have worked around it.  Trying to cover up the truth never works.

Telling the truth is crucial - I didn't get mad at an agent recently who couldn't get back to me quickly in a bank-owned deal because I know she just had to take two jobs to stay afloat...if she hadn't told me, I would have thought she was taking other offers!

Great post topic- timely and what a nerve to hit!

I often wonder if this is the only field where we beat ourselves up for getting a second job to support our FAMILIES! And then make ourselves feel guilty over doing what it takes to make it and hide it from our peers.

I have considered getting a second income myself, but I know the stigma that would attach to me in the profession if I did so. So I have just suffered along, hoping & praying and lucking out, kind of. We have a "make or break" attitude that is probably about as healthy as the income manias & depressions we submit to. And it translates from the very start- how much training does anyone really get when they start? and goes right to the end- "old agents don't retire, they just get listless"

I don't know the answer for myself. But I do know that I will not get on any other agent's case or make them feel badly about doing what it takes to make it. I do expect them to pull their weight and take care of their clients needs. But I am not going to fuss at them if I have to refax something a couple times, or answer a scatterbrained question or two.

That said, I do agree with Greg Steffens' comment above, where he says the agent has to be honest with themselves about the level of service they can provide to their client with this other focus. If they cannot adequately care for their client this way, they need to find a solution- team, assistant, whatever.

I find certain parallels with my time commitments for volunteering. No one would ever say my volunteer time gets in the way of my client care. So maybe there is a way to do it responsibly, without the negative fallout.

But I do have clients who have hired me because I am full time, not part time.

This is a very interesting post because you're right, it is a "norm" now that many real estate agents are either closing up shop (even top producers) or cutting back or getting a second job.  What is very irritating to me is when agents call you and leave a message and if you don't call back within what they think is reasonable, they are furious.  Many realtors took this position because of the flexibility and everyone needs to realize that not everyone else operates by our time clock and they don't think the way you or I do.  They have their own thought of what is "reasonable" and that is one factor that I think other folks need to realize.  Knoxville, Tn has 600 less closings today than it had this same day last year...........that is a lot of missing production and I think patience with other agents, realizing that not everyone thinks alike and cutting some slack, as you suggested would be the right thing to do because you never know another person's circumstances, you never know what is going on in their lives and you never know when the shoe that the agent is wearing (having another job) might just be on your feet one day.  I believe that life comes full circle and what goes around comes around, so when "mine" comes around, I want it to be patience.  You get back what you give out tenfold, that is a great saying to live by.  Great post, great points and great perspective.  Thank you!

Ardell, Congratulations on being featured, and what a great post!  I have read so so many posts complaining about part time agents, but I agree with you, people need to do whatever it takes to pay the bills!  It's not just the part timers that don't call you back either! 

Not sure where the part-times find the time to do everything.  Like Moms in real estate... how do they do it? 

I have no problem with a person earning a living to put food on the table...but you must manage your time too...if you are involved in a transaction with another agent and you want to earn the goal of getting paid then they need to return calls anf follow up or they just shouldn't be handling it. Face it...you are representing your client and even if your cleint understnads...you still have to do eveything you can to make the transaction successful. If you can't then you should refer it out or get someone to help you out. I'm doing this for over 12 yrs and when I moved here...I still took a part time job to cover my costs until I mada deal. I was still able to follow up with all my clients no matter the case and left the part time job a few months later so managing time is key,

Ardell- I will do most anything to help out if asked....but do not "expect" me to do your work.  times are tough for many, and we do what we have to......I have no problem with that, I think there are ways to do both, but people need to be good at communication and knowing when to say no.

In certain towns in my market area, there are only a couple of closings per month and around 20 months of inventory.  Plus, the market slows down in December and doesn't really pick up again until March because of our weather.  Agents in these areas have to do something else - there's just no way to survive.

Sure, working with a part time agent can be frustrating.  In my experience, though, I've found the agent who has been around the block and knows everything to be much more difficult.  Real estate has changed since 1970 so if I hear "I've been an agent for 20+ years and I know what I'm doing" one more time I'll scream.