Anyone who has been in real estate for long knows that the reason for which someone gets into real estate, might not necessarily be the reason they stay in it. The perception of quick and good money in this industry is a widely held belief. One that has turned out to be a myth, for the truth is something quite different. Quick and good money will only materialize for those rare, exceptional agents that display both consistency and tenacity right out of the gate. The fact is most every agent struggles, at least at first, due to experiencing the roller coaster effect of closing deals and then having an empty pipeline void of new prospects.
Most agents that I talk to complain that when they enter the business their family is constantly nagging them about the hours that they keep and the phone calls that they choose to take at all hours of the day and night. Then, when they are not working, the agent is either at home, pouting over a lack of business or worrying about when the next client will surface and take up their time again - 24/7.
Loving real estate as a job is a change for many agents. Most are mired in the rut of attempting to make a consistent living while keeping the balance act of sharing time and attention between work and family.
Here are some ideas that I have used to keep on keeping on loving real estate.
Real estate is the backdrop of what you do. You are really in business. Real estate is just the canvas upon which you have chosen to paint and ply your craft. And anyone in business knows that you have to constantly be curious about what you do, challenge yourself to learn as much as you can and keep asking ‘what if...' Because, ‘what if...' means you are willing to change things in hopes of finding a better way. This does not mean expensive technology that has huge learning curves, nor does it mean changing the systems that work all the time. It means, saying things differently to get a new result. It means looking at things that are repetitive to see if there is a simpler way of doing them. And it especially means at all times, asking if the routine that you have been doing is necessary.
Ask yourself often, "What is real estate?" Defining it for yourself will open your eyes to what you love and hate about your profession which in turn allows you to connect deeper with and appreciate more what you love.
Set boundaries for yourself and your clients. This allows you to know when something is not working for you because you have already thought it out.
You can set quick boundaries by writing at the top of a paper such leading statements like; I will treat my clients with... And, my clients will not...
Try new things like video while you are showing houses. Make a series that is educational for your buyers to come.
Collect educational materials and make a file that you can give to your future buyers. Knowledge is empowering to both you and your clients. It cuts down on everyone's confusion, which reduces stress leading to a more rewarding outcome for all involved.
Stay away from negative people in your business and your family for that matter. People who tell you that you can't should now be considered motivational forces, if you have to hang out with them.
Do your best to find something that is funny everyday in real estate. Something amusing that happened at a house that you are showing, or something funny that your client said or something funny that you laugh at with another agent can make your day more memorable and enjoyable. Remember if something isn't fun to you, you won't want to do it.
The bottom line to all of this is that whether you love real estate or not, it is your choice. Your perception is reality. You can make anything that you want exactly what you want it to be.
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