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How Long Have You Been Doing this Real Estate Thing?

"How Long Have You Been Doing this Real Estate Thing?"

I noticed that this otherwise well-intentioned question comes up quite often from clients, potential clients, and other random people I meet. From day one in real estate almost 7 years ago, I've always confidently answered this question with the truth.

It's natural that people want to know. After all, you wouldn't want wouldn't necessarily want an accountant that's only prepared two tax returns advising you or a proctologist who's never seen an _ _ _ working on yours. Would you?

I think it's more the tone of the question that can bother me and many other brokers and agents.

This Real Estate Thing?

Selling real estate is a career. A career I've built over time with hundreds and thousands of hours of education, practical experience, and an investment of thousands and thousands of dollars.

How long have you been doing this lawyer thing? How long have you been doing this consulting thing? How long have you been doing this plumber thing? How long have you been doing this teacher thing?

I've never asked nor heard asked the above questions.

Real estate is not a thing. It is a career.

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Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 11/22/2008 05:59 AM

Comments (31)

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31 Comments on How Long Have You Been Doing this Real Estate Thing?

NOV

2008

The truth is Brian...that how long is not sometimes the best measurement....but how WELL,...we know lots of folks who have been in whatever business...lender,..realtor....for ages....and they can't spell short sale,..have never earned 6 figures....just sort of hang in there....it's not how long you make it...it's how you make it long....every prosperous wish !

SALLY & DAVID: That is so true. Thanks for your comment. Just as there are rookie stars in any sport with better stats than some long-time players, the same goes in real estate.

I get this from time to time, but it's mostly because they don't understand what realtors do. A lot of people just think you throw a sign in the yard and wait for phone calls. It's an opportunity to explain what you do, and maybe find a future client.

Being in the real estate thing also doesnt answer how long you have done real estate. IE I have been an investor and Mortgage Broker for 20 years. Licensed Agent 2.

Im a young agent, 27 years old, I started when I was 24 and people did ask a lot how old I was or how long I had been doing this. I looked at them smiled and said oh this is my first day, how exciting is that? I used that to break the ice, and told them that I had been a real estate agent long enough to become one of the most successful agents in their area. That works for me and wasn't a lie either.

I agree. It is a career! I have made it my career for 23 years.

One of the reasons people ask this is because there are so many agents that do this part-time and they are a full-time something else. Our company has about 60 agents working for us and about 15 are full-time Realtors and the rest are doing something else to actually make a living. As for me, I've been licensed for 14 years (with the first 5 years being part-time while I worked a full-time job).

Brian - while the words may change, I don't think questioning how longsomeone has been in a profession is at all an unusual question. How long have you been practicing law? medicine? Sure, sometimes the question is How long have you been a doctor? but it's more often How long have you been practicing? And there's an even worse word choice - who wants to just "practice" his career?

I have been doing this thing since 1982 full time but licensed since 1979 (finished college between 1979 and 1982 but used my license part time).

I find that many clients aren't really sure about what we are doing and how we are doing it. We come across people being amazed by the fact that we will show them other agent's listings, I've also heard clients say that "good real estate agents work around the clock and also on weekends".

During my first year, when people asked me how long I had been in real estate, I would answer "I signed my first contract when I was 18", which is true..........but I received my license in January 2007. Now I tell them about "something" that happened to me during my first year, which works great to eliminate the question "how long have you been in business".

Hi Brian - a career in a chosen professional field, and many just don't think of it that way. And I've been doing 'this real estate thing' for many years, most of my adult life, and I love it! I can't imagine any career path for me!

Ann

Hi Brian. Good point. I have been in real estate 8 years and I too love it! Thanks for sharing..

Great obsaervation. . .I get the same question a lot

I do think that when we have more people (both agents and the public) who gives this "thing" its value, its respect and its professionalism it deserves, then we won't call it a "thing". You are right. A career worth spending a lifetime building takes passion to build.

Brian~

I've gotten this "thing" THING a few times...and have turned it around with a longrecitation of my background and experience (served up with a good-natured smile ) that in each case has left the recipient more educated and appreciative of the features and benefits derived from the services real estate professionals provide.

One of these days the negative PR that surrounds real estate professionals will begin to dissolve. I see the consumer -facing web, where we have the opportunity to reach out in an authentic way to our audience, as an avenue for spearheading the understanding of real estate as an exceptional practice. . .

Possibly AR and Localism...and other social networking places..are key in this effort. . .

This career started over 3 years ago and I am now a broker. This is after a 23 year career in a corporate job and anyone who thinks this isn't a career doesn't have corporate management training.

Brian, We rarely hear that question now. When we meet folks we tell them we own 2 companies and broker in 3 states. That usually nips that in the bud at the get go. I remember early in my career that the question was often raised and it is a valid one. More importantly how long have you been full time???

Thank you for clarifying this to the public. This is especially true in today's market where it often takes miracles to get to the settlement table ON TIME!

Yes, that question comes up because I am one of the youngest agents in my office. I work with my mother who has been a full-time agent for almost a decade and I have been licensed for two years but am still learning from her. She learns from me now too, since she is not as quick with the technical aspect of marketing...I'm still trying to get her to blog. I have been doing real estate very well for two years, which is more than some agents can say after being in it for ten times as long, who don't adapt to new technology or take many opportunities to further their education, which I think is so important and I love that my board offers so many free classes. The more I know the better I can do this 'real estate thing.' =)

I don't get that as much as I use to. Guess I need to go visit my plastic guy and get a nip/tuck. Anyway, when I did get it, I would look at them, smile and say, "Bubba, if I were a dog, I would have been doing this for 210 years. You do the math."

People want to deal with experience and they mistakenly think if you have been in the business since the creation of dirt, you know what you are doing. Wrong!

With all that has been said, I have to say I do promote myself as being a local guy with a ton of experience. Does that mean I am the best? Not by a long shot, but people have a comfort level in years on the job.

I love the answer from Morgan. Should I get asked again, I am going to say, " This is my first day. My parole officer got me this gig.

FYI: I started in 1978.

Brian,

It's professionals like you who raise the bar so that people will realize that it IS a profession. Sadly there are many who play at it, who don't take it seriously who continue to perpetuate the notion that it is a "THING".

Thanks for a another interesting post.

Yes, and a great career it is ! I remember when I first started that I was afraid to answer that I have been in the business for a year or two... I would qualify it and say that I had been doing real estate investing for a long time and decided to make the move to financial consulting to real estate for a variety of reasons. Am very glad that I did that...

So now, I have been doing that real estate thing for a little over 5 years !! : )

Brian,

How long have you been doing this blogging thing!!! LOL, Thanks, Fran

Brian,

Thank you....I dislike that too. Another one I detest, "these agents, those agents, those real estate agents, people". Just makes my skin crawl because it feels more like a slur than anything. How do you like to be treated and what do you like to be called. I hear these words or read them in caps and it just gets my back up.

I know it's my career. Started 5 years ago. I got here late, but this is what I want to do untill I can't do anything!

Honestly there are times when I scratch my head wondering if people have asked that question. I would think it would be an important consideration.

What thing?

In any event, no matter what the career ....if one takes pride in what they do it is a grand profession :)

You make an excellent point and you are right - only realtors get asked such questions!

Too true. To quote Rodney Dangerfield "I get no respect."

NOV

2008

Hi Brian, We hear this question quite often in the real estate industry. Do you think it has anything to do with the latest stats I read on agents? 50% drop out of the business in their first year. A total of 75% drop out of the business within 2 years. Not very good stats!

NOV

2008

Hi Brian...It's one of the best "things" that ever happened to me (careerwise).

Kate

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