I regularly get approached by friends, family members and clients who are thinking about becoming a real estate agent.
After all, I make it look so easy and they see my face all over the place. I must be making big bucks and not having to work very hard for it; right? Isn't that the impression we give others when we are successful at we do?
Professionals have a habit of making the process look easy. We shield our clients from most of the stress and strain we go through to make it all come together. We shove papers in front of our sellers a few times and say sign. A few open houses and an inspection or two and they get their check. How hard could that be? They are sure they could do it.
Buyers think we drive around, show a few houses and then in a month or two deliver them the keys.
If we are good at what we do, we make it look easy to the outside world. The truth is being a REALTOR® is not an easy job. It requires a lot of training, a lot of hard work and dedication, a lot of expenses and all with no guarantee of getting a pay check.
Ed Hatch is one of my favorite CRS instructors. He claims to do what we do, you have to be a little crazy. Think about it:
- We go to school to qualify for a license.
- We pay a few thousand dollars for the license and the various REALTOR® associations.
- Pay for E&O Insurance.
- Purchase business cards.
- Pay for the needed training to learn how to do the business.
- Get tax licenses, etc.
- Pay for marketing (which isn't cheap).
- Work floor duty.
- Sit open houses.
All of that before we even get our first client. Once we get our first client we are still looking at a minimum of a month or two before the first pay check comes in. Are you starting to agree with Ed? You have to be a bit crazy to do what we do.
So let's say I haven't scared you and you've decided to be one of us. You will be joining one of the most noble of all professions: A professional REALTOR®. Where should you start?
I just read probably the best book I have seen for someone thinking of entering the real estate profession or is new to the business. Heck, I have been fairly successful in real estate and I still enjoyed the book and got a few great ideas from it. The book is: Real Estate the Rome Way by Margaret Rome.
So if I haven't scared you off from joining the world of real estate, you should seriously consider reading Margaret's book. You will get guidance to help ensure a good start.
Good Luck and Good Reading!
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