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Selling Real Estate Nights & Weekends Is Not the Answer... But there IS an answer...

By Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Education & Training with Sell with Soul

June 10, 2010 12:26 AM

Question

In the last week, I've been contacted by three (or was it four?) aspiring real estate agents who began the conversation with some variation of the words "I know you don't approve of selling real estate part-time, but..." and proceeded to tell me why I might consider "approving" of their situation.

Sorry. Ain't gonna happen. Okay, well, let me confess that one of the three (or four) aspiring agents actually had a potentially viable proposition for success as a part-time new agent, but the others (love y'all, but...) did not. Their main argument to my proclamation that part-time ain't gonna work was "I'd really like to go full-time but I can't. What do you think?"

Um, sorry m'love, but I think exactly what I thought five minutes before I got your call or note. Whether or not you "can" go full-time doesn't change the fact that selling real estate is a full-time job. Take it or leave it.

But, don't despair; there IS a solution for you!

Really, Jennifer? Tell me; tell me, what is it?

I dunno.

I don't know what the solution is, but there is one. Wanna know how to find it? Okay, here goes.

Simply acknowledge to yourself that you want to sell real estate for a living, and accept the fact that in order to succeed, selling real estate needs to be your primary career. Then relax and let it go - let your creativity subconsciously work on the problem. Don't rush it, don't fret, and don't force anything. The answer will come, I promise it will.

I don't know what that answer will be, but I'm almost positive it won't be "I'll sell real estate nights and weekends." That's the WRONG answer.

But there is a right answer. One that will seem oh-so-obvious once it smacks you on the head.

I recently played this game with myself in my personal life. There are two things I want and they appear to be mutually exclusive. I can have this... OR that. Not both. So, I just said out loud what I wanted and waited for inspiration on how to have both... or some other satisfactory solution. And, I think I've found it. Once the solution occurred to me, it seemed so obvious.

Be patient and show your new career the respect it deserves. It may just be the best decision you ever made. And if you come up with a Right Answer to the dilemma - please share!

p.s. Before you jump on the band-wagon of protesting that I'm anti-part-timer, please read Comment #28!

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Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL

Author of Sell with Soul

Kathryn - thank you - I really tried not to bash part-timers, but whenever this subject comes up, it tends to spark passionate debate... which is dandy. And yes, while there are exceptions to every rule, the chances of BEING that exception are pretty slim... and with the odds of failure very high, is it really responsible to encourage it?

Richard - EXACTLY! If you're willing to work 16 hours a day - DO IT - at a job that actually pays. Then jump in all the way!

Claudette - Perfect. I've been scolded for my position because "Well, Jennifer, you HAD a spouse willing to support you when you started!" Um, yes I did. So I was in a good position to succeed, and I did. If you don't have the money to start up a business, regardless of where that money comes from, maybe starting up a business isn't in the cards right now.

Jun 11, 2010 02:07 AM

Erik Elsea

Erik Elsea-Jones & Co. Realty - Fort Myers, FL

With all that I do in a day for my real estate career I don't even know how you could do this part time.

Jun 11, 2010 02:10 AM

Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL

Author of Sell with Soul

Irene - I believe attitude is a huge part of success, but only one part. Having the time (and energy) to commit IS a piece of the puzzle as well. How many times has your 4pm closing threatened to fall apart at 10am (besides the paycheck concerns, you have a buyer with a loaded moving truck and a seller already moved out...) and you have to spend the next five hours making phone calls, gathering documents, delivering documents, etc. to hold it all together? When I get up in the morning, I have no idea where that day will take me, but it's part of my job to be able to respond quickly to emergencies and even perceived emergencies.

Jun 11, 2010 02:13 AM

SarahGray Lamm

Allen Tate Realtors Chapel Hill, NC 919-819-8199 - Chapel Hill, NC

Realtor - 100K Hours of NC Real Estate Experience

Jennifer, the greatest thing about selling real estate full time is that, SOMETIMES, you do not HAVE to sell it nights and weekends! I'm with you girl!

Jun 11, 2010 02:22 AM

Jeanne Dufort

Coldwell Banker Lake Country - Madison, GA

Madison and Lake Oconee GA

I work full time - well, more than full time. Always have, even before real estate.

But... I understand the probability of earning a living wage in this business. So... what I propose is that the real issue here is not how many hours you actually work at real estate, but rather your availability.

For example, if you are representing a seller, and it consistently takes 6-8 hours (or more) to return a buyer's agent request for showing - that's a problem. If you're a buyers agent, and the only time you can make calls to schedule showing appointments is the evening - thats a problem.

So take a job with a regular paycheck if you must - but be realistic about the nature of this business, and realize that simply being available by phone most of the time is critical to this business.

Jun 11, 2010 02:45 AM

Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

I'd offer that if you take real estate on full time, the other 'job' should be the part-time work. If you work the first one with passion and vigor, it's probable that the part-time work can eventually be shelved.

Jun 11, 2010 02:50 AM

Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL

Author of Sell with Soul

Karen - I'll buy that! In fact, I think that's a great plan!

Jeanne - Perhaps that's the solution - to find a compatible job that offers tremendous flexibility. I guess the trouble is that most pre-rookies already have a job they want to keep, which isn't likely to offer that flexibility. But it IS a solution!

SarahGray - I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Erik - Agreed.

Jun 11, 2010 02:57 AM

Damon Gettier

Damon Gettier & Associates, REALTORS- Roanoke Va Short Sale Expert - Roanoke, VA

Broker/Owner ABRM, GRI, CDPE

Jennifer, there is a way for these people to save and get into the business. They should get licensed and then join a company as a referral agent. Whenever they come across someone who wants to buy or sell they could then refer them to a competent professional and get a referral fee. Once they have accumulated enough referral income to be able to quit their job and be a full time REALTOR they would be in the position to do just that.

Jun 11, 2010 03:19 AM

Bob Haywood

McGraw Realtors - Owasso, OK

BobHaywood.com

Jennifer, as always...excellent advice! Real Estate is full time all the way! And finding answers can come when you do exactly as you have prescribed!

Jun 11, 2010 03:43 AM

Mark McHugh

Clearmark Real Estate llc - Warwick, RI

Realtor Rhode Island 401-641-3842

Thanks Jennifer. I remember thinking of it as a part time gig when I started. I soon found out I was losing opportunities by being at "work". I never looked back...

Jun 11, 2010 03:53 AM

Stephanie Arnett

Mississippi Magnolia - Starkville, MS

Forbes | Inman | BossBabe | Newsweek | Tom Ferry

I think an agent "can" sell part-time, but I assure you they can NOT give their clients the service they deserve!!

Jun 11, 2010 04:17 AM

Lesley Wagstaff

Re/Max Results Realty in Vancouver, BC - Coquitlam, BC

For Real Estate and Mortgages

I started in the business 23 years ago. It was a rule of our real estate board that you could not have 2 jobs. I thought it was hard at the time, but now I realize it made me make the commitment to succeed in this business. With all the advancements in technology, the public now expects instantaneous response. I have no idea how you can do that and work at another job as well.

Jun 11, 2010 05:15 AM

Bryan Robertson

Los Altos, CA

Part-time doesn't work unless the market is on fire and you can sell with little effort. This is a profession and requires the attention of a full-time professional, not a soccer mom looking to make a little money to finance trips to Nordstrom. Was that snarky?

Jun 11, 2010 05:25 AM

Laurie C. Bailey-Gates

Robert Paul Properties - Barnstable, MA

ABR, SFR

I think the industry today has seen more and more part time agents and it does make getting showing appointments and deals to close on time very hard.

Jun 11, 2010 05:30 AM

Eric Anderson

Eric Anderson Realty Group - Fayetteville, NC

Fort Bragg Military Relocation Services, Fayettevi

This is a very inspirational note to anyone who might be dealing with this issue. Good Job! I'm sure it will be greatly appreciated.

Jun 11, 2010 06:06 AM

Michael Collins

*ROCK REALTY|Broker|Realtor|Real Estate|WI Short Sale Agent* - Janesville, WI

CDPE, SFR , Wisconsin Short Sale Specialist Realto

It all really depends on the definition of part time. If part time means you work nights, weekends, and can be in communication with clients at any time during the day? - you can be successful.

Jun 11, 2010 08:02 AM

Patricia Aulson

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH

Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

I think it can be done if one is focused and organized. When things are as quiet as they have been this year,,,,,why not!

Patricia

Jun 11, 2010 02:19 PM

Patricia Aulson

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH

Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

I think it can be done if one is focused and organized. When things are as quiet as they have been this year,,,,,why not!

Patricia

Jun 11, 2010 02:19 PM

Bill Travis

Captain Bill Realty, LLC - Gilbert, AZ

Broker/Owner

For me, I think it's not whether an agent is full time or part time, it's how much education they get from working with mentors and taking more classes to become more educated in real estate.

I couldn't do it part time because I would need to have clients tied to my schedule, and that would reduce the number of people willing to work with me.

However, I knew one young lady who had a day job 3 days per week at a country club to pay her bills. The other 4 days, and nights, she studied and worked her tail off in real estate. She had a great personality, and while at the country club she met people and would casually let them know about her real estate job. She got a couple of $1,000,000 + listings from her contacts.

So you could say that her 3 days at the country club provided her with great marketing avenues.

Jun 13, 2010 05:04 AM

Anonymous

Paul Franciskato

I believe what we focus our energy on is what we get in return. That applies to anything in life, positive or negative. If a successful real estate career is what one wants, then it takes focus and action for that to be realized. I believe that is the main point Jennifer is making in this post.

After reading the comments, I see a mix of perspectives about the part time vs full time real estate professional. There are opposing views regarding whether or not one can become successful while working at the real estate profession part time. I believe success in real estate or any career depends more so on a variety of factors eg. knowledge, skills, a mentor, commitment, etc. rather than the amount of time devoted to the pursuit. Of course the more time dedicated to the activity, the greater the potential is for success! There isn't necessarily a simple straight-forward answer.

The reality in real estate is that income is not a guarantee. I sense that this is the main reason for not going into the profession full time. As Terry Chenier (47th comment) says, "Anyone getting in this business needs a year's wages in the bank." If one does not have a financial cushion to rely upon during lean times, what other options are there besides working a job in addition to the real estate career?

Jun 15, 2010 04:28 PM

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