Is a Real Estate Career too time consuming and demanding?

Blog: Is a Real Estate career too time consuming and demanding?
 I am frequently asked by those considering a Real Estate career about  what time contribution or working hours are required to make a decent living as a Real Estate Professional.
So here are some thoughts on that. Yes, you can make a decent living but your personality, availability, time flexibility, organizational and people skills are key components to that possibility.
First, let me address the time commitment and availability required. If you are a single parent with young or school aged children and not a lot of reliable child care (non paid) help, or perhaps are responsible for the care of an aging parent, this career may pose some difficulties.
When do Realtors work? Most of the actual money making activities, referred to MMA in our training sessions, occur after 5pm during the week and all day on weekends. This makes perfect sense as buyers and sellers (our clients) are mainly available to see houses or consult with us outside of their work hours. So, to be available to your children (or aging parents requiring care) during the hours that are most important to them (after school activities, homework, dinner preparation and meal sharing; weekend activities and spending time with them), you can't be available to your clients. 
I don't want you to think that you are free and don't work during the day, oh no, that is quite packed with tasks also. 
Office meetings, networking and business events, broker open houses, training, Continuing Education requirements, conferences and conventions, property previews, taking listing photos and videos, meeting with appraisers, property inspections (4-5 hours), giving access and meeting agents on your listings, research; preparing marketing and CMA reports, buyer portfolios, brochures; installing signs & lockboxes and the list goes on!
One would think I am trying to talk you out of Real Estate as a career choice. I am not. I guess I get weary after investing months and months of my time training agents who have an unrealistic expectation of the time and flexibility required of a professional Real Estate agent.
Real Estate hours are often long and exhausting. We are expected to be available 24/7/almost 365 days a year and to be prompt with our response time.  Phone calls, emails, texts, showing & listing appointments, open houses, research and follow up are frequent and constant interruptions in our lives. This is really no such thing as an uninterrupted dinner or event, that is unless you want to risk loss of business. You also are "on call" for frequent last minute showing appointments. That is not easy if you are juggling child care or elder care and managing home responsibilities. 
One might think I am trying to talk you out of a career in Real Estate. I am not. I guess I just grow weary of several months of training only to have the agent realize they just don't have the time required for this business. I want you to make sure you know what to expect.
So who is this business for? Anyone who does not have a lot of time constraining, non flexible responsibilities.
This business is for you if you do not have to "answer" to anyone, or "be responsible" for anyone in the event of last minute plan changes or if meals and everyday life gets interrupted (both frequent). 
And you must be okay with your evenings and weekends belonging to your clients and not your friends and family.
Don't get me wrong, you can be flexible, and you get to make your own hours, but your hours are at the "whim" of your clients. And if you try to have a life and do not have 10 or more actual appointments (just on actual appointments not including the other activities mentioned above) per week (each lasting 2-3 hours or more), your income will be more on par with a retail check-out clerk, and not anywhere near the income that you may hope to make.  

If you are a friendly, time flexible individual with good people skills, then you are a prime candidate for a successful career in Real Estate . If you are able to have a variable and accommodating schedule, a Real Estate career can be VERY lucrative and well worth the effort.
Please reach out to me if you would like to talk more about a career in Real Estate.

Marie Episale,

Broker-Salesperson

Sales Manager- Trainer

973-646-7423 office direct

201-314-0106 cell 
mcepi@aol.com