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Becoming A Real Estate Professional Is Like Getting On A Roller Coaster

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside

Becoming A Real Estate Professional Is Like
Getting On A Roller Coaster


Yes, becoming a Real Estate professional is like getting on a Roller Coaster. You know there are ups and downs. You know it might be thrilling or frightening! You know where it starts and you know where it ends.
However, you cannot control the variables. (Don't miss video evidence below!)

The thing to do is figure out how to make the ride thrilling by focusing on the right procedures from the beginning. By knowing the rules of the game - so to speak -  one may avoid situations that evoke fear and perhaps, even chaos.

What I wish I had known the very first year I was in the business that cost me business was how little the general public knows about how the real estate market functions. That is, what are the roles of the various players?

You have the Listing Agent, the Selling Agent (who is the Buyer's Agent - go figure the terminology!), the Lenders, the Inspectors, the Attorneys and a host of other necessary participants to reach the successful Sale/Purchase.

 

Here I am - 25 years later - still having to teach who is who and whose job is what at the start of transactions. Except now the group expanded to include the Internet is a "member" of the process also.


Was there ever a time you questioned whether you had made the right choice of being a real estate agent? This is a funny question because almost every week I question whether I made the right decision to become a real estate professional. Ever hear the joke about going into real estate to make your own schedule and not have to work long hours?

What caused me to stick wth Real Estate is the THRILL of the Home Run when it all works out right - happy Seller or happy Buyer. Every transaction is a TEAM effort - REALTOR/Client and the  well-respected professional support careers all along the path. That SINGS!!!!
 

Three things I learned along the way that have positively affected me and helped improve my real estate business are the importance of timeliness, communication and follow-up.

 


Timeliness:
Responding quickly and having answers ready is critical to success. Many real estate "gurus" have statistics they quote about how fast one has to reply. So much for the idea of real estate as a career without long hours!

Communication: Responding quickly and having answers read
y isn't actually enough though. One has to know HOW to respond. Brad Andersohn taught us to make the first reply with a polarized question: prefer call, text or email?  That generally elicites a response so the data requested may be sent in the format the person can hear. Not much success ahead when a possible Client gets angry for being contacted the "wrong" way.

Follow-up: Keeping the balls in the air is a science in itself. One must continually search for the properties the Clients want and they often change their minds mid-stream. So we start again on the next track. How often do you contact Clients who have been MIA? Delicate balance ther so one doesn't become a PITA as John Meussner would say.

 

So, what is it that is so appealing about my job?

I love being a Real Estate Broker because I keep learning all the time. One day it's a question about why a building lost FHA approval and another day zoning issues. An endless list of questions that bring new learning!

 

My advice to someone considering a real estate career?
Yes, consider it for sure after you understand the ups and downs, the lack of control over events every day and the perpetual demands on your time.

Thanks to Nina Hollander for showing me this video.

 

 

Roller Coaster image: Page Link. Some rights reserved.
 Author: Carol Walker and derivative silhouette by Natasha Sinegina
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License

Comments (26)

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

It is a crazy wonky-tonk business to be in yet I do enjoy it ... most of the time. My drive to serve my clients.  Beyond that ... it is just WORK. 

Jan 07, 2018 03:04 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Kathleen Daniels  As always, a wise comment from you. The scut "work" is sorting and finding the right things which is the basis for serving our Clients. You hit the nail on the head. L.

Jan 07, 2018 04:32 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

"No Realtors were harmed in the making of this film".

  LOL, great post and great video!

Jan 07, 2018 03:10 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Fred Griffin
Thanks - see comment #3 - you and I must be twins. L.

Jan 07, 2018 04:33 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Thanks to George Souto  for re-blogging as I missed this Lynn .I had already seen this video .  Great tips from our Brad Andersohn  I do miss him he always gave us some wonderful advice you could not find anywhere else .  He does pop in now and them .  Love this glamorous life

Jan 07, 2018 04:14 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Hannah Williams Hope you are staying warm up there! L.

Jan 07, 2018 04:34 PM
Hannah Williams

I am trying sooo cold ...Iceland is warmer

Jan 07, 2018 05:22 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Yes, I do try to pop in as often as I can. Hope everyone has an amazing and prosperous 2018! 👍

Jan 07, 2018 04:18 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Brad Andersohn Happy New Year to you and your family. L.

Jan 07, 2018 04:34 PM
Hannah Williams

Hope you are feeling fine Brad Andersohn 

Jan 07, 2018 05:23 PM
Mary Jo Quay
H360homes.com - Minneapolis, MN
I Move You Home

New agents face totally different challenges than when I started in 1996.  I honestly think that most agents are a little ADD, we love the juggling act and challenge of keeping all the plates spinning.  As for control, I gave that up for a tiny sliver of influence. 

Jan 07, 2018 05:09 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Mary Jo Quay 
Yes, giving up control -- or the illusion of control -- makes a difference for sure. Lynn

Jan 07, 2018 07:02 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

the video is really a hoot.  And oh yes, if I could do it all over again with what I know now.

Jan 07, 2018 08:20 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Tammy Lankford, 
Interesting wish! Happy New Year, my Lake Sinclair friend - Lynn

Jan 08, 2018 01:42 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Eventually, you learn to roll with it and enjoy the ride lol! When we love we do, It’s pretty awesome

Jan 07, 2018 08:21 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I don’t know if the video works for me for some reason. Oh well, I might try again later

Jan 07, 2018 08:21 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Laura Cerrano 
Maybe the video doesn't work for you because you are about beautification and balance and we often are focused on Sargent Friday's comment - "Just the facts." for us may mean just getting a property ready to walk into safely! All the best - Lynn

Jan 08, 2018 01:45 PM
Dana Hollish Hill
Hollish Hill Group, JPAR Stellar Living - Bethesda, MD
REALTOR * Broker * Coach

The ups are downs are certainly what make the job better than boring.

Jan 07, 2018 09:25 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Dana Hollish Hill 
Definite plus -- always changing! Thanks for commenting! Lynn

Jan 18, 2018 10:57 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Smooth rides are not usually a part of this business...oh the suspense with the ride...never a dull moment !

Jan 08, 2018 03:26 AM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Great video! It's not exactly what people portray it to be, but it can be rewarding.

Jan 08, 2018 05:18 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I have made the comparison to it being a roller coaster ride many times. Since I have always loved those rides and love challenges it turned out to be a great choice of career for me. Thanks for sharing your story, Lynn.

Jan 08, 2018 07:12 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Love this post and the video is amusing as so many of our clients just don't know what we all do.

Jan 08, 2018 01:03 PM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Fun post Lynn B. Friedman and yes, our industry is a roller coaster ride...good thing I love roller coasters!

Jan 09, 2018 11:51 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Lynn, isn't that the truth! I never had any regrets even when things weren't going quite as good as I hoped. 

Jan 10, 2018 06:00 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Lynn B. Friedman 

What a great entry for the contest and a well deserved feature. The video is awesome to watch. This should be mandatory reading and watching!

Jan 13, 2018 10:20 PM
Tim Maitski
Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage - Atlanta, GA
Truth, Excellence and a Good Deal

You are so correct about it being a roller coaster ride. 

I relate to that video.  It's usually a situation where you get your go-to photographer to squeeze you in to his schedule, your seller assures you everything is set for photos and then when you arrive you find out that it's a mess and your photograper's next open spot is two weeks away.

Jan 14, 2018 07:53 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Tim Maitski 
That's when we begin the famous REALTOR CLEANING and ARRANGING Service - right? See you soon - Lynn

Jan 18, 2018 10:59 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Lynn

We have all heard this business described as being on a roller coaster and you have demonstrated that so well in your post. While being in the corporate world can get pretty crazy (I was there for 16 years) it's nothing compared to the ups and downs of this business.

Jeff

Jan 14, 2018 11:42 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Hi Lynn, I loved the video.... so funny, but true.  I am so glad that I am an agent, love it!!

Jan 14, 2018 06:56 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Every profession has it's own jargon. Learning the terms of a new profession can be a challenge.

Thanks for sharing.

Jan 16, 2018 12:19 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

John Wiley 
Good point - jargon - vocabulary - whatever you call it - lots of new words! 
All the best - Lynn

Jan 16, 2018 02:25 PM