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Not Exactly Wordless Wednesday

By
Industry Observer 0506509

I parked my car at the grocery store and noticed this tiny shopping cart with a pole and a sign that read "Customer In Training." As my mind wanders, I started thinking about Newbies in the Real Estate Industry. What if the sign said, New Real Estate Agent in Training. What would you put inside the shopping cart? My imaginary mind filled up the cart and it collapsed and/or exploded before I even stepped outside of my car door. Here's  where my mind went in seconds:

  • Computer, Laptop, or iPad. Better yet, get all three. 
  • Smart Phone with unlimited data.
  • Battery Charger. 
  • Portable Backup Charger when traveling. 
  • Color Printer.
  • Cartridges for the Printer.
  • For Sale Signs with your name and contact information.
  • Listing Signs.
  • Open House Signs.
  • Under Contract Signs.
  • Coming Soon Signs,.
  • Too Late Signs.
  • Back on the Market Signs.
  • SOLD signs.
  • Directional Signs for Open House.
  • Lock Boxes
  • Storage bins. (lots of bins).
  • Computer Paper (never ending boxes of computer paper).
  • Pens (lots of pens)
  • Professional camera or be prepared to hire someone. 
  • Batteries.
  • Large bag or something to carry all your stuff when going on Listings,.
  • Shoes for all types of weather and ground.
  • Umbrella.
  • Raincoat.
  • Flashlights.
  • Batteries.
  • Tape Measures.
  • Stud Finders.
  • Handy tools, like hammers to pound in the signs into the concrete ground.
  • Safety things you need to protect yourself.
  • Medical emergencies (for just in case).
  • Safety devices.
  • First Aid Kit.
  • Cushion for your Tushie.
  • Eye Glasses.
  • Sun Glasses.
  • Hats.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Things to keep you organized.
  • File Folders.
  • Mileage Log.
  • Note Pads.
  • Thank you Note Cards.
  • Your own Indoor Office Chair.
  • Youe own Office Desk.
  • An Office Lamp.
  • Possible Spa membership and/or bottles of asprin. 
  • Bug Spray.
  • Water Bottles.
  • Antibiotics for things that bite you when showing.
  • Map in case your Navigation doesn't work.
  • Contacts in a notebook in case you lose your cell phone. 
  • How to Sell Real Estate Best Sellers.
  • Extension chords.
  • Time Management Tools or Project Management Guides. 
  • Educational Workbooks or books.
  • CRM or Contact Management Software.
  • Software for this, that, and whatever comes next.
  • Fresh Ideas for Marketing Materials.
Posted by

Patricia Feager

Comments(13)

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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Patricia. Your list makes me smile now that I am retired. And, while active My list was not that exhaustive. Thanks for the list. Enjoy your day.

May 07, 2025 03:28 AM
Patricia Feager

Wayne Martin - I'm convinced for every year you're in the business you have to buy more to stay in the business. And over time, the technology you started out with or the tools you used to do your business becomes obsolete. 

I do remember working with an agent from Chicago and the back seat of his car was stuffed with big MLS books and listing papers. I felt like I was sitting in a sea of listings. 

May 08, 2025 01:44 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Patricia - the list of requirements in an agent's toolkit is seemingly endless, but you have captured the essence.  I am certain that mini-shopping cart would be filled quite quickly.  

May 07, 2025 03:59 AM
Patricia Feager

Michael Jacobs - Oh for sure, that tiny little shopping cart would fill up quickly! Being in the busines means your world passes you by in buy-buy time and it goes by quickly. 

May 08, 2025 01:46 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is a good list to share with new real estate agents.

Have a great day!

May 07, 2025 04:07 AM
Patricia Feager

Roy Kelley - When getting started in the business your focus is on learning the business but to make a living, you have to buy, buy, and buy more. It's never ending. 

May 08, 2025 01:48 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good morning! And then there are boots for those muddy days, shoe covers, patience (if it were purchasable), a packet of local offer, contract and disclosure forms, access to training classes, and on and on. That cart would definitely not be big enough!

May 07, 2025 05:01 AM
Patricia Feager

Kat Palmiotti - the shopping list continues to grow long. Things that I missed in my original list are:

WD40
Duck Tape
Highlighters
Shoe Covers, etc., during COVID
Breath Freshners
Throat Lozengers
Kleenex
Power Bars

There is no shopping cart big enough for an agent in training., 

May 08, 2025 01:52 AM
Kat Palmiotti

So true!

May 08, 2025 05:23 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Patricia... I've said it before and I'll say it again... your creativity never ceases to amaze me.

May 07, 2025 05:36 AM
Patricia Feager

Nina Hollander, Broker - Thank you! As a solo agent without any support I had no choice but to buy to survive in the business and still there was no guarantee. But I managed for a long, long time. 

May 08, 2025 01:54 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Patricia that is a very extensive list, and I bet even more could be added to it.

May 07, 2025 07:13 AM
Patricia Feager

George Souto - I just added to my very extensive list in my comment to Kat.

WD40
Duck Tape
Highlighers
Shoe Covers, etc., during COVID
Breath Freshners
Throat Lozengers
Kleenex
Power Bars

I'm sure there more.

May 08, 2025 01:58 AM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Patricia, while the toolkit keeps growing, it's knowing how and when to use each tool that truly defines a great agent!

May 07, 2025 07:14 AM
Patricia Feager

Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400 - Ah! Good point. It all depends on an individual's learning curve when using what's in your toolkit.

May 08, 2025 01:59 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I was lucky when I started out Patricia Feager . I was already a business man and had many of those items. Also back in the day when I started out Brokerages supplied us with everything we needed PLUS the full use of the secretarial services. They even paid for all the postage you wanted for mailers.

May 07, 2025 07:15 AM
Patricia Feager

Bob "RealMan" Timm - You were lucky you had acquired many of those items before getting into the business. When I started RESPA took effect and many special privileges were taken away from agents before me. I had no idea how much Title Companies gave to those who got into the business before more. It helped them financially to get started in the business and keep going.

Of course, that scenaro did not apply to you but at least you were more prepared than I was. As you said, you were an established business man.

I also remember agents from my office who had spouses who worked for companies and they did not have any problem getting their needs met like I did. Everything I had in the Corporate World stayed with the Corporation. I started from the ground up.

 

May 08, 2025 02:06 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Wow that list never ends!  Good grief, I sure hope I don't ever need all that stuff ever again!  A nice set of golf clubs......that will be fine by me Patricia!

May 07, 2025 09:29 AM
Patricia Feager

Anna "Banana" Kruchten - Having a home office the home space shrinks too! Oh, I do miss golfing. In IL I lived by a Golf Course and it was great!

May 08, 2025 02:08 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Patricia, you put a lot of thinking into this post, and your list is spot on.

May 07, 2025 02:59 PM
Patricia Feager

Joan Cox - Thank you for your acknowledgment. Sitting in that parking lot, it all flooded back to me and then when I wrote this blog post, a lot more came to mind. Plus, I added more to the shopping cart in my comment to Kat and George. 

May 08, 2025 02:09 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks for sharing this fun and detailed peek into what a newbie might need, Patricia Feager—your list really hits home! It’s a great reminder of how much goes into starting out in real estate. I appreciate you taking the time to paint such a vivid picture—definitely gives a good laugh and some food for thought! 😊

May 07, 2025 04:59 PM
Patricia Feager

Lew Corcoran - It is only now that I can laugh at how addictive it can be, to have all the necessary tools to do your business when you're in business, and you want to stay in business. The real estate business is all about staying alive! And the stuff you need and the stuff you acquired that becomes obsolete are all those shiny objects reminding me of the old Disco Ball and the energy it takes to stay alive!

May 08, 2025 02:14 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Patricia- how creative!  It's amazing what you discover you need once you get started. New agents should take this list and grab a pen because you'll be adding more. to it. 

May 07, 2025 06:14 PM
Patricia Feager

Kathy Streib - Thank you for recognizing the ludicrous of it all because it's never ending! Plus, I added more to the shopping list when I commented on Kat and George's comments. 

You're absolutely right! New Agents - take note!!!

May 08, 2025 02:17 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Patricia,

OMG..what a list and such a creative post! So many tools and so many things needed and the list keeps growing!!

May 07, 2025 08:13 PM
Patricia Feager

Dorie Dillard Austin TX - I really didn't pay much attention to it until I went inactive. Then, staring at that shopping cart with the Customer Training sign it all came back like a flood flash warning!

May 08, 2025 02:21 AM