- Your safety will always be at stake.
- If you are married, your spouse will hate your job.
- Being sick is never an excuse, and neither is vacation.
There are both good and bad things about being a real estate agent. There are times that it’s tough to do business, and there are also times that all seems to be going well.
Here are a few of the many truths that you need to know if you are new to this industry. Although some of the things listed below might not happen most of the time, I hope this will give you an idea.
14. Your safety will always be at stake
In whichever type of career, safety is always a concern. As an agent, you will always be on the go, on the road, with strangers.
Safety is still a concern, so be sure that you are covered by both health and life insurance and that you will receive the right benefits you’ll need if issues come up.
15. Don’t expect to sell or lease all your listings
You might have thousands of listings active. You might be able to close a deal for who knows how many houses, but trust me it will be hard to sell or lease all of your listings.
As you advance, many agents are also doing their best to beat you. One day a listing is available in the market, but maybe tomorrow it will be booked and sold or leased by another agent.
16. If you are married, your spouse will hate your job
The fact that you and your mobile phone are inseparable is what’s causing your spouse angst. Your spouse will be hurt. If you have children, they, too, will feel twice as hurt. They will feel robbed of time with you.
Every conversation that you have or anything that you are doing together will be interrupted by phone calls, text messages and emails from clients. Your family relationship will be put to the test here.
17. Being sick is not an excuse
You still need to work even if you have a cold and you feel so drowsy that you can’t get out of bed. Even if you have a fever, you still need to go and meet your clients for a showing. One single mistake can be worth thousands of dollars, and you can’t afford to lose that.
18. Vacation is not an exception, either
There will be times that you will feel the need to run away from all the stress brought by work. Even just for a couple of days, you’ll want to relax and enjoy life, and experience a day without the hassle of phone calls, text messages and emails.
You still have to deal with work even if you are on vacation. Remember how much a phone call can be worth and what the consequences are if you fail to answer it? Even if you turn off your devices, your conscience will nag you to turn it on.
19. You will encounter problems that cannot be fixed by just apologizing
In this industry, money is always involved. There will be times that you make a tiny mistake, and it can be worth a lot. Saying sorry will not be enough, and you will eventually end up spending money to fix the damages. Be alert and always be sensitive, especially for your client’s demands.
20. You have to look smart, all the time
Many people have the impression that an agent is someone who makes tons of money and can afford to spend a fortune on expensive cars and designer clothes. Well, your appearance matters a lot if you want to make a good first impression on your clients.
Looking smart is a means of saying that you are trustworthy, and you are capable enough to do business. So for you, you need to prepare different outfits for viewings or beautiful ties that will match your suit.
Having a car is also vital because you will always be on the run. If you can afford a luxury car, then great. But if not, a decent car that is running well will be good.
21. There will be times that you have to work with other agents
There will come a time that you will work with other agents. Most tenured agents say that some of the problems that they have encountered are caused by fellow agents.
Other agents will try to get between you and your clients. They might make you angry and offend you. It might not happen too often, but you should be careful when dealing with other agents.
So, why do agents choose to work in this industry? This question is big, and I know there are many possible answers as to why.
In general, working for this industry is not that bad. There are endless possibilities and opportunities out there. In this business, you need to outsmart other smart people. The thing is, only tough people succeed in this industry.
Real estate is not for the faint of heart, the thin-skinned, the ignorant or naive. However, the good thing about this business is that your client is your boss, and you only have to work for them for a short period.
No matter how bad a client is, you as an agent can make a difference in his or her life. You will help many people make their dreams a reality. Not all transactions are bad. You can only imagine how amazing it will feel to complete a deal, and more often than not, the money is good.
Read “21 things to expect after getting your real estate license: Part 1.”
Selena Mitchell is a professional blogger associated with a leading real estate agency in Dubai. Get in touch with her on Twitter.
