You might be thinking about becoming a real estate agent because you like the idea of flexible hours and being your own boss. You've probably also thought about the income-earning potential that real estate offers.
All of that is true — being a realtor can offer freedom, flexibility, and real earning potential. But carving out a productive, long-lasting career requires a unique combination of personal traits. Here are four questions worth sitting with before you choose real estate as a career.
1) Do you enjoy helping other people?
Most productive realtors are where they are today because they've earned a reputation for helping other people — for being known as a trusted resource, not just someone trying to close a deal. When you focus on meeting new people, helping them, and staying in touch over the long run, your business grows steadily over time. If you'd like some simple ways to create value for the people you know, this blog post shares a few ideas.
2) Are your a resourceful problem-solver who enjoys challenging work?
A big part of what we do each day is help people solve problems. That might mean:
- Helping clients negotiate a tricky home inspection
- Connecting friends with reliable contractors who can handle repairs quickly
- Guiding clients through the overwhelm of decluttering and downsizing
- Helping first-time homebuyers navigate a competitive market
When you help people solve problems with diligence and care, you earn their trust — and trust is the foundation of a referral-based business.
3) Are you willing to work without any guarantee of pay?
Most people think of a job as: you do the work, you get paid for the work. Real estate doesn't work that way. You can put in real effort on any given day and not see a paycheck for weeks.
In real estate, you're ultimately paid for your reputation — for being known as someone who helps others well and does excellent work. The good news is that your income tends to grow as your reputation grows. But that requires patience, persistence, and trust in the process, especially early on.
4) Are you a self-starter with a rock-solid work ethic?
If you need a manager or an accountability partner to keep you focused, real estate probably isn't the right fit. Your motivation and follow-through need to come from within. But if you wake up eager to grow your business and help people, real estate could be an excellent choice.
Did you answer "yes" to most or all of these questions? Even if a few gave you pause, that's a good conversation to have. We'd be happy to meet with you and talk through what a career in real estate might look like for you. Feel free to reach out to Dan or Amanda for coffee and a conversation.