Is a Career in Real Estate Right for You?

The Seattle real estate market is experiencing significant growth, and Better Properties Eastside is hiring motivated people ready to do what it takes to establish themselves in our company and on the Seattle scene.

But what exactly does it take to work in real estate? Here’s an unfiltered look at the roles that money and time play, since they’re the two most important factors you’ll need to be constantly in-tune with as you explore a career in real estate.

Money

Real estate is a financially rewarding profession. But to get where you want to be, you first must give a little. In a lot of ways, being an agent at our local real estate agency is like owning your own business. Before you even begin to accrue clients, you’ll need spend your own money on several necessities: Real estate licensing exam Training (above and beyond what our Seattle real estate agents provide) Business cards

A marketing budget for signage, flyers, email campaigns, etc. A car The objective is to recoup this upfront investment as you build up a clientele. And one of the nice things about a real estate career is that the only limits you set are your own. You can have as many clients as you want and make as much money as you want – unlike a 9-to-5 job where you’re paid the same salary until you get a promotion.

It is highly unlikely that you’ll find yourself flush with cash within the first week or even the first few months of your real estate career. For this reason, it’s essential that a real estate agent have an even temperament, and be able to tolerate some financial stress. It takes time to find clients and learn the ropes. In fact, it could 6 - 12 months before you receive your first commission check on a home sale.

Time

In the real estate industry, “time” is something of a paradox: the upside is that your time is your own, to do with as you please. But this is also the downside. When you’re a real estate agent, you don’t punch in at 8:30 and punch out at 5. Nobody’s looking over your shoulder, you don’t have a set schedule for meetings, lunch hour, sick days, etc. Instead, real estate agents set their own hours. If you want to drop off and pick up your kids from school, you can do that. If you want to hit the gym in the afternoon, go ahead. But be wary of taking too much focus away from training, learning, and prospecting for clients. The best real estate agents are those who can quickly find the balance between their personal and professional lives.

And here’s another big thing to be aware of: although you’ll have a flexible schedule, the same can’t be said for your clients – many of whom are salaried employees of companies which hold them to a much more regimented schedule than yours. If you want to find success in real estate, you’ll need to work around your clients’ schedules. Early in the morning, late at night, on weekends, even on holidays: if a client wants you, you’ll need to be there.

Work with an Experienced Real Estate Firm If you’re a self-starter who likes working with people, enjoys flexibility, and has the patience to weather the periodic stress that comes with building a business, a real estate career could be right for you. Give Better Properties Eastside a call today and let’s talk more about your professional goals and how we can help you reach them.