Hi friends! We’re going to do something a little different with this post.
If you follow my blog, you know that I often post informational content for CT homebuyers and sellers. Market updates, ideas for downsizing, tips for getting the best deal on your purchase or sale…I love helping you better understand the real estate market and make it work for you.
But I’ve been getting more questions lately about what it’s really like to be a real estate agent. Is it as easy as it looks on TV (ha!)? What does a real estate agent do all day? Is real estate a good career path?
On the whole, I have LOVED my real estate career, and I wake up excited to see what the new day will bring! But there are some parts of my job that I don’t love. And some things that are incredibly challenging. So today, I’m going to let you behind the scenes and share the good, the bad, and the ugly of life as a real estate agent.
Why I Became a Real Estate Agent
In 2018, my oldest son, Michael was going off to college. My son Daniel was a senior in high school and my little Natalie had just started freshman year of high school. As any parent can tell you, having your first baby leave for college is a tough family transition. Like so many parents, I had devoted my life to raising my kids and suddenly found that they didn’t need me as much. I know, this is the goal of parenthood, but it was still jarring!
Well, a REALTOR friend suggested a career in real estate. This immediately reminded me of a disappointing experience I had selling a property. And I instantly knew I could provide a valuable service to buyers and sellers by being a dependable, innovative, and passionate real estate professional.
I got my real estate license, and never looked back!
The Good Things About Being a Real Estate Agent
So, what’s it really like to be a real estate agent? Let’s start with everything I love about my career.
1. I get to meet the most amazing people.
My favorite thing about working in real estate is the opportunity to meet new people.
I have been so blessed to get to the people I’ve worked with. Maybe I’m a little biased, but I think my buyers and sellers are some of the kindest, most interesting people in the world. And it’s not just my clients; it’s also local business owners, volunteers, and other real estate industry professionals that I get to collaborate with.
2. I get to make a real difference in people’s lives.
Buying or selling a home is a big deal. It’s life-changing! And I love that I get to play a small part in easing people through this major (and sometimes super stressful) transition.
While I love working with all buyers and sellers in the Litchfield County and Farmington Valley areas, I specialize in helping seniors and their families. In many cases, sellers are downsizing for retirement, which can be a more complicated process than the average move. I feel extra useful being able to find donation centers and estate sale companies to help with the question about what to do with all the stuff. And with my insider knowledge of senior housing solutions, like 55+ communities, I can be an extra valuable resource for sellers going through these life changes.
3. I’m constantly learning and improving.
There is always something new to learn in real estate, partly because the market conditions are always changing, and partly because there are so many different ways to specialize within the field.
In addition to the general skills and knowledge earned by working day in and day out, I get to take classes to further my understanding of real estate law, marketing, and negotiation. I recently earned my SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) designation, which gave me specialized training in serving mature buyers and sellers.
The more I learn, the more engaged I am, and the better I can serve my clients.
4. My hours are flexible.
I love that I’m not restricted by a 9-5 schedule. In fact, this was a big draw for me when I entered the industry because I wanted to make sure I was still available for my family (even as my growing children needed me less and less!).
A flexible schedule is a serious perk. It means I don’t have to stress about weekday dentist appointments, for example. I can also do my shopping while most people are at work and the shopping centers aren’t so crowded. On the extra fun side, I can meet friends for the occasional long lunch and travel when it suits me!
5. I can work remotely.
While a lot of my work is done “out in the field” at different properties, I can do my administrative work (drafting contracts, reviewing disclosures, completing my required continuing education courses, etc) from anywhere.
This means I can work from home, which is incredibly convenient. It also means I can stay on top of things while traveling!
The Bad Things About Being a Real Estate Agent
It can’t all be sunshine and rainbows. Here are the things I don’t love about being a real estate agent.
1. It can take time and resources to get started.
To become a licensed real estate agent, you need to complete a state-required course and pass the state exam. No big deal – you can take the course online, and, while the test is hard, it’s entirely manageable.
The hard part comes when you’re trying to find your first client. There are lots of experienced agents out there, and you have to convince a buyer, seller, or investor to take a chance on you as a newbie.
And, remember, agents typically don’t get paid until the deal closes. There is no hourly wage or base salary to cover living expenses while you get your new business up and running. So, to earn a living, you need to find your first client quickly. And then find another client, and another, and another to continue earning your income.
2. Being a solopreneur is hard.
Being a real estate agent essentially means owning your own business. Yes, I work under a brokerage (shout out to William Pitt Sotheby’s), which provides valuable resources that I very much appreciate. But I am an independent contractor, which means I’m responsible for my own insurance, retirement, and self-employment taxes.
This also means I have my own real estate business plan to address things like branding, marketing, finances, and operations. I manage my own bookkeeping, advertising, website, and social channels.
When you work alone, you wear all the hats.
3. I have to promote myself.
Real estate is a competitive industry. So I don’t just have buyers and sellers falling from the heavens; I have to get out there and find every lead. This means promoting myself…ugh.
I’m not a natural self-promoter. But I believe in the service I offer, and I want to help local buyers and sellers get the most out of the real estate transactions. So I force myself to get out there. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook. I’ve even started publishing informational videos on YouTube.
The Ugly Things About Being a Real Estate Agent
And now the straight-up ugly side of real estate…
1. Many people underestimate real estate agents.
I love guilty pleasure shows like Selling Sunset as much as the next person. But they don’t do real estate professionals justice. Selling homes isn’t just about adding the home to the MLS (multiple listing service) and watching the offers roll in. I’m constantly working behind the scenes on strategic market campaigns for each of my home sellers. And for my homebuyers, I’m always searching for “coming soon” listings and even off-market deals to give my buyers a competitive advantage.
It’s worth noting that I’m not just working to get homes sold. I’m working to get the best possible terms for my clients, while making the process as stress-free as possible for them.
The problem is, the more seamless I make the transaction for my clients, the easier my job looks. I do my best to shield my clients from the inherent messiness of real estate deals so they can focus on preparing for their move. So if I do my job right, it looks like a cakewalk from the outside.
2. I need to be ready to show up at a moment’s notice.
Some of my buyers and sellers work full-time and can only meet on evenings and weekends. That’s no problem; I’m happy to accommodate!
Where it gets ugly is when I get a text asking if I can meet for a home tour in half an hour. Now, I know in-demand homes can move fast, so I absolutely want to help my clients get into a hot property as soon as it’s convenient for them. But I might show up makeup-free, with my hair in a ponytail 😉
3. My business is constantly impacted by general market conditions.
Real estate markets are cyclical. Sometimes demand is up, and sometimes it’s down. And those cycles dramatically impact my business.
Take the interest rate hikes of 2022, for example. Higher rates made homeownership more expensive, so fewer people wanted to buy. At the same time, homeowners who had sub-4% rates locked in didn’t want to sell because they’d have to take out a new mortgage at a higher rate on their new home. So transactions understandably dropped.
Being an agent means constantly pivoting to find buyers and sellers under different market conditions. And understanding how to get buyers and sellers the best deal possible under any market conditions. It’s an important part of the job, but it isn’t always pretty.
A Typical Day in the Life of this Real Estate Agent
So what is the day-to-day like for a real estate agent?
Here’s a breakdown of my typical day:
- Wake up and have coffee.
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- Go to the gym. I like to work out in the morning before doing anything else.
- Reply to clients, prospective clients, and colleagues. I start my workday by returning all calls, messages, and emails.
- Prospecting. I spend time every workday actively looking for new buyers and sellers I can help. This can mean contacting owners whose listings have expired without a successful sale, reaching out to real estate investors, or even cold calling.
- Meeting with clients. Most days, I have home showings, listing appointments, or both.
- Navigating active deals through the contract period. This can mean reviewing appraisals, meeting home inspectors at the property, or following up with a title company.
- Working on marketing. Those social media posts and videos aren’t going to make themselves!
- Cooking dinner. Now that the kids are off doing their own things, I don’t feel the pressure to always come up with an amazing dish. So my husband and I do simple dinners. I have a special place for Lebanese cuisine.
- Enjoy some relaxing time before bed. My husband and I might catch a movie, go for a walk, or do some reading to wind down in the evening.
This article may not have any actionable advice for CT buyers or sellers, but maybe future real estate professionals found information in this post that they can use to launch their own careers. If that’s you, I hope I helped in some small way. If you have questions about getting started in real estate (or buying, selling, or investing!), leave a comment or contact me. I’m always happy to help!
