We know this isn't an easy or regular profession. From the absurd hours and days you have to put into dealing with rough clients and all those moving parts, people don't see from the outside everything you have to deal with.
Time Away From Home (Or Interrupted)
Because of the irregular hours you may need to work (or even just excessive hours), it is probably really hard to ever be fully apart from your work. Setting boundaries between work and home can be extremely difficult.
Setting boundaries between work and home can be extremely difficult. A lot of people choose to be agents due to the perception that they can work whenever they want. This is true to an extent, but in order to be dependable and therefore successful, you need to be constantly accessible. This means dinners, quality time, vacations and everything else will likely be frequently interrupted by phone calls, texts, emails, quick showings and last minute appointments.
The worst part of all those inconveniences is there will be many times that you don't actually work with this client. This is something you have to always be ready for and plan for.
Losing the Listing to Another Agent
Coming super close to winning a listing and losing it out to another agent is tough. But you need to look at it from a statistical standpoint. For every listing you don't get, it just increases your odds of getting the next one.
Finding out a friend or family member called someone else can be a blow but doing business with friends and especially family can be trouble. So it isn't as big of a loss as you might think.
Justifying Your Value
This is one of the toughest parts for some agents. We talk about this a lot here at Smart Agents about this and how to brand yourself as the expert or the authority.
You sit across from a homeowner who invited you to discuss the possibility of selling their home and to go over what you bring to the table, only to be asked to take less for your services. It is one of the few industries where someone will ask and negotiate income.
This is where things like your blogs, books or any other items of separation really show their worth.
Saying the Market or Your Bussines is Good When it's Not
It's important to make your business seem positive and successful all the time. Who would want to list with an agent who is in a slump? How about someone who is on the fence about selling but will be even more hesitant in a poor market?
The market is always subjective there is no real answer. The ups and downs in our business however, are very real.
Even during hard times, you have to put on a smile and pretend things are good.
Keeping Your Expectations In Check (Especially Early in a Career)
This is hard to do when everything seems based on a short phone call or a 5-minute meeting. When something positive happens such as a client’s offer getting accepted or we are hired on a new listing, everything instantly becomes so exciting and nothing can bring us down.
On the other side, getting too invested and excited about a new lead or potential listing can lead to a big letdown if it doesn't work out. Just don't get too hot or cold until something is final.
Budgeting
Budgeting on a job that is based on commissions might seem impossible sometimes.
Some months you’re on pace for your biggest year and some months you wonder if your career is about to end and be forced to take that 9-5 job you hated so much before real estate. You just need to have a bottom line and stay grounded regardless which side of the spectrum you are on at that time.
The life of a real estate agent isn’t always what it seems but it’s not all bad either. We still get satisfaction from helping our clients in some of the most important ways.
Joe Nickelson is a real estate professional dedicated to helping home buyers and sellers achieve their dreams of owning property, and helping real estate agents stop using the sometimes-vicious tactics that weigh on their consciences. He believes that the Smart Agents books will, quite literally, change people’s lives for the better. Check out his full bio here!
