Beginning a real estate career is an exciting journey. The stakes are high, but the rewards are always well worth it in the end. Many would agree that a real estate career path entails finding the right balance, which should encompass the notion of doing the right things at the perfect moment. This begins the moment you decide to pursue a license, and that plan of action must unfold as smoothly as possible.
You’ll be meeting clients to show countless properties, arranging showrooms, taking care of the paperwork, and at the same time, focusing on your growth and development. It’s an exciting lifestyle indeed, but remember that the stakes will remain high.
In an ever-changing landscape, you’ll need to set your expectations right off the bat. To help you begin your real estate journey right, here are the three most crucial factors you need to consider:
Factor #1: Your working hours
Being a real estate agent means saying farewell to a 9-to-5 job, as to keep in mind that you’ll be putting in the work—no matter the hours. There is no set time to do things, especially since showrooms can begin as early as 9 AM on a Sunday, and then end with paperwork around 10 PM.
Clients will also be contacting you in the evenings and on weekends, while the rest of your time will be spent driving around town checking out properties. When you’re not doing that, you’ll be facing even more paperwork. In this world, nothing is set in stone—making it an exhilarating career if you’re up for the challenge.
Factor #2: Client acquisition
Your success as a real estate agent heavily depends on your pool of clientele. Without them, your efforts will have been for naught. It’s therefore vital to continuously focus on growing your client base, which can only happen by providing excellent customer service. You’ll want to garner only positive feedback, which can then ripple across the market.
From there, people will be walking through your doors, contacting your mobile phone, or flooding your emails. As a real estate agent, you need to show them you’re reliable, trustworthy, and overall pleasant to be working with. Your target market will forever serve as your career’s lifeline.
Factor #3: Licensing
Last but certainly not least, you’ll need to take your licensing pursuit seriously. Without this, a career in the real estate industry will be impossible. It’s best to take both a state and national real estate license course, which will prepare you for the examination. You can go for either a classroom setting or an online training program, but either way, your goal is to acquire the right knowledge.
Once you’ve passed the exams set by these courses, you can move on to take both the state and national licensing exams. Once you’ve completed them, you can now be officially called a real estate agent. In time, pursuing a brokerage can also be possible.
The Bottom Line: It’s Worth It
From all the factors gathered, it can seem like pursuing a real estate career can be difficult—and it is. All the best things in life are, which is why you need to create a solid plan of action to guide you through the process. Learning about these factors is a starting point!
If you’re on the hunt for real estate jobs in Lapeer, Smith Street Homes has you covered. We are a real estate company looking to expand our dream team, and you may very well have what we’re looking for. Apply today!