The Secret Life of a Realtor®

Have you ever wondered what a Realtor® actually does all day?

Movies and TV shows like Selling Sunset have glamorized the lives of Real Estate agents, selling us an image of luxury and a high rolling lifestyle. We all know that Realtors® sell houses - but what does the day-to-day life of a Realtor® actually look like?

While most agents have an office they are a part of, many don’t spend every day in the office at a desk. Being a Realtor® often means being on the move all day! From showings, to client meetings, to appraisals and inspections, plenty of Realtors® do most of their work away from their desks. Attending listing appointments, getting listings ready to hit the market, and doing final walk-throughs with buyers are all important tasks that pull agents out of the office and onto the ‘job site’ - so to speak.

Although they might not spend a lot of time in the office, every agent must be a part of an office. Each real estate Brokerage is run by a Broker of Record, who ensures that all agents in their offices are complying with Real Estate laws and are working ethically.

While agents belong to an office, each and every agent is still self-employed - they run their own businesses, find their own client base, and must actively be helping their agents buy & sell properties in order to secure a pay cheque. Working in Real Estate can be tough competition - there are many Realtors® out there & it can be tough to find clients who don’t already have an agent.

Often, there’s a misconception that agents are handed clients from the office - this is most often not the case! Being individual entrepreneurs that are self-employed, each agent is responsible for their own lead generation & finding their own clients. There’s a saying that 20% of agents do 80% of the business - so if that doesn’t debunk the flashy lifestyle people expect from Realtors®, I don’t know what will!

Real estate also involves quite a bit of paperwork & organization - Realtors® are expected to be up-to-date on all the latest education & compliance instructions so that they & their clients can expect a trouble-free transaction. This is a side of real estate that most clients don’t see, so often isn’t something that many consider to be a large part of the business.

Another common misconception about Realtors® is that they don’t work as much as other jobs that clock in at 9 and clock out at 5. While agents aren’t tied to a strict 9 - 5 schedule, which many find an attractive part of the job, this often means working hours much earlier than 9 am or much later than 5 pm!

On a daily basis, you can find agents researching properties for clients, analyzing the market statistics, and communicating with clients and colleagues - networking is also a huge part of Real Estate!

So what makes a good Realtor®, you may ask?

Well, there are many different personality types that thrive in Real Estate, so that one factor can be hard to pin down.

Here’s a few things that your Realtor® should excel at:

Being a Good Negotiator

Negotiating is half the battle in Real Estate - whether you’re negotiating a listing price for your buyers, or trying to get a higher price for your sellers, negotiating is a huge part of the job and you want someone on your side that you know won’t quit until they’ve done all they can do to get you the best deal.

Strong Communication Skills

Agents spend a good amount of their days talking - whether it’s to clients or colleagues, they are your representative that will do all the talking on your behalf and should always be there for you if you have questions or concerns. Choosing a Realtor® that you know has open & clear communication can make all the difference.

Integrity

Real estate transactions are a big deal - financially & emotionally! It’s important that Realtors® hold themselves to a high professional & ethical standard in order to best guard the interests of their clients.

These are all important attributes for agents to have in order to be successful & to stand out from their competitors.

So there you have it - those are some of the most common tasks that take up the day of a Realtor®! From client meetings to market research, it’s clear that every day in the life of a Realtor is something different. Above all, Realtors® should be dedicated professionals who are there to help you navigate the complexities of the market and achieve their real estate goals.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling, hopefully this has lifted the curtain a bit for you to see the behind-the-scenes of what takes up most of an agent’s time and what should be most important to them. After all, home is where the heart is - it is a Realtors® job to help make that home a reality. Reach out to one of our Realtors® today to learn more about what they do and how they can make your home dreams a reality.

Enjoy the weekend,

Paul Fitzpatrick

Appointment Calendar: https://calendly.com/homegrouprealty

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