Help! Scared to start my new career as a Realtor.?

Question

I've been a stay at home mom for 6 years and I'll soon be taking my real estate exam. I'm confident about the test but I'm terrified about starting work. I live in a coastal resort city and real estate is booming here, but every real estate agent I've met so far has either been a shark or a fraud. I'm scared that they'll look at me as the dumb new girl or talk about me behind my back by saying "wonder what makes her think she can run with the big dogs?"
I refuse to lie or cheat anyone regardless of the amount of money to be made. Can't I just do this honestly and still make a decent living? I know it's crazy but I can't sleep at night because I worry that I won't make it with the constant competition for the better properties. Though I'd rather sell 10 $100,000 houses than one million dollar house that I've had to fight people who've done this for twenty years and will look at me like a greenhorn or an idiot. Is this normal or should I just give up an do something else?

I need to print off all of these suggestions and keep them by my desk to keep me motivated. I already feel better! :)

Once I start, I'll demand that I succeed or I'll go crazy.

Answer 1

Hate to say it, i've worked in real estate while I was in Law School, and unless you suck up all that fear, all the other agents will eat you up.

The old agents are SHARKS, hogging up the floortime, prime times, taking your clients, camping my your floortime for YOUR customers.

But you have to show them who is boss and DON'T FORGET TO USE YOUR BROKER'S HELP!!!

Your Broker is really your best friend, ask him for advice and support, but learn, and do not expect to get spoon fed more than once!!!

You have to show your Broker that you are a fast learner, motivated, AND, able to talk to people and bring in business.

It's ok if your first 2 or 3 deals go bad, it's even better if they go bad because of other agents comming in the way. Your Broker will see the effort you're putting in, and realize how valuable you are, and what potential you have, he may slowly let you in on some secrets of the trade!

If your area is hot!!, try to go on Craigslist.com to sniff out people in New York looking to buy, or people in the Florida area looking to buy. Those are people with alot of money for a downpayment, and want FAST appreciation, something that your area can hopefully give.

Remember!! Be honest to your clients, be helpful to your customers. When I smell a young real-estate agent using the word client when he sould be using customer or vise versa.. That spells law suit for me!!! and BAD NEWS FOR YOU!!!

Ask your Broker why this is important in the closing table, and NEVER MAKE THAT MISTAKE!!!

Answer 2

The real estate business has been around for many years. If the need is not there it would not have survived. Yes it has a poor reputation in the past, and with the recent boom, everybody is getting into it and really muddy up thw waters as far as ethics is concerned. Rest be assure, this can be an honarable profession and your local board of realtors are doing much to much to educat its members. State real estate laws also are getting tougher daily to protect the general public.

That being said, to be successful in the real estate business you have to look at it as an inventory stocking business much like the produce section of the grocery store. It is continuous and never ending. Control the inventory, price them properly and expose them to the widest number of other agents and you will maximize your income. It is really not a sales business.

Generally in residential real estate sales, the commission is divided into to sides, the listing side and the sales side. If you have no inventory, the best you can hope for is 50% of the commission. On the other hand, if you work exclusively with sellers, you will earn the same, 50% of the commission. However, if you work with with both, you can get 100% (before you split with your broker) from your own inventory and still be able to pick other people's cherry. The most successful profile of these top earners usually derrive 80% of their income from their own inventory (listings) and 20% of their income from sales activities.

During a booming market, everyone makes money becuse they do not have to be good and the top realtor does not make that much more because they are always working to their capacity already. During a bear market, the free loaders drops out like flys. Now the market become a buyers's market with a glut of inventory. So if you are the one with the largest and best price dproducts, the buyers will find their way to you.

Answer 3

It is my opinion that it is too soon to quit, not yet! I think that your clients will recognize the honesty behind your actions and words. Clients recommend other clients, and you will soon have a good business. I liked my agent, she sold my last house, and helped me purchase this one, and sell another.. I think you should do your job, according to the rules of the company you work for,and according to the law. Treat your clients like royalty, explain how a sale or a purchase works, make sure they know their legal rights, smile, be pleasant, and you will succeed.
Part of real estate sales is luck. You answered the phone when the people that will buy the house called to ask about it.
And tfeeling inadequate is normal, with any greenhorn in any job. They all feel they are going to not do well, and look like an idiot.
Hint: my realtor gave me little gifts at closing. One was a $25 gift certificate for a garden shop, another was 2 handmade topieries. My other 2 realtors did not.
Remember, in the workplace, everyone is a greenhorn at some time, if there is no starting place in a job, then how do people get jobs?
Good luck with your new career.

Answer 4

Don't give up. You're just having pre-job jitters--it's normal. Keep to your guns about being honest--there are lots of honest Realtors out there, so you won't really be alone. Just remember that you are representing your clients, you are not fighting the competition. And it doesn't really matter how the other Realtors look at you. You do not have to conform to someone else's ethical standards, or lack thereof. I have a close friend who became a Realtor after spending several years at home; she was honest, did not lie or cheat, and she was soon in the Million Dollar Club, or whatever they call it. So just relax and do your job--you'll most probably be fine.

Answer 5

Just start with family and friends. Work at a brokerage that offers plenty of training and take it one day at a time. It will take you 3-4 years to have enough of a client base that you are consistently making money on those referrals. If you are honest and work hard for your clients they will remember you and refer you to others. It just takes time. No one climbed to the top of their real estate market overnight. Not everyone is a shark and you will find that clients can be more ruthless than any agent. Find a good lender, title company, inspector, home warranty co. etc... that you can trust and build off of them. A good lender is worth their weight in gold.

Answer 6

Jee, first verify into weekend categories. Start there and take it sluggish and do good. Your teachers will inform you the way to get established with a Broker - the stairs worried and what to anticipate. You have to understand what variety of company you're going to be cozy with (a few aid finance you, others you're fully impartial and ought to pay in your promoting, a few do probabilities of guide...you have to do your homework there). Call exceptional RE organizations and speak with one of the vital managers and notice what they're watching for of their retailers, what clientel they paintings with, anticipated pay, the way you receives a commission, and so forth. and so forth. After you are taking your categories and you've got a Broker established, then you're going to understand whether or not to stick side time together with your present supplier or simply reduce unfastened. Some Homebuilders use retailers at the weekends simplest, so that's yet another choice. Don't restrict your self! 041707 five:fifty eight

Answer 7

Everyone starts everything without experience, no matter what it is. We aren't born experts - we all have to learn. Stay true to yourself, and you'll always be able to look yourself in the eye in the mirror and sleep at nite. You may not be wildly successful at first, but you can only continue to grow and improve. Things can only get better. Relax, take a deep breath, hold your head up, and look them all in the eye: customers, clients, and competition, and every day you'll be more knowledgable and more experienced and thus more successful. And, with the morals and ethics you have, much happier, content, and satisfied. Besides, once you've been a mom, you ought to be able to handle ANYTHING!

Answer 8

I am taking my agents exam in a few weeks. You just need to concentrate on your sales and marketing tactics. Here in Texas much like everywhere else agents are guided by strict ethical rules set forth by the state. Just worry about yourself and how you are going to make money. I wouldn't even see a situation where I would have to lie and risk losing my license.

Answer 9

No, we are all not sharks and frauds. Most of us actually think the way you do and take pride in what we do. Unfortunately, it's only the bad ones you ever hear about.

My advise to you is to thicken your skin. The ones you are talking about will spot your insecurity and pounce. Be prepared. Don't let anyone run over you. And, trust me, they will try.

This is a tough business and you have to be tough. Otherwise you will never sleep again:)

Answer 10

HUNDREDS IF PEOPLE TAKE THE CLASSES AND EXAMS...FEW HAVE STAYING THE POWER AND THICK SKIN TO MAKE IT THEIR OWN AND SUCCEED...YOU MUST BE HONEST BUT YOU MUST ALSO BE FIRM, DECISIVE AND HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF SALES AND MARKETING. IF THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL A SHARK THAN THAT IS WHAT I AM... THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REALTORS HERE IN HOUSTON, TX BUT I WILL ALWAYS BUST MY TAIL FOR MY CLIENT AND DO MY BEST TO MOVE EACH AND EVERY PROPERTY- FROM A $15,000 VACANT LOT TO THE $2.5 MILLION DOLLAR ESTATE. ALWAYS REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE GAME IS 'REFERRALS!!!!