The real estate industry has seen a lot of growth over the years. As a result, many people are angling for a slice of this lucrative market.
A career in real estate is replete with opportunities and a great lifestyle. Becoming a real estate agent is, however, not a walk in the park. You’ll be required to work hard and learn how to handle stress. However, if you’re good at it, you’ll be exposed to numerous benefits as your business picks up. Below are eight reasons why you should start working as a real estate agent:
1. You Get to Choose Your Schedule
If you’re looking to become self-employed, working as a real estate agent is a great career option. You get to determine your own schedule. You do not have to stick to a 9-to-5 routine job.
Being able to plan your schedule leaves you with ample time to take care of other responsibilities and obligations. You can honour a doctor’s appointment, attend a family gathering, be there when the kids get home, and so on. This, however, does not mean you don’t work hard. You will probably have to work on weekends and on holidays since those could be the only days potential clients are available to view a property.
2. A Real Estate Career Is Financially Rewarding
How much you earn working as a real estate agent depends on your efforts and how good you are at closing sales. The more properties you list and the more presentations you’ve made, the higher the hopes of a great payday.
If taking up real estate as a full-time job is not your thing, you can always do it as a side hustle. The extra money will definitely boost your overall income. If you just started working as a real estate agent, it might take some time before you close your first sale. In addition to using commission advances to supplement your real estate career, remember to be patient and resilient. Soon, your ship will dock.
3. You Help People Realize Their Dreams
Everyone dreams of one day owning a house, a place their family can call home. A real estate agent is an integral part of making this dream come true. Your responsibility is to get your clients the best home at the most affordable prices. In this process, you work with the client to understand their idea of a dream home.
Once you know their needs, it’s time to search for the home of their dreams. It feels great to see a client’s face brighten up once they see a home that they know is perfect for their family – a home where they can create new memories with family and friends. It’s not just about the money; seeing dreams fulfilled will give you a great high.
4. Career Mobility
Scaling the corporate ladder is not a small feat. Easier said than done? Well, no one said it was going to be easy. Just like it is with other businesses, being a real estate agent requires not only licenses but capital to start. However, in the long run, you will achieve a lot by following the real estate career path. The sky’s the limit when you own your own business.
5. You Get What You Put In
As much as you will probably go to school to learn how to run a real estate business and the laws governing it, what really counts is the amount of work you put in. Most people who take up real estate give up too soon. Some go into the business looking for easy money. They are, however, hit by a different reality when they realize they need to put in the work.
As noted above, sometimes you will have to work on weekends and attend networking events long after 5.00 pm. The key is to work around the schedules of potential clients, and if they only have Sunday afternoon to view a property, by all means, be there. If you keep at it, for as long as it takes, soon the deals will start closing, and your bank account will start bulging.
6. Your Network Will Grow
Those networking events mentioned above are critical to the growth of your business. As you interact with potential clients from all walks of life, you get to grow your contacts list. You also get to understand other factors that could potentially disrupt the industry, gain insights into new market segments, etc.
For instance, you could find yourself interacting with brokers who may give you information on specific legal issues you should be aware of. Getting recommendations for a job well done also grows your network. People will make a note to contact you the next time they need the services of a real estate agent. As your network grows, you increase the chances of closing deals.
7. You Are Your Own Boss
Working as a real estate agent is one of those careers that can set you free, not only financially speaking but in your day-to-day life, too. You won’t have someone breathing down your neck, telling you what to do, or monitoring what hours you work.
8. You Won’t Get Bored
Routine jobs can be boring. However, the real estate sector is not one of them. As a real estate agent, every day is different from the previous one. You get to meet different people each day, see new properties, and even travel to exciting places. You’ll simply be too passionate about your job to get bored.
