Seriously frustrated....

[erikh]

....with how little I know about the nuts and bolts of this business. Everything is a trial by fire and no matter how hard I try to stay ahead of the game, something always pops up that makes me look like a total idiot. I've never experienced anything quite like this. There has always been a learning curve with every job I've ever taken, but in real estate the curve is a freakin mountain!!!
Anyways, frustration venting aside, how do you close deals, make mistakes, put your foot in your mouth, suck up your pride which has probably been splattered all over the pavement a dozen times, and still maintain your integrity and sanity? My clients keep asking me questions that I don't fully understand and they aren't stupid. They pick up rather quickly that I'm a new agent and I'm left feeling like a total imposter who has NO business trying to win THEIR business.
Lastly, I am sooooo tired of all the empty promises of the big name brokerages. Which basically equates to "let us take all your money while we teach you the absolute bare minimum of what makes real estate tick". Do I need to bite the bullet and go with a 50/50 split company to learn this business??? HELP!!!!

[Jennifer Allan]

Wow - I'm soooo sorry you're this frustrated and I totally understand.

A real estate transaction is much more complicated than most people think - especially, it appears, most brokers and "trainers" who just seem to think it's okay to wing it with your first clients. Sometimes I wonder if they are just as clueless as the new folks since they seem to be totally unsympathetic to the fact that there IS so much to learn.

I believe with all my heart that every new agent should have someone by their side for their first few (several?) transactions. Not just someone to call once things go sour, but a person who is watching their every move. That's rare, I guess.

You need to find someone to help you RIGHT NOW. And you'll probably need to pay them. It clearly won't be your broker (who doesn't seem to find such things important), but I'm positive there's an agent in your office who is 1) a helpful, maybe even soulful sort and 2) a little hungry.

If there truly isn't - you might be able to find someone in the SWS community - what market are you in? Or, yes, you may need to change brokerages to one that has some decent training and/or support available, although as you've noticed, it's tough to sort through all the empty promises to find out the truth.

But for now... take a deep breath, calm down and let's think this thru... you need help. And there's NOTHING wrong with that!!!! Let's find you some!

[Jennifer Allan]

Oh, meant to post these links in my last response:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1215773/why-don-t-we-care-about-training-for-rookie-real-estate-agents-seriously-i-m-asking-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1148737/-good-for-you-let-me-know-if-you-need-anything-

[Margo6786]

I have to say "AMEN" to what Jennifer just said. I am still a newbie and I have a mentor at my office who is successful, honest, hard working, and she sells with soul (just doesn't know it).  It has made all the difference for my first year. 

The arrangement we made was that she would mentor me for 2 listings and 2 sales where I represent the buyer.  For her time and expertise, I paid her 50% of my commission on each deal. To make life easier, we actually co-listed my first 2 listings together.

Now that I have officially "graduated" from the mentor program, we are still in touch. She does not mind at all if I ask her questions or need her help with something. As a matter of fact, at her suggestion, I now share an office with her (and 2 other agents).  For me, it has been a wonderful situation and saved me a lot of frustration.

Because I was paying her, I never felt bad calling her with questions or asking her to talk to a seller who almost let his house go into foreclosure rather than selling for what he considered way too little (he still walked away with $3000).

So, all this to say, find a mentor that you admire and pay them for their time.