What have I done?

[kmnelson]

Hi Everyone!

I am so happy to have found this site. I am in introvert and have been a Realtor for 1 year and 5 months. I have had limited success, but not bad for a newby. My issue is that I am just very uncomfortable working in real estate. I had know idea it would involve so much of me. I am working as a buyer's agent.

I got the idea to enter real estate from our Realtor when we bought our last home. We had a very difficult time finding a home. I loved the challenge of finding it. I would search and search online and drive by homes everyday. She said I should do this. So I did!

I have a difficult time speaking with new leads. It does not come natural to me. Then when I get comfortable after a few showings, the questions start coming. I try to learn as much as I can, but there is just so much to know. Each transaction is different. I have definitely learned a lot from each transaction, but do not like not knowing the answers. I am afraid I will make a mistake and with the potential damage that can do, it scares me to death.

How and when do you determine if this is the right career for you?

[Susan Haughton]

Welcome to the site.  You will find a wealth of information here and lots of great advice.

There is a lot to learn and yes, the liability is great, but no matter how many transactions you have, it seems there is always something new to learn.

You may benefit from having a mentoring relationship with a more experienced agent, if your broker is not readily available.  Is this something that is available to you through your brokerage?  It may help you feel much more confident, knowing you have someone with whom to consult. 

[Steve Warner]

If you'll be willing to accept a comment from an "outsider"... I am not an agent, but someone who is possibly headed in that direction.  This is an excellent site and full of information... you may just find that some of the members here are just what you need to get over this hurdle.  I also believe you would get much benefit from purchasing and reading Jennifer's book.  No, I am not getting a commission on the sale or have stock in her company, but as someone who has read it (twice) I honestly believe in its value.

I agree with Susan that someone to mentor you would pay huge dividends, not financially, but in building confidence, and confidence goes a long way in feeling comfortable and happy doing your job.  On the other hand, I learned long ago... (and many folks may disagree with this) but in my opinion there is no amount of money worth getting up every day and doing something that you don't like or that you dread.  Life is WAY TOO SHORT for that!

I operate a small family business that we are planning to get out of for a variety of reasons, but one of which is, I just don't really find it fun and rewarding anymore.  It's been financially rewarding but I don't want to get up and do something everyday "just for the money".  I've made a difficult decision to start over from scratch whether it be in real estate or something else.

In the end there is only one person that can decide whether this career is right...  and that may take some time and some soul-searching.  Spend some time with the folks here and you may find a new lease on your career.  I wish you the best in whatever decision you make.  I hope some of the other veterans will chime in here.

[Ed Schneider / DC]

What Steve said.

[Jennifer Allan]

K - I love the questions you're asking and the concerns you're raising. Why? Because it means you CARE about doing a good job and not being perceived as incompetent! Believe it or not, a lot of agents don't really care that much as long as they have a warm body to practice on.

Whether or not this is the right career for is, of course, something you'll have to figure out. But what I'd like to ask you to do is to determine whether or not you would enjoy the process of finding a home for your buyer and taking it to closing (knowing that every day brings new challenges which sometimes feel insurmountable, but usually aren't) and helping your seller price his home, get it ready for market, stay in touch with him thru the process and take it closing ---- IF YOU FELT YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING?

To shorten that long sentence - if you felt more confident in your expertise, would you enjoy selling houses?

We'll take it from there!

[kmnelson]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I greatly appreciate it!

Susan: I think a good mentor would help. I just can't seem to find one that has the time. I started under an acquaintance who has since had to find a full time job to pay the bills. The brokerage I am with now, my team leader is just too busy.

Steve: I agree about life being too short. I have come to believe to stay in real estate and make the sacrifices you need to make to succeed, you have to really love it. I am not sure I love it enough to be away from my family and take the chances we need to take.

Ed: Thank you!

Jennifer: I care very much about what I am doing. We help people carry out big decisions. I do not know if I would enjoy it more if I felt more confident. I am trying to learn everything I can. I am taking my cont ed classes now, even though I am not due until next year, just for the knowledge. I have taken a short sale class. I have purchased and borrowed many books from the library. I get several newsletters to keep me up to date on everything. Like you said, every transaction is going to be different and I have learned a ton since starting. Right now, learning is my goal. I know I need to give it more time and that is the plan. I am hoping that this forum will help me through.

Again, everyone, thank you so much for your input. Keep it coming!

Kristi

[Bill Saunders]

Welcome again!
If I might interject about the mentor (and of course 2cents ain't what it used to be). Make certain that the mentor you find has like goals and motivators as yourself. You may want to volunteer to "help" a more experienced agent in some task related to a transaction, but this may backfire as some agents (CERTAINLY NOT!!!!) will take complete advantage of you. I have a friend that is also a grasshopper that is having to do ALL the legwork and drivework regarding a rather remote listing of a broker in town. It's good experience, but I think it sucks.

Way back when I started (almost a whole year ago), I just helped out without being asked, asked if there was anything I could do, volunteered to sit an open house or two, etc. that sort of thing. I wasn't competition, I am about t e a m relationships. Several appreciated it and helped me get some experience and didn't mind sharing thoughts...I had proved that I was non-threatening and interested in helping anyone succeed.

I was pleased that one of the top agents came in and asked my take on a situation recently. One stole an idea I used on my one condo listing for a cool picture and used it. I didn't care, theft in certain areas is flattery. Like the divine Ms. J says, "keep your antenna up" and keep being competent. You will go far.

[Susan Haughton]

Kristi,

One of the things I hear you saying is you are not sure this career is worth the trade off of giving up time with your family;  you also mentioned earlier about it taking so much of you. 

Another possibility for you is that you team up with someone else who may have some of the same concerns or scheduling issues.  For example, if you have children and don't want them to grow up without being there for their important moments, find someone else who doesn't have kids (or won't want the same afternoons off for soccer/basketball/ballet) who may like to work afternoons, but not mornings. 

I don't mean that you necessarily need to form a "formal team" or anything like that, but if you could find someone else, preferably with a little more experience, maybe you could work out a "time share" arrangement that would give you more flexibility and help handle the workload. 

If there are other brokerages in your area, maybe visit with them and see if they have a set up that is more supportive of new agents. Not all brokerages operate the same way and sometimes, it is a matter of finding the right fit, particularly since it sounds as if you are in a more "hands off" situation where you are basically on your own.