Last evening i ran into an old friend at a restaurant. Nearly the first words out of her mouth were that she is getting her real estate license. She wanted to know if Amazon had the book to study. I told her I did not know about Amazon, but Allied Business School was where most go to get the information and study. She said she only had to take 3 classes and the test and she was going to list and sell her boyfriends $28,000,000 home that has been on the market for over 2 year with an experienced agent.
Here we go again. I love how many people think they can get a license, show a few houses, fill out a few papers and get a big check. I used to try to explain to them what we do and that it is not so simple. Now i just answer their questions and move on. I figure they will find out soon enough the real world of real estate.
I think some people look at me and see how much fun I have and how much i love selling real estate and think they can do it too. There are many parts of being a real estate agent that people don't understand until they do it including the legal liability, knowledge of homes, skill in writing a contract, answering phone, text, email 24/7, and on and on.
I do love being a real estate broker associate and do want people to join our business, but not many I have seen over the years do make it a career long term.
LORI BOWERS
http://www.desertareahousingmarket.com
The Lori Bowers Group
A boutique Real Estate Office, with a full service team to serve all your Real Estate Needs
La Quinta, Palm Desert, Indio, Rancho Mirage, Coachella , Indian Wells and the surrounding Palm Springs Area.
78065 Main St., Suite 107
Old Town La Quinta
La Quinta, CA 92253
Phone: (760)777-8788 • Fax: (760)771-5355
Why do I have a feeling that your friend is going to crash and burn once she finds out how not only difficult it is to get through all 3 classes and pass the test, but HOW MUCH SHE HAS TO PAY in license fees, board fees, MLS dues, E&O insurance, etc.
Guess no one told her about that yet, huh?
HA! If one sale is all she is looking for and that sale is for her boyfriend AND the commission on a 28,000,000 home ends up in her pocket then yes it MAY be that easy for her! If her boyfriend owns a 28,000,000 home I doubt she really needs the money anyway. If she wants a "trophy job" then she can keep her real estate license and boast that she is an agent for years to come. If that keeps her happy and she doesnt need the money then who am I to say she is off track?
In my opinion being good in real estate is partly being great with people and partly being smart and hardworking. You have to be able to give people what they want, when they want it and how they want it ALL without losing yourself or your sanity. Give anyone the job of satisfying the public when they are selling or buying their largest investment and you have just given them a big mirror to see what they are truly made of.
I would love to know her marketing plan! :-)
Oh boy, she may be coming back to you in a month or two to ask where she can turn the books in for some cash.
Well, she'll get that one listing, maybe it'll sell, and she'll quickly see how hard it really is when she tries to get more listings or buyers. The fantasy of quick, easy money fades rapidly in the face of reality.
Lori I wish they required prospective agents to pay to shadow “approved” brokers or agents for a couple of weeks. So many agents come out of school and are out of the business in weeks or just a few months.