The Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent
Believe it or not, many people assume they overpay Realtors® who reap the benefits just for writing a property description or opening key boxes. That couldn’t be further from the truth, as any busy real estate professional has a full schedule on the ‘Daily.’ If they are to provide excellence in service, there is a lot more going on behind the scenes. Much of what we do relies on repeat and referral business. While we might not hear from previously sold homeowners for 15-years or longer, agents must constantly find alternative ways to make a living. Now, if you’re questioning what a good realtor or broker does to earn that commission, let’s break it down into smaller bites. Here is a Realtor’s® ‘Slice of life’ with me, John Feeney.
Early Morning Routine
5:00 AM
Many successful real estate pros are avid health nuts. We understand in order to be on top of our game also means maximizing our health. Whether we run a few miles or hit the gym, we start our day with a meaningful breakfast and some exercise. For me, a brisk walk in the mountain boosts my motivation. Gyms are also excellent places to meet up with clients and build camaraderie with persons in oh… say a yoga class. Ask any successful person will tell you they don’t go a day without getting in a good workout. Even dudes like Elon Musk hit the weights for ‘Brain Health’. If the engine is falling apart, maintenance and repair are necessary. Not to mention, the glucose fix your brain receives when you get that heart rate up. Just a simple analogy which shows our need for athletic awareness when selling houses.
“Musk says he finds time once or twice a week to squeeze in a cardio workout on the treadmill and lift weights,” ~ AutoBuild TV
6:00 AM:
At 6:00 AM, it is time to read the hundreds of emails and purge your spam. Many clients will reach out all hours of the evening where hundreds of messages hit the INBOX overnight. Having a prompt response is key to this real estate market. Whether they are buying or selling, customers can be anxious, excited or overwhelmed. Once sifted through the many inquiries, the agent flips the hat to prospect mode. While some agents do cold calling, many of us simply keep in touch with our amazing circle of friends and family. Moral agents are some of the most loyal people on the planet because they are the lifeblood of the market. Another thing we do early in the morning is seek people who are selling their homes without an agent. Otherwise known as FSBOs, (For sale by owner) we reach out to these folks on Facebook, email or some other form of communicating. Morning times are all about communication and staying in touch.
8:00 AM:
We get to our office (Or go to the other room if working from home) with a big smile on our face and ready to handle the day. During this time, we may take a class as continued education, which is a valuable part of our job. The market is oscillating. Therefore, knowledge is imperative for survival. At this point of the day, things are running ramped. We’re booking photographers, speaking to inspectors and hiring home stagers. We are constantly answering phone calls from everyone on the planet. That includes the boss, the loan officer, the escrow, and title companies, not to mention assisting our coworkers. It’s a firestorm of information. Juggling ALL the balls in the air at the same time is crucial to existence. And speaking of fire, we Realtors® put out tons of flames because we live by “Murphy’s Law.”
“Whatever Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong,” ~ Murphy’s Law
Mid-Day Routine
12:00 PM:
At this point, we may be out in the field showing a property. Sometimes, clients would prefer to see 2-3 homes in one afternoon. This is one of the most time-consuming but also the most rewarding when seeing the smile on their faces as they find their dream home. However, when we aren’t showing off listings or attending a closing, we’re back at the office organizing notaries, coordinating marketing, and getting lock boxes ready for new listings. In addition, they now require us to sanitize a home before and after a tour. We understand it necessary and do what we can to comply, regardless of time. Now back to our regular programming: Another activity necessary for our job is hosting open houses and attending caravans with other agents. (Caravans are where we tour properties to become familiar with current inventory) As showed, the morning and mid-day is chock full of fast-paced tasks galore, often taking hours to complete.
4:00 PM:
By now, physical exhaustion is kicking from all activities. (Good thing there is coffee) We’re back in our home office or cubicle trying to close out the day. Just when we are ready to finish, more responsibilities pop out of nowhere. Those tasks may involve drawing up contracts, updating MLS listings and any other paperwork or administrative duties. Our profession still requires signing of hard copy documents. Therefore, we must be present and most likely can not do this over the phone or online. Not to mention, dealing with mounds of documents is normal as a job description.
Let me take a minute to let my office staff know how much I appreciate them at C3. My team is invaluable.
Evening Time
7:00 PM:
When 7 rolls around, I may have checked out of the office and now heading over to help my wife with dinner or some other activity. A luxury of a Realtor’s® career is spending more time with family. On the contrary, my dear wife, Danielle, who deserves as many big hugs as I can give. I’m so fortunate to have her support. I am truly grateful for her understanding when work calls. While we aren’t always able, it is nice setting our own hours.
8:00-11:00 PM:
By this point, agents need nourishment and rest. However, if it is the day before an open house, we may finish with the last-minute details to ensure a successful event. Most importantly, we are seeking ways to deal with the stress while maintaining our schedule. Rest is not always optional. Exhaustion is present until we can lay our heads down on the pillow getting ready for the next day.
Life is Good, Baby!
While I’m outlining the cliff notes, there is always more activity than what I list. The only thing left to say, every night I am eager for the next day to do it all over again. Life is good and as hectic as things can become, I wouldn’t change it for the world because I truly love my job. One last remark, I can’t wait for 2021 and the rewards it will bring.
A Warm and Happy Thank You to My Clients of 2020
I’d like to say thank you to all my clients who gave me the opportunity to work with them in 2020. You are the reason I get out of bed in the morning and go to bed with a smile at night. I look forward to having a long-lasting relationship as your trusted partner. Have a blessed and prosperous 2021!
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