Realtors are known for helping people buy and sell real estate, but much of what a real estate agent actually does to earn their commission happens behind the scenes. A good one will make your real estate transaction flow smoothly through each step of the process, leaving the impression that their job is fairly simple. The fact is – that couldn’t be further from the truth. Anyone who has ever lived with a realtor knows how difficult their job is. If you’ve never spent much one-on-one time with an agent, you may not understand how different their job is from the average everyday job. For this reason, I created a quick article covering a few of the day-to-day items that we are responsible for.
Being a Realtor can be Exhausting!
Full-time Realtors who excel in their careers are high-energy, time-efficient professionals who know how to handle stress and responsibility well. There are definitely Realtors out there who cut corners and do not take care of their responsibilities as well, but they should not define our industry. The real estate industry is loaded with very impressive professionals with whom I am proud to work with.
Below I have compiled a list of common responsibilities that a Realtor should have.
Being a Realtor is Expensive!
On top of the large list of responsibilities that we carry, we also have many expenses to account for. When some people see a Realtors commission, they may feel like we are getting rich quick. In reality, the average Realtor makes around $50,000 per year, after all expenses and taxes. Much of the money from our commission goes to maintaining our business and licensing fees. Less than half of it usually goes into our bank account. Here is a list of some common fees:
Being a Realtor is Challenging!
Many people try to start a career in real estate under the assumption that there is easy money to be made here. In reality, it is a brutal business with loads of competition. The paychecks are not large enough to keep people in the business, a fact that is reflected in the 20% success rate for new Agents . Those who do survive usually do so because they have a passion for the business, and helping people make their real estate dreams a reality. It’s a great business to be in, but it’s NOT EASY!
So, the next time you work with a Realtor, remember that they are human too, and they can carry a lot of burden and responsibility in their job. We work long hours for months on end for clients with no guarantee of a paycheck. When you understand these things about Realtors and let them know that you get it, you can be sure it will put a smile on their face.
Why Do Some People Think Being a Realtor is Easy?
It’s pretty simple! Much of what we do is done behind the scenes. We pride ourselves on our client’s positive feedback. Realtors try and take on most of the stress of the home buying and selling process so that their clients can relax.
It is very rewarding to be an advocate for people during this time in their lives. For this reason, many agents become close friends with their clients long after their transaction is over.
It’s a fun job, with many moving parts. It’s not for everyone, but for those who are successful at being a Realtor, LOVE what they do and it shows.