^^^^^^

See Id work up to 18 hours a day if need be(I did for 2 years lol). Im just worried about getting the proper training and showing the broker that this is really what I want. Also what is the normal hours for an office to be open? Can you get a key and come in at night and work extra hours?

Our hours are 9-5 and we do have a key too access the office after hours. I am sure if you are this dedicated that you can work something out!! If you want it this bad, go for it!! I did not receive any training I learned everything by myself but there are alot of brokers that offer great training...to me it sounds like this is really want you want. Just explain to your broker you have to keep your job and do this part time but are willing to do whatever it takes. I am sure the broker would want someone like you over someone who does it full time but doesn't really want it! Good luck!!
Angie

Now all of this is just my opinion...
First Real Estate is not a part time job. You can have a full time job and still be successful in real estate. Contradicting myself? Let me explain. In my opinon to be successful in real estate you have to live real esate. I personally have never set "work hours". Yes I schedule certain hours of each week to be in the office to get things done, but I am always working real estate. What I mean by this is networking. I am constantly talking real estate, and no not to the point of annoying people but after my daughters game I will go up and talk to the coach about the fact I see he has a FSBO sign in his yard. Or I am somewhere and meet someone new I always let them know I am a Realtor. Tuedsay evenings after my daughter goes to bed I always sit down and email my sellers feedback for the week. I check the MLS for new listings every morning while I have my coffee. All of the things I am talking about can be achieved while working a full time job.
The problem I have with "part time" realtors, they don't seem to keep educated on the market. They are only out there to sell cousin Vinnie's house and earn a little extra income from time to time. They are not working to be successful.

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See, Im not getting into real estate just to sell cousin Vinnie's house and earn a little extra income from time to time. Im in it to create a new career that gives me some independence. The problem is I have to feed myself and, living paycheck to paycheck, I cannot save enough to go the possible 6 months without a paycheck. I intend on going full time once I get my business "off the ground".

Also my Website and my cellphone will be on 24/7 so my "tools" will be full time lol.

Aftermath, just from the few posts I have read of yours, I wouldn't consider you a part time agent, you want to work the business. You may have a full time job but your goal is to become successful. To me part time agents don't ever intend to be sucessful, they just take the business that falls in their lap.

^^^^^^^


Hey thanks! Ive become obsessed! Im going to take the classes online this summer, take the test in October-November and get everything ready for a run in 2008. Im already working on marketing, getting a website established, and coming on here to learn what I can. Thanx for any and all help!

There are some tools/ systems you could implement that you put to work for you while you are at "work".

Well my Website and Cell Phone will be 24/7...LOL

You were refering to systems that you implemented within your website to work for you while you are at "work", right? ...

Possibly but I don't work nights and only work every other weekend (not the whole weekend either, usually every other Saturday between 8:30-1pm).

During weekdays, I work from 7:30am to 3:00pm. One or two nights a week I will work until 6 or 7pm.

I guess you could work nights and weekends. It comes down to whether or not you a sphere of influence. If not, you will probably need those daytime hours to prospect. That is what I do too and it has worked out well for me

I am an editorial and illustration freelancer and a realtor and consider NEITHER job is a part time job. If I have a lot of freelance work I get up early and dedicate "X" amount of time to it, then move on to real estate. A problem sometimes arises where in the middle of my freelance time a client or customer calls and I have to do something immediately. Luckily I can stop and attend to that, but I have to make up the other time later. I think you can juggle another job and real estate as long as the "other" job is one that can be interrupted.

I agree...it's important that your "other" job can be interrupted. There's nothing worse than being told by the other agent..."well, the home inspection has to be scheduled for after 5 pm as I work another job fulltime"....

So, just think about how you will make it to home inspections, deliver paperwork back and forth to attorneys, attend your closings, etc. There is much more to real estate than showing the house and negotiating the price. If you can find something flexible, it certainly can be done. Otherwise, you'd be doing your buyers and sellers a disservice.

Many people want to get into real estate but just can't survive the first six months (or whatever) that it takes to start making money, so they have no choice but to try it PT. And only the best can make it from PT to FT.

Only your own personal character will determine if you succeed. You are asking the right questions of the right group of people at the right time, so you are in the real world regarding your survival.

Your "Cousin Vinnie's house" response tells me you know this is a tough business, and you aren't fooling yourself. That's good.

Please listen to these folks when they tell you that your other job HAS TO BE flexible and "interruptable" if you are going to pull this off. I'm thinking you already know that.

Obviously, you have a plan. Everyone needs a formal (or semi-formal) business plan. Stick to it. That way, when you have to go off the plan, you won't be so far off that you can't find your way back quickly.

You are already anticipating the worst...guess what, that is a good survival instinct. And people with good survival instincts usually make it. Prepare for the worst, work at your best...however you want to twist that.

Along with your other good ideas, be sure and hang around this thread and learn from these pros.

Good Luck.

Just wanted to chime in here... I'm about to begin as my new career as a real estate agent part-time too. I'm a business consultant primarily, but have been investing in real estate for a few years.

Anyway, what tools should I use to get started to work for me as I'm at my "real" job? Website, lead generation, SEO, mailings?

Just curious on some opinions. THanks

If you find a broker who will help you with any questions you might have, then it will work out. Having good training is one thing, but receiving a personalized service and advice from someone who's been in this business for a long time, makes all the difference.