Since a lot of work is at night and on weekends because most buyers work 9-5, I was thinking of keeping my full time Job until business picks up.

My Question is that Im trying to find a broker that has good training and has a lot of professionals to learn off of......Is it possible to achieve this working at night and on weekends?????

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.

Dee wrote this very effective blog on her site. Dee\'s Blog In order to be successful, see what we have to do. If you want to remain PT, then of course you can survive but do expect a PT income too.

So as long as you understand you reap what you sow analogy, it's really difficult to remain financially successful it not alot is vested into it. But yes, you can do it. Read this. Is Part-time real estate for me?

I am part time, just started 6 months ago. I am on 12hr shifts w/my full time job but do not work everyday & I have every other weekend off. I do find it hard to do. I had my first listing in November and found it hard to get everything done as I would if I was full time. I can imagine when I have several listings at once! I have 2 more yrs to go on my current job to get vested & leave, I can't wait. The only good thing about having another job is the steady income & you can also use it for advertising to get your name out there. I don't let anyone know that I have another job. If you can save enough to take care of your expenses for a year & dedicate to this full time, I suggest it's a better route.

I just thought I add this:

I've been on both sides. None of the "sides" had the best of me. And quite honestly, I knew I was better than that. Turning full-time was the best thing I had done. But I thoroughly understand why some would prefer to take the PT route first. I did! And I'd do it all over again.

(I may be lucky though!) I had friends and family that supported me ie buying and selling through me - I think alot because of my "personality" and my diligence in whole-heartedly helping someone even when I didnt know the answer. I think attitude will set the difference!

Thanks for the responses.....how did you find time to be in the office learning from other pros working part time. What hours was your full time job? What time does the office usually close??? Im wondering what times I should change my hours at my full time job so I can get proper training but have time to go out and show people properties.

(These answers pertain to me only):

I started this business with no intentions of doing too much about it. That being said, we wanted to purchase for ourselves. We were the first (among our friends) to purchase our house, so that was our bonus.

I didnt hang out much at the office. I think I followed my broker to several showings and that was it. I was pretty self-sufficient. Again, my business model was different. The broker structured his office so well that I didnt need to step into his office - great for me. I did have a few "friends" at the office - none of which I learnt too much from. I learnt from doing deals. If there was something I needed to ask, my broker is always available - on the MSN chat messenger (seriously). He didnt have kids, he was on the computer MOST of the time. It just worked out for me that way!

I was in a difficult situation at the corporate job. I was pretty much needed 7:30am - 5:00pm. Actually more than that! On weeknights and weekends too. Boss is not too flexible - not that he's intoreable, we were just so good at what we did and his compensation and bonuses reflects that. This is not the best advice .... but I dont go for closings. I dont go for inspections. I run errands at lunch time. (I remembered the days) and that's why I said no one was getting the best of me!

It's not rocket science to show a house. There's a little work in learning to present a listing so that you seem professional. Check out the training provided. Who knows, it might be at 5pm?

If the broker doesnt provide the training, see if an agent can. Or find a mentor (with personalized training).

I too am just getting started in this business as I have just passed my test and am currently interviewing agency's as I type. I also am approaching this business Part Time because I have a Full Time job right now and I dont have any intentions on quiting it anytime soon. Fortunatley I am in a VERY flexable job and poistion where I could take a couple hours a day during the daytime if need be to devote to Real Estate especially to the training at whereever I sign up at! My weekends would be open as well.

Anyways, I think it really comes down to what your expectations are when you are coming in as part time. Realistically, what are the days and time you will have to devote to your business?From what I gathered from people who were or who still are part time with "real" life experiences is that it is obviously harder to get your business up and going and it is very important to pick a broker who you not only "mesh" well with, but one who accepts your role as a part time agent, one who will get you training and one who understand where you are at and where you want to go! I think that really is the key. As far as experiences as a part time agent, I dont have any yet! But I will soon. You just have to evaluate your own unique situation and know what you want and what you can "put" into this job....

v702: I wish you all the success... You have the personality to stay in this business.

My personal experience of staying in this business wasn't quite business-related. It was when I aligned my priorities (there's only so many hours in the day, so I had to rate my to-do list). My family is top priority and get that on your schedule too. Getting the license is the first step. Trying to reach the 1st year mark is your next hurdle....

All the best.

I think the main point im thinking of is the fact you don't sell your first house for 6 months. If its a $200,000 home at 6% commission, thats 3% buyer and 3% seller, then your share is $6,000(3% of 200,000). If you are 50/50 with the broker then you receive $3,000! With the money I have saved up it would still be hard working half a year and making only $3,000.

Aftermath... Please realize that the majority of a real estate agent's work is NOT showing houses to buyers. There are so many other things we do that really do need our full attention. You have already hit on one of the most important - getting trained and competent. And once you have some bizness going, you do need to be available during business hours to take care of the daily problems and details that come up unexpectedly... and need attention NOW, not tonight (after title companies, lenders and appraisers have gone home).

If you have flexibility in your job hours, I would recommend working in the mornings and being available for real estate as much of the afternoon as possible. If possible, reduce your hours to the absolute minimum you can and really focus on your real estate business.

I wouldn't expect that too many brokers or mentors will want to take their evenings or weekends to work with you - remember, they have businesses and families too.

Being successful in real estate is a tough mission for the newbie, especially in this market. If you want to make it to your second year, you really need to give it your all this year.

You can do it! Rah Rah Rah!

^^^^^

Thanks for the info....Im thinking of reducing my hours at work and working 5am to 11am.

Now working on real estate from 11am to 7pm would be considered working full time. Do you believe these hours would be appropriate?

I think it's tough to be successful part time. Business won't pick up until you put the resources into it. I started part-time but I had an extremely flexible job and spent all of my free time studying real estate and planning.

Yes, Aftermath, assuming you can keep up that pace, those hours will work. But I'm tired just thinking about it! I admire your willingness to work that hard though - it shows that you are enthusiastic about your new career and are willing to give it everything you can.

I know an agent that works a full time job and real estate part time. She was agent of the month for December...so you can do whatever you want too do as long as you are determined. She works 50+ hours at her full time job. You have to be a hard worker and dedicated, but it can be done.
Angie

^^^^^^

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.

^^^^^^^

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.

Please stay on topic. Original poster wanted to know what type of tools they could use to help them in part-time and other helpful info. Remember keep it postive.