Does this industry really pick up during the Spring and Summer? That's what mostly everyone was saying at the NY Real Estate school I just graduated from.

They have several different recruiters, a different one each day come in and tell us how strapped they are for good agents, that this is the busiest time of the year for Rentals, that we're going to make incredible amounts of money with each different agency...it's hard to make a choice.

I just don't understand why different recruiters would arrive at the school everyday and lay out $60-70 for pizza alone and soda if they didn't need any new agents?

Plus if you hit the New York Sales Craigslist page you'll see *so* many recruitment pitches there for newly licensed it's uncanny.

I just took my state test yesterday and I don't anticipate any delays or hang-ups with licensure and I should have my license by tomorrow or the next day the latest. In fact this will be the SECOND time I'll be licensed in this category; I was licensed once before as a New York Real Estate Sales Agent in the late 70s so I'm not *totally* new to this game.

I'm already signed up with a rental broker. Do you think I'll be ok? If not let me know now. I appreciate your advice and input. ALSO if anyone in New York reading this has a better offer for a hardworking single 48 year old man I'm here and I'm listening.

Thanks!

How exactly do you intend to make money in this business? It's all commissions and no salary or wages. Where are you going to find clients?

Have you written a business plan?
Have you set goals and made plans to reach those goals?
Do you have a good amount of start-up money?

Hi everyone and thank you for your concern.

Well I have some good news. I spent my first day on the job today and even though I personally didn't close any rental deals the office is certainly hopping.

Plus they say it's *really* going to hop this weekend. The only thing is I suddenly have a problem with my lower left 6 (tooth) so I doubt I'll be in bright and early tomorrow morning.

And who said you have to wait months and months to close a deal in this industry :rolleyes:

Where in NY are you? I am in upstate NY and the business seems to be picking up here...

On LI we are selling homes. One house we listed a month ago is in contract already. We priced it right. Our open houses have as many people as they did last year. Yes they are fussier, but do want to buy. And while we may have shown them a handful last yaer to get the sale, that number has doubled, but so has the inventory. Buyers want to be in before the beginning of the school year.

Today I switched companies from one to another. Btw my first switch. I HOPE this isn't a sign of failure on the horizon!

Anyway at my new company I'll be given the opportunity to do rentals as WELL as sales. Company #1 only did rentals. Hey look they are the nicest people in the world, but I had my reasons for leaving.

1) Bait & Switch tactics thus leaving me, the agent in a predicament where I found myself being forced to LIE to prospective buyers about the apartment being advertised as No-Fee yet there was a Fee. I may bring this issue up in the ethics forum.

2) Office favoritism. Hey this is what happened. Last night I was at my desk, ok? Senior agent #1 comes in and asks another agent #2 if she's "showing" anything tonight and #2 says yes. #1 clearly sees me sitting there doing nothing yet for an unknown reason doesn't ask me if I'd like to do the show. Make sense in the realm of fairness? I think not.

2) Seems like not enough listings available in the first place.

3) Other reasons.

So Starting Monday I'm at a new agency. Do you think I did the right thing by leaving? Advice and comments appreciated. Thanks!

What's wrong with that?

When I have a referral to give out I don't just give it to the first agent I see or do a random draw. I give it to someone I know is competent.

That's why I left the position Jflynn. Perhaps they don't recognize my competence, or perhaps I'm NOT competent.

If they did that to me once, it's bound to become a pattern. So I'll hang my license on a more competent wall, one where they recognize my competence.

What makes you think I'm not competent anyway?

I didn't say that, but since you've only been doing this for less than a month I can see why other agents would be reluctant to hand referrals to you.

No one owes you anything in this business - you have to earn it. What have you done to earn business so far? Have you studied the market thouroughly? Looked at new properties each and every day and studies pricing data?

Thank you sir. No I haven't.

It was just a simple showing of an apartment anyway. I don't think I would've needed the information you just asked if I had.

Anyway did you hear about the Bait & Switch practice of this company I just left? I mean they were the nicest people in the world to me, really they were. But they have this habit of listing apartments at No-Fee and then when the renter calls up we were supposed to tell them, "the no-fee apartment down the block was the no-fee apartment; however the only apartment we have on the same block incurs a fee." I didn't want to deal with this.

HOWEVER, being this was my first desk how was I supposed to know this isn't an industry-wide practice? In fact, it very well may be an industry-wide practice to bait and switch like this. Remember I'm new here so I couldn't tell you one way or the other.

IS bait and switch an industry-wide or widespread practice in Real Estate? I'm asking because I'm new here and I don't know

I STRONGLY disagree, another good reason I don't hand out referrals to just anyone.

How the heck are you supposed to do your job showing apartments if you don't know what the market is doing? What comprable places rent for? What other similar places are available in case the client doesn't think this one is right for them?

You're right, sir! Totally right!