I am very interested in becoming a part-time real estate agent. I currently work a full-time dayturn job as a customer service agent and am gone from 7am to 6pm weekdays. Evenings and weekends are free. I am wondering if starting out part time is worth it? I have a good DSL line at home plus access during my lunch hour for everyday for real estate communications. I am a very motivated, aggressive person and feel I would do well with real estate, but would definitely like some sound advice. If the business really takes off, I would consider it full time but at this time feel it too risky to give up my current position.

I work full time dayturn and would be available lunch hour and after 6pm weekdays, plus weekends. I would like to get some sound advice on starting out part-time. I am a very motivated, aggressive person and feel with my skills and customer service experience, that I can make this work. I'm not willing to give up my current position at this point in time.

With such a high demand on your during the week time, it sounds like it will be difficult for you - while you are taking buyers out on weekends, who's going to make the appointments for you during the week, who will speak with the loan officers, home inspectors, etc - most of them operate in M-F 9-5 offices.

There is much more to real estate than finding property online and taking out buyers.

If you had more time during the week it would be easier. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it will be darn difficult.

I am interested in starting out part-time evenings and weekends - can this be done? I work full-time days and would be available after 6pm weekdays and weekends any hours. I'm very motivated and agressive and feel I could make this work. I'm not able nor willing to leave my current fulltime position because of the huge risk factor. We purchased our first home in march and I don't want to risk jeopardizing what we've worked so hard for. Any advice??

One of the biggest problems I see with trying to start part time is the issue of full time costs (dues, insurance, etc. are not prorated base on your time spent at the business). Even for someone starting full time these can be quite costly until you establish a flow of income from the R.E. business; those costs need to be covered from other resources until you hit break even (and break even willrobably be further out on the time line if you are part time).

Hi Amy - Welcome! I just got my N.C. license and am also wanting to start out part time. Don't let all the naysayers discourage you, though - there are quite a few that think you can't do this business sucessfully if you're not full time. I think its a matter of how much effort you put into it and how well you take care of your clients. I have a very good full time job and my boss knows I am trying to break into a r/e career - we got all that straight BEFORE she hired me. So, good luck to you - your idea of success may be quite different from someone else's - so do your own thing and don't worry about what others think!

sure it can be done. I started out part time. Yes, it can be done. But good luck. Its a pain in the [censored] doing all of what you have to do, following up, due diligence, etc. It will be easier to work with sellers in my opinion. Good luck

Sure you can start out part-time. Most people want to view properties on the evenings and weekends anyways. Especially if you are working as a buyer's agent. Just realize there is cost to maintain a license (MLS access, local realtor assoc., E&O insurance, Supra Key, etc., etc.) Then you usually have to split your commission with whomever holds your license. It can be a lot of work for the money you earn.

Please don't do real estate part time. You will find yourself stressed out or going broke. The requirments on your time are just to great with your day job. Real estate is not a occupation that should be performed part time. Save 6 months of income and some money for initial marketing then launch into the field full time. If you do it any other way you will end up at best with unsatisfied customers and a number of agents in your market area dispising you for your lack of follow through. Not to mention that right now agents are having to work twice the hours for the same income.

It's a myth that most of your job is done nights and weekends. I rarely work nights and weekends - but I work my backside off during the day. Most of your job does NOT involve taking buyers around - that's only a small part of what you do. There's a reason real estate agents have such huge earning potential and it's not because we only "have" to work nights and weekends. We work A LOT!

No! Selling Real Estate is NOT a Part-Time Job!

If you are highly motivated and aggresive, quit your day job and go get them, you'll make it at a full time agent.
I have never seen a part-timer making it decently...

Despite what your being told, whether it can be done depends on you. As long as you can handle the needs of your clients and make their transaction happen, you can work part time.

I also started out (back in the dark ages - before we had the internet) as a part time person. I managed to have my second most profitable year while working "part-time" back in 1990. However, I was the manager at my day job, so when I need to take some time in the day to meet inspectors, etc. I was able to do that.

The only one who can answer this question is really you.

R

Your first hurdle is getting good training. Once you know how to do a transaction, you can work part time as long as you meet your client's needs and expectations. Some agents work 70 hours per week and have little to show for it. Some agents work 20 hours per week and are very successful. Like others have said, it is up to you. Your drive, intelligence, ability to build quick relationships, etc.

Keep in mind that 'full time' does not mean being at a RE Office 40 hours a week. It means always being available tho. I pull 24 hours of 'up-time' but I am selling RE at the gas station, at the supermarket, at the hair salon, at the PTA. I never EVER miss a chance to talk RE. I spend my 'off' time on weekends, going to moving sales - always good for a listing!

But Really, rebel is right. YOU and how you do business is what counts. Very few people could make it just nights and weekends. Good Luck to you.

Amy,

With a plan and perseverance, sure you can. We have a lady in my area that is part-time and does well, her focus is new homes and apartments. She diligently posts numerous ads to craigslist and kijiji and works those leads exclusively. There is more to her system but thats it in a nutshell and it works for her and her broker.

[quote=jamesww]Please don't do real estate part time. You will find yourself stressed out or going broke. The requirments on your time are just to great with your day job. Real estate is not a occupation that should be performed part time. Save 6 months of income and some money for initial marketing then launch into the field full time. If you do it any other way you will end up at best with unsatisfied customers and a number of agents in your market area dispising you for your lack of follow through. Not to mention that right now agents are having to work twice the hours for the same income. [/quote]

I [i]SO[/i] agree with you. We have a friend in the family who is a part-time agent. We happened to use his services last summer when we were looking to purchase our first home. We ended up staying in our apartment.

He never sent us listings (he had a full-time job and apparently did not take the time to learn how to use his MLS system), so we had to look ourselves (what's the point of hiring a real-estate agent if you have to do the work yourself??).

Then, he had not been around the neighborhood enough (again, instead of spending time researching the market he was doing his day job), so we ended up going to a lot of houses that were a BIG waste of time for us (and him!).

Finally, and this is the worst part, every house we went to, no matter how ugly, dirty, or just plain wrong for us it was, he favored this comment:
"This might be the house for you, eh?"
Well, NO! It can't be! It's nothing like what we described to you!!!
(sorry, can you sense the frustration I'm having just thinking about it?)...

There were other things too, like he tended to bring us to homes that were a bit too pricey for us (i.e., he wanted a big commission to make up for his time), which eventually led to us giving up on buying a house.

Anyway, since he IS a family member, to make amends I sent him some info on other ways to make income...

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with this last comment. I don't believe that a part time agent equals a bad agent. I think it is how you perform your job and how much time you put into it. If you desperately want to succeed, you will find the time. If you think that RE is going to be a cake walk without putting forth any effort, then you get the type of service that MyWayToHelp had. It really just depends on the person and the will to succeed, in my opinion. :)

skg1396,

Perhaps you're right. I hope you ARE right. Still, I don't think I will ever go with a part-time realtor again.

have you bought a house yet?

The thing that I've found with part time agents is that they are PERCEIVED as not being as professional and knowledgeable as FULL TIME agents. Whether true or not, the public and most agents generally view them this way.

My personal experience with part time agents in my area mirrors what was said above, that they are not as knowledgeable or accessible as those who are in the business full time. There are exceptions to the rule but for the most part, every part time agent we've dealt with has been a frustrating experience.

Amy

If you really want to become a real estate agent you can do it. I've read all the previous post but don't agree with most of them. First of all most "full-time" agents are really part timers they are just available hours that your not.

I had a full time executive job in the financial district in San Francisco when I started. I was able to tie in with another new agent in sort of a loose partnership deal and it worked.

After a year I quit my job and got one driving a truck from 3am to 11am in the morning and became the top producing agent in the office.

What you work on and when you work on it is not set in stone, there are areas you can focus on to get business with your schedule.

Get you license and work out the kinks. As a broker for over 40 years I had many agents start with the same or similar problems as you have and phase into the business just fine, they just wanted it.

As you may have read through my previos thread as well, I am in the same situation. Although it's good to hear some of the negative comments of starting the way we both want to start, it's even more refreshing and comforting to hear from people who have done it themselves, or witnessed a successful transition into the business in the same manner.

Steph

serendipidy..can you elaborate on finding sellers at moving sales....you have raised my interest......if you dont mind..I am curious...

It depends on the person and their motivaion, my good friend is a realtor part time and has been for 3 years now, he works a full time mon-fri 8-5 job, and closes 2-3 deals a month with the market the way it is now. last year he made 90k in real estate only, but he is always really busy so to say you cant do it is unrealistic. He said it is 90% motivation and thats it he said realtors get lazy and thats why they dont do good here in Az.

So there are 2 or 3 agents every month who have to struggle to make a deal work with an agent who is not available because he is at work. I have worked with agents like your friend and it is very frustrating.

[quote=AmyF]I am very interested in becoming a part-time real estate agent. I currently work a full-time dayturn job as a customer service agent and am gone from 7am to 6pm weekdays. Evenings and weekends are free. I am wondering if starting out part time is worth it? I have a good DSL line at home plus access during my lunch hour for everyday for real estate communications. I am a very motivated, aggressive person and feel I would do well with real estate, but would definitely like some sound advice. If the business really takes off, I would consider it full time but at this time feel it too risky to give up my current position. [/quote]

Hi Amy

When I first got my real estate license in 1980, I was self supporting and had bills that would not quit coming in on a monthly basis.;) As a new agent, I had no income whatsoever for quite a long time so I was forced to work a full time job while I sold real estate on a parttime basis. However, what I did was become an assistant to one of the top producers in the office. This was a great way for me to learn the business and what it takes to make the big bucks.

My point is, you can sell real estate on a parttime basis, many people start out that way and once they get their momentum going and are able to quit their full time job, then you will have even more time to devote to making a good living. In addition, you have all those great prospects where you work now, start by letting them know that you have your real estate license and are open for business. Since you are in some sort of customer service industry, find out ways you can introduce real estate to your customers too.

Best of Luck!

Susan
www.susanbarlow.com

[quote=tony1911]serendipidy..can you elaborate on finding sellers at moving sales....you have raised my interest......if you dont mind..I am curious... [/quote]

Visit garage sales, ask the proprieter if they are just cleaning out their garage or planning to move in the near future. If moving, hand them a business card and go from there.

Susan
www.susanbarlow.com

I say go for it.

What is a part time agent anyway? If you work 20 hours a week in real estate, are you a part time agent? If you work 40 hours a week, are you a full time agent?

It's all about what you want to accomplish. Make sure you're being responsive to your client's needs, be professional and be yourself.

Many people understand that being a new agent in this market is very, very tough, so as long as you can be all you can be, that's all that matters.

Good luck.

Most everyone started real estate part time. If you are driven and determined enough it will work. Also, your current job might give you referrals from your co-workers.

Good luck.

As I recall from my days prior to being in real estate there are wage and hour laws that differentiate between full time and part time for employees.

I can't conceive of how you would distinquish between full time and part time for independent contractors or broker/owners though.

you really can't. I think of part time as someone who works full time for something else and does real estate "on the side".

Here’s a suggestion: Sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil, or at your computer keyboard. Write this question at the top of the page: “Why I Want to Work Part-Time.”

If you can, write the answer in one, or at most two, sentences. “Make more money.” Perfectly good. “Get out of the house.” Also good, especially for active retirees. If you can’t answer this in a few words, you need to think about it some more. This is your motivation—the place to start.

Next, start listing everything you can do. What experience do you have? At anything.

Flipping burgers?
Writing poetry?
Digging holes?
Pounding nails?
Selling things?
Managing multimillion dollar projects?
It doesn’t matter what you put down because you never know what will turn up that fits you.

Then, when you have exhausted all your experience, start thinking about what you’d like to do. Go ahead—be ambitious! Notice I said “…what you’d like to do…” Not what you’d like to be (which could be “rich and famous”), but what you can see yourself doing. Now write down these things. Could be that there are things on this list that you have no experience with; maybe never even thought of before. Great! This is especially true if you have worked for years at one job and just want to try something new—something that looks interesting.

If your willing to make phone calls and talk to people, anyone with a pulse could make this work.

Amy,

It will be difficult if you don't have contacts already lined up. Friends, family, referrals etc.. But it can be done. I work from home and am an independent broker. Your customers and client will expect more of you since you are part time, (I know), so do your home work. Anticipate the questions before you meet and make yourself very familiar with the area you will be covering.

My favorite answer is always - It depends. Agents usually make their own decision on the hours they work but you seem to be working a lot of hours on your regular job. Showing homes to clients during the evening or weekends is only part of what an agent does. When do you plan on previewing the inventory, being there for the inspection or closing? There's ongoing training that is usually given by the board, agent office or other sources during the day. Most of the larger companies want full time agents dedicated to the production of business for the company. I would highly suggest that you team up with another agent so that someone will be available to do some of the legwork when you can't. You could also look into working with a "Virtual Assistant" to help with your marketing and phone calls or email that should be answered ASAP. There is a lot of technology out there to help you but it comes with a price. I wish you luck with your new career.

Have a Happy!

very difficult, even having a partner whos paying the bills, depends on how much you want it...

In my opinion, this isn't an issue about "full time" or "part time". The question is one of availability. In spite of what many agents believe, most clients aren't working with them because they think they're the greatest or because they're a member of "The President's Club". I've bought 8 houses in the last 8 years, and have always used the first agent who returned my phone call! Most people on the buying side are VERY impatient, and will not wait long to get a return phone call. For me personally, if I get a voicemail, I'm moving on to the next live body!


John from Boston