Hello all. I've just gone inactive with my licence. Business for me has become not cost effective. I'm not writing to complain or whine. Nor am I going to blame anybody or anything for my lack of success. I am writing to let other aspiring agents in on the "Secret to Success".

First off, there is no secret you can PURCHASE in a book, seminar, video or find online. If you think someone has a solution to an easy, "no effort needed" way to earn a million dollar living in Real Estate or any other business that only they possess, you need to remain an employee for someone.

Here is the secret to success for FREE! It's called, "hard work". You must make contact with people, you must generate leads and most of all, you must have business plan with enough money to survive until you have enough business in the pipeline to generate a profit. YOU are The Company. If you don't work, work will not get done.

My down fall was to try all the expensive "easy" ways to make money. It was easy money for: the post office, the printing company, the lead generating companies, the web site designers, the clothing stores, the various licencing companies and others.

Of course you need to be able to work with people and put up with A LOT of tire kickers and dreamers. Being a good salesman is important. But if you are one of those that can sell fur coats to people that live in tropical climates, real estate may still not be for you.

For those of you that only want to make the sale or get the listing just for the money, real estate is not for you either. Why you ask? Another FREE bit of information, clients want someone they can trust over anything else. If you come across as the proverbial used car salesman, you won't get far. No one will refer anyone else to you.

Hard work. That means answering your phone, replying to e-mails quickly, staying on task with contracts and other paper work. Updating your clients regularly as well as continuing to work your data base for more clients. I can't tell you how many deals I might have lost by not getting back to my web site visitors in a timely manner.

So, a word of encouragement and work hard. Don't do as I did dropping the ball and trying out all those "Secrets".

Bet of luck to all!

I applaud you for being real. Yes, this business is not for everyne. And I absolutely agree with you that hardwork and willingness to work at it. Thanks again.

sage advice

Having owned multiple businesses before you better beleive if I spend a dollar I get 10 plus back.

Salesman don't come near me because they don't want to lose there head. When you start up a new business marketers get a list of the new liscenses and call you,e-mail,mail you stuff,and walk in your store if you have a physical location to try and take money from you.

I treat business as a game where If I am not getting the better end of the deal you will be cut off.

Business is very cutthroat. I made 23k last month but I don't go out like most and [censored] it away. I live below my means and invest it and grow the money. There will be a time when you want to leave the business or do something else and at that time you will need investments for cash flow.

Everyone I know that is set financially has some kind of investments stock,real estate,etc. After you build up your investments for awhile they will be self sustaining.

I enjoy real estate but I am building up my investments for the long term. You have to define what your exit strategy is going to be to plan how to get there otherwise you are just thinking about THE NEXT TRANSACTION.

Everything in life is HARD,accept it instead of fighting it and you will be successful. Sure there are easy ones along the way but there are always problems. That's why salespeople get paid the most in the world because we solve problems.

There have been some REO's that used to be agents and there families who got foreclosed on. It's sad but part of life. I have always said you can't control fully what happens to you in life but you can control how you are going to react to it.

If you get out in front of people you WILL get anough business to survive. Now if you get the lead but are having a hard time closing it you need to work on that aspect to get the business.

I have seen many agents/brokers great at one thing but horrible at multiple other things. What happened is they did almost no business. I have seen top producers who really weren't great at one thing but were GOOD at all facets.

So they were able to farm for the lead,get the lead,get the buyer or seller to commit,then get it closed so they get paid.

If you can't do all those things well you will have problems as the closing and getting paid is the last part of the process.

The best way I can equate this is a bodybuilder. Have you seen the guys with chicken legs??? They are so heavy up top they are about to fall over. They never look at there faults only keep working on what is EASY for them.

Real estate is the same way you have to work on the hard stuff to get better or you will be imbalanced.

Maybe you could work part time in real estate, or even get your broker's license if need be. Have a regular job that pays your bills, and then work on the side for some extra pocket money when something closes. You don't have to overly market yourself, but when you happen to run into someone that wants to work with you, you'll be in a position to take advantage of the opportunity. Your license still has some value. Also, don't forget, you can refer prospects to another agent for referral fees if you stay active, even if only minimally active.

I agree. However, there is a way to turn your "hard work" to an easy handle with high conversion rate...Still a "hard work" though...

I agree hard work is everything. I have tied to spend money like you but realised very fast that is not worthy. Now I knock on doors, work with expired and FSBO and step by step developing my website. Good luck.

There is a lot of good information in those books...but you are right, it is all about DOING it. Real estate is not a "sit back and get rich" kind of job. Would be nice if it was

There are lots of things you can still do with a license though - I currently work as the marketing assistant for several agents while still having my license active so I can get referrals - it works for them and it works for me so I can stay at home w/my kids and pursue other interests. Am I a millionaire from it? Of course not. But it's been a nice way to stay active in the market without having clients call me at midnight

Just curious... are you retiring? Or have you found some other employment that does not require hard work?

/sarcasm off/

I am retiring from Real Estate for now. Perhaps I cannot deal with the tire kickers and the all the deal breakers that seem to come my way. I've done well (so I'm told) for a relatively new agent. I'm even wrapping up 4 transactions this month. But, the frustrations and the fear of rejection are taking any of the "fun" out trying to generate new business.

In a previous life, I rehabbed property for the V/A and myself. It was physically hard work, but it paid well. When the California buyers were outbidding me at every turn while I tried to purchase investment property, I decided I'd just sell to them rather than compete with them.

I still have a lot of tools and equipment to do the rehab work. My un-scientific observations tell me that people who need to sell have no equity in their home and have no room to be realistic in the pricing of their home.

Those with equity are staying and are fixing up their homes until things get back to normal. So, I can appreciate your sarcasm, but I'm working even harder now fixing homes where my clients are going to stay. Finally I'm ahead of the curve financially in my career.

One other unscientific study on my part shows me that many of the big producing agents and groups in my office are having difficulties also. Enough that some of them are taking on outside jobs too. If you are doing well, congratulations. If not, it takes a big person to admit things are not going well and move to correct the situation.

Who knows, when things get where a seller can sell without giving away their home, I'll have a long list of happy clients who will think of me when they are ready to sell. My Keller Williams office was great place to work and I'll get right back with them then.

It seems strange that at the end of the day in Real Estate, I was exhuasted and rarely had money sitting waiting for me to put in the bank. Now I'm just as tired at the end of the day, but happy and know that I've earned a paycheck for each and every day that passes. That picture of rich Real Estate agents seems to be a bit of a myth in my opinion now.

Part of being an investor is being mobile with investments. Alot of investors tap into specialists in other areas (states) for investment. When one market is flat or down another market based on data is emerging.

Good luck to everyone it is a tough market. I make more off my investments than most of the commission. Truth be told I love investing.

alamorealtor I can relate to your concern about losing the 'fun.' There is nothing more frustrating than going to a job each day that you simply don't enjoy any more. I had a pretty successful career with the government before I got into real estate. By all accounts I had everything going for me... a big promotion that took me to Washington, DC... a big comfy paycheck deposited in my bank account every two weeks... a retirement plan, medical benefits, and two weeks of paid vacation each year... not to mention a spacious private office with a grand view... and lots of responsibility... yet I was miserable with the job!

So yes... if you're no longer having fun, and can't figure out how to rekindle that fun you used to have... it's best to make a change!

Good luck!

i heard a quote somewhere recently that went someting like this..

"if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life!" '

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(tell that to my indigestion when a home inspection addendum comes in for my sellers:-) jk i love what i do:-)

pretty cool huh?



good luck to you, wherever you may go

Real estate is a weird business. Success as an agent is often dependent on so many different factors. Hard work, smart work, connections, luck, image, reputation, longevity, marketing inertia, personal chemistry, persistence, communication style, business capitalization, market cycles, karma, timing, and who knows what else.

With your experience, maybe you'll make the most money and be happiest doing rehabs (for yourself and others). Good luck.

Cave Man I think all the traits you describe apply to a much wider range of businesses than real estate. Why does one restaurant fail while the one next door becomes an instant hit? Why does one beauty salon become the 'in' boutique while the one down the road has nothing but empty stations?

It's about a lot more than hard work... though hard work is essential. And I think the list you provided is pretty comprehensive!