Hello,

I am a long time lurker and first time poster here.
First off I'd like to give a little info on me.
I am 20 years old and currently going to college, majoring in business. I have been interested in real estate from a very young age and with a couple family members in the business, have been surrounded by it for a long time.


Now, I have read a lot of topics on here from other aspiring agents wanting tips or tricks, and everyone always says "be prepared to not make any money for 6-12 months."

With this in mind I have thought about starting off as a Licensed Real Estate Assistant until I have the funds/network/experience to branch off as a solo agent.

But I have a couple questions:

1. Would working as a licensed assistant help me grow my network? Clients that I'd be dealing with would be through the agent and know that I'm the assistant. Would this be any help to me later on?

2. If you were an agent looking to hire an assistant, would you want to know that my end goal is to also be an agent or would that put you off?

3. As an agent, have you ever considered an assistant? What would you look for in one? Would you want them to be a mirror of you or the complete opposite?


Thanks in advance all of you for your help and answers.

- Draxxie

Hi Draxxie,

Interesting questions. It is great to think things out like you have before jumping in.

1. I don't think being an assistant would help grow your network at all. Most of the work that you do as an assistant is going to be credit to the agent, as far as the clients are concerned. What it will do is thoroughly learn the processes and systems involved in your local market. The problems encountered will help you make fewer mistakes when you do become an agent yourself.

2. If I were hiring an assistant, I would NOT hire anyone that I felt I was training to be my competition someday. The more that you know about the agent you are representing can be a HUGE weapon in your favor if you ever are actually competing against them.

3. I've always hired family to help me, other than offsite virtual assistants. I would want my assistant to be qualified in general office systems, great computer skills, organization, and pleasant personality/ phone skills. I would never hire a mirror image of myself, because I want to hire for the skills I need that I probably don't have myself.

I hope that helps. If you go to work with someone that doesn't ask you if you ever plan to be an agent, I wouldn't volunteer that info. But truth is, if they don't ask, they may not be very business saavy themselves.

Drax, good topic. I think that being an assistant would be very beneficial by way of learning systems/protocols that you would be using later on when you are an agent. But I don't think I would hire an assistant who wants to be my competition in the not-so-distant future. Perhaps working as an assistant for a team or office would be a better fit than working for one individual. Good luck.

Thank you both for your input.

I can understand how an agent might be put off by potential competition, but I gotta think they'd know that an assistant job isn't anyones end goal.

Draxxie, Don't assume that. I know some great office people that want the stability of a predictable salary, and have no intention of ever becoming an agent.

Draxxie,
If you want to be an agent, work for a top agent for a while... if they will take you after you tell them you want go off on your own.
Personally, I would get my license and just follow the Mike Ferry system blindly. You'll do more deals that way than most seasoned agents. I have no affiliation to them, I was just a coaching client of theirs and made a lot of money that way.

The whole point of me being an assistant is getting to know the business while I save for the funds needed to start out as an agent.

Theres no way I'd just jump into it blindly and follow a system.

If just getting your license and following the Mike Ferry system blindly worked, then the 90% of first time agents wouldn't fail and leave the business within a year.. am I right?

Draxxie, Many real estate training systems work if implemented properly. The key is finding a system that you really believe in that fits your personality.

I made the mistake of paying for an expensive coaching system my first year in the business. Yes, I did get benefit, but I was so new, just the basics were overwhelming, and adding all the coaching lessons on top was almost more than I can handle.

Get some experience as an assistant first. As you learn the processes well, you will get a feel for which direction you need to go.

[quote=droll]Draxxie, Don't assume that. I know some great office people that want the stability of a predictable salary, and have no intention of ever becoming an agent. [/quote]

I agree. Some people can't handle the pressure and don't like selling. A good Realtor needs a great assistant.

To answer question #1: I'd say working as an assistant would create opportunities to get to know other professionals in the business.

Question 2: I see no reason why an agent should feel threatened or put-off by your stated intention to become an agent at some point in the future. If they are, then they're probably not a great agent in the first place.

Question 3: I would wait until you simply cannot handle all the business you're getting, the point where the quality of service you can provide your clients is in jeopardy due to lack of time.