In teaching the
pre-license real estate course the students are always inquisitive of
what the real estate profession entails. I provide my following
comments.
First, being a successful agent has nothing
to
do with sex. I have known highly successful agents both male and
female who were in some cases brokers for both large and small
companies. Not
many occupations can purport such an equal opportunity to either sex
when
the criteria used to judge is success.
Second, success does not directly relate to
formal schooling. Again II have known successful brokers/owners
of small companies with just a GED and I have known the retired
military officer with muliple advanced degrees not even last a year in
the business. This is not to say that success is not related to
expertise. But, this can be obtained in any number of ways once a
person is part of the business.
Success does belong to the agent who
is a "people" person. In selecting an agent I would
look for one who loves to work with people. You know those people who
are always late, never call, who don't see things your way, are hard to
understand, and change their mind with each house shown, and who say
one thing yet act another way... Success
in real estate comes from an ability to work with all people. I
once had
an agent who I threatened to fire weekly. Their paper work was
done
incorrectly, rules were not followed, the system wasn't being used and
their
knowledge was a cell phone call to the broker which occurred all too
frequently.
That agent, at years end, was the top producer and for all their
failings
it was hard to check-out at the local food store and not know that you
were
standing in line with a real estate agent who was put on this earth to
sell
you a house. People praised their interaction with the agent.
Truly
a people person!
As my children matured I explained that
there are professions and jobs. When one works at a job, the
primary concern should be money. Whichever job pays the most will allow
for the most options. But a profession
is not about money but more about you. It is not to
be viewed
as work but what you as a person were designed to do. I spoke to
them of their
mother who as an educator of elementary children defined who she is to
a
small degree by being a teacher. I view Real Estate as a
profession
with the same requirement as other professions. A commitment to
always be improving the same as
you would expect a doctor or lawyer. So once a
profession is determined then the money is no longer the consideration.
Rather
the money which a profession affords becomes the amount which now
establishes
a person's life style. Why would a person select a job to make more
money
then to have a profession which may pay less but is a day to day
pleasure?
So if being a real estate agent is about money, please click
on over to my thoughts on commissions
and realize that real estate is a profession and not just a job.
Lastly few occupations directly reward
work. Most require a commitment to a schedule and might possibly
provide an annual bonus if the company is successful. Inreal
estate those that are successful are the workers who not only work hard
but work smart.. If you
work harder in real estate you are financially rewarded for your
efforts.
Not many professions have work and financial reward so closely
tied.
1st Addendum (May 2002)
I obtained an internet copy of the
Alabama Board of Cosmetology
Statutes and Regulations 2001 edition. Section 34-7A-22 requires
a licensed cosmetologist to have between 1,200 to 1,700
hours of
formal schooling or 3,000 hours of apprenticeship training (not
more
than 8 hours a day and to be completed in 3 years). To be a
licensed manicurist either 600 hours of formal schooling or
1,200 hours of apprenticeship
training.
To be a
state licensed real estate sales agent
you are required (along with a few other items
like be a citizen or an alien with permanent resident status) to have a
High
School degree or the equivalent, be 19 years of age and have completed
a
60 hours pre-license course plus pass (70%) the state and
national test!
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