The life of a real estate professional is highly nuanced and, for the most part, downright mysterious. On the one hand, you have this simplified misconception that all it takes to be an agent is to get a license, be somewhat personable and like houses. On the other hand, you have the reality that each agent is an entrepreneur choosing to build a business in a highly competitive industry.
I have been fortunate enough to interact with thousands of agents through my public speaking and my company’s work helping folks build better websites and improve their online marketing. I’ve come to the realization that the term “real estate agent” is misleading, both in the industry and to the general public. Real estate is inherently a local relationship business that requires domain knowledge on a street-by-street level, understanding of unique property types and market specialization, awareness of national financial trends and a professional infrastructure to shepherd deals through a maze of regulation. It’s like saying a doctor is a doctor, regardless of the health issue. (For the record, there are more than 150 medical specializations listed in Wikipedia.)
This infographic is just the tip of the iceberg and the beginning of our exploration into what it takes to work in the real estate industry and, more importantly, what it takes to thrive. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below and I promise to respond.
