9-5 M-F or 7 days a week Realtor

[Jake Thomas]

I have been selling real estate for around 5 years now and always wondered if I work too much. My family is about to grow by one here in a few days (first child) and I wonder if there is any real benefit to being a realtor that stops working Friday at 5:00. There are several Realtors in my area that go by this model and it infuriates me when I try to call them after 5:00 PM or on the weekends. I answer my phone from 7 am till about 10-11pm depending on who is calling currently but as the volume of my sales increase this becomes tiresome. I want to feel like I am giving my clients the best service by being able to show houses 7 days a week but then I see these other agents that are still around and only working 5 days a week till 5 pm. I left Corporate America and that schedule a few years back with the understanding I would make more money if I worked harder and it has held true. Like anything, time management is important, but I want to see other people’s perspectives. Are you successful only working 5 days a week? Do you feel like you are losing money not working the weekends? 

[Jay Hinrichs]

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

@Jake Thomas most every offer I have ever written for a property was signed after 5PM at night. I don't think you can be successful as a realtor working only 9-5 M-F. But keep in mind just because you work after 5PM doesn't mean you need to be working at 9AM. Most home buyers work M-F, 9-5PM so they will want to meet in the evenings and weekends. So rather than sitting around the office bored in the morning, structure your days so you are working when people need you.

I know one realtor who stays home with her kids during the day while her husband works. She works from home during the day, then is available nights and weekends for her clients. 

When your child is a baby, they will be in bed by 7PM every night anyways. They don't care when you spend time with them, so a Tuesday morning at the park is just as good as a Saturday afternoon.

What I am saying is flex your life and work schedules. You can take calls and texts at any time of the day. Using mobile technology it is easy to integrate the two, but you need to have an understanding family and still set some boundaries.

you hit the nail on the head..  I worked the first about 12 to 14 years as a broker 75 to 89 ish.. and keep my licenses I still do deals.. just not a full time agent..   Its exactly as you say 90% of your clients have to work to make a living to buy the home in the first place.

and 90% of them work M-F 9 to 5 and have weekends off..  so you need to adjust your schedule.

I played a ton of golf or did kid stuff  feild trips helped at school and did not really start work until 1 pm or later.. then took calls till 8 or 9.. 

and i worked EVERY sat and SUN  save Christmas or something extremely special.. If i did not work weekends we did not eat.. simple as that.

and if you choose this profession you need to have that talk with your sig other or wife.. this is how it is to be a top dog in this business. 

Or you change to being a commerical broker those have more normal hours.. much harder nut to crack but can be more formal in the hours you work..  but even lenders they too have to do the nights and weekends.. its just what we do. 

One thing about being an agent though you get to where your at 5 years plus you should be doing a significant amount of work from referrals..   Sales is sales unless your in like corporate sales and your clients are only available during work hours.. 

But for starters try to start your day at 12pm  and then use the morning to do things with the family. 

Also one other things that is critical.. DO NOT take extended vacations during prime sales season. the time for realtors to take vacation is thanksgiving and Christmas..  I use to take basically from thX to first of the year off..  and we went to Hawaii every year at thanks giving or christmas for 10 to 14 days  EVERY year.. but i never ever took vacation Jan through Oct.. not one weekend off.  I know its hard to think of but having owned 4 brokerages over the years.. and having a few hundred agents work for me..  the kiss of death was teh commission check in may and vacation in june /July .. every time.