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Ambassador
1,457,019
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

The easy part is getting your license and the hardest part is keeping yourself fed & watered the first year or so. 

Keep active here in the Rain as this is the best place to learn the actual business.  It is also great for motivation

Mar 28, 2016 12:14 PM
Rainer
180,443
Melissa Spittel
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Westminster, MD
"Achieving Results Together "

I thnk the hardest part is learning how to get clients on a regular basis. Marketing yourself is a full-time job, and you will be competing with other agents for business. It seems most people know mulitple real estate agents Managing your sphere of influence, working social media and blogging are all good ways to get yourself out there. But working by referral is your best bet for business as you get started. Best of luck!

Mar 28, 2016 12:00 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,132
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Making a living at it.

Mar 29, 2016 04:54 AM
Rainmaker
1,506,013
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Like Susan said, the hardest part is surviving between the paychecks.  If you're coming from a "paid every two weeks" kind of job, this will be the hardest part.  Hopefully you have a spouse with that kind of job to help out.

Mar 29, 2016 04:53 AM
Rainmaker
7,863,162
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

There is nothing difficult about getting a license. Becoming a real estate professional is another challenge.

Mar 29, 2016 01:14 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Getting the license?  Sitting through seemingly endless required classes.

Being in the business? Having sufficient business to make a living...

Mar 29, 2016 12:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,027,602
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

The answer to that question depends on where each person is in his or her life. Some people have a large SOI and know many people;  some are experienced entrepreneurs and know how to budget and build a business;  some have a strong support system at home;  some are well capitalized.  

If you don't have any of these things, then this can be a challenging business in the beginning, particularly if you are not well capitalized.  

How you overcome each of these challenges depends on your motivation, innovation and what tools you have at your disposal. 

One of the hardest things you will face is advice from everyone under the sun;  some successful agents will insist you do it the way they did it, but there are many, many paths to success.  Find the path that fits you, your personality and your lifestyle.  Above all things, never put money or the lack of a paycheck come before the needs of your clients, who are depending on you to help them with what may well be the largest investment of their lives. 

Mar 28, 2016 10:04 PM
Rainmaker
4,272,934
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

 Prospecting without a doubt ...

Mar 28, 2016 04:17 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,773
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Christian Coppieters - well, you are here on ActiveRain - so my gut feeling is, you'll get the answers to any of your questions - so nothing hard if you keep learning here....

Mar 28, 2016 03:03 PM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

Earning the business when you are new. It feels like the world is against you on day 1

Mar 28, 2016 12:57 PM
Rainmaker
290,969
Allie Angeloni
Long Realty - Oro Valley, AZ

For me the hardest part was developing my SOI because I was new to the state, and did not feel comfortable asking people, i.e., strangers, for their contact information.  Everyone that I sent out my new realtor 'Announcement' card was in another state - either on the East Coast or the West Coast, where I had family and friends.  I learned to work consistently and stay focused and just to enjoy and have fun at what I was doing.  In my case I started with 'Open Houses'.  Best of Luck Christian Coppieters

Mar 28, 2016 11:50 AM
Rainmaker
1,092,947
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Sit down and analyze your strengths and weaknesses (and be honest).. Then look at the weaknesses and look at the traits it takes to be a successful RE agent...compare the two and you will have your answer.

 

Mar 28, 2016 11:48 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

It's a lot harder job than you probably think. It really is a lot of work, and you have to wear many hats. People skills are essential. I can't say what the hardest part of the profession is. That depends on each individual. 

Mar 28, 2016 11:46 AM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Keeping your eye on the goal ... working hard day in and day out and knowing that in the right time, you will get paid for your efforts.  We must put in our time, and stick with the program ... be consistent, and never give up.  No slacking if you want to be successful!

Mar 28, 2016 11:37 AM
Ambassador
6,417,409
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I never focus on that kind of thing.

Jun 24, 2019 11:50 PM
Ambassador
2,684,569
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Yes that is correct.

Mar 29, 2016 02:18 PM
Rainmaker
4,582,184
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Consistency.  

Good luck with your career.  

Mar 29, 2016 03:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,257
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Christian Coppieters Getting business as a newbie.

Mar 29, 2016 12:30 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,328
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

establishing a discipline of marketing everyday.... if you want your phone to ring, you need to market relentlessly....

Mar 28, 2016 11:57 PM
Rainmaker
2,191,798
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Having enough viable LEADS to work with on a consistent basis !!!

Mar 28, 2016 11:53 PM
Rainmaker
1,664,136
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Keeping yourself in the black financially.

Mar 28, 2016 11:37 PM
Rainmaker
2,784,566
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Navigating through all the different personalities is one. Knowing the Real Estate docs is another & lastly, finishing what was started and start-up itself

Mar 28, 2016 11:32 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Admitting you are wrong.

If you are asking this question, I would be justified in assuming you have done very little to prepare yourself for opening your own business, which is what being a real estate agent means.

Before you plunked down your first dime to pay for real estate school, you should have, like ANY small business owner, created a business plan.

That document will have revealed to you what you need to know, where you need to invest your energy and to whom you must align yourself.

Until you change course, go ahead and kiss goodbye to 12 thousand of your hard earned dollars. You are entering the Failures System finely tuned to separate you from your money.

LuLu.com - "Get On The Right Track"

Came in mail this morning regarding LuLu.com

Use code ALLBOOKS at checkout and save 20% on all print books and 5% on all eBooks. This offer expires March 29th.

Mar 28, 2016 10:19 PM
Rainmaker
4,900,966
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Accountability, and lack of prospecting for buyers and sellers.

Mar 28, 2016 10:00 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,177
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

nothing

Mar 28, 2016 09:41 PM
Rainmaker
5,238,990
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Learning to prospect and building a referral base!

Mar 28, 2016 09:34 PM
Rainmaker
556,536
Greg Cremia
Shore Realty of the Outer Banks - Nags Head, NC

Findy ready, willing and able clients.

Mar 28, 2016 09:27 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Christian. Figuring out that you are your own brand and how to best develop it.

Mar 28, 2016 07:03 PM
Rainmaker
634,532
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

As a new agentone of the hard parts is having many months with a negative cash flow, spending to start your business and not earning any income.

Mar 28, 2016 06:35 PM
Rainmaker
4,477,785
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Too many things  to respond to in a small comment, if you really would like the answers reach out to me directly.... if you think it is fast and easy money go and become a stock broker... have you check out your motivation why you want to be a Realtor??Endre

Mar 28, 2016 04:31 PM
Rainmaker
1,241,754
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Be able to think like one+talk like one=translates to regular income like a good job

Mar 28, 2016 12:34 PM