3 Cold Hard Truths Every New Real Estate Agent Should Know About

There are a some things every brand new real estate agent should be told before getting their license... things that they almost never hear in real estate school.

Cold Hard Truth #1: Real estate schools are designed for one thing and one thing only. To get you to pass the licensing exam. Most of what you learn you will never use again, and most of what you really need to know was not even mentioned. It is not their fault, really. Laws and regulations regarding real estate transactions are plentiful and complicated. Your formal real estate education has hopefully given you a good basis in such things. While having that knowledge is absolutely vital, it has no bearing on how to actually be successful in real estate sales.

Cold Hard Truth #2: Your broker, who is supposed to train you, is far too busy to do much more than show you where your desk is and wish you luck. I have talked to scores of agents who were promised in-depth training programs and personal mentors to help ensure their success. In nearly every case, the training they were told they would receive was never forthcoming. The old adage "Here's your desk, here's your phone, lots of luck, you're on your own" is alive and well in the vast majority of real estate agencies. In short, if you are counting on your broker or brokerage to teach you the secrets to building a successful and fulfilling business, you will be disappointed.

Cold Hard Truth #3: The people who have time to show you how they built a successful real estate business have not actually built a successful real estate business, or they would not have time to tell you about it. I will never forget overhearing an agent who had been in the business nearly six months without a sale "mentoring" a brand new agent about how to "make it" in real estate sales. Truly the blind leading the blind. While their intentions are usually good, their advice and insight should be tempered with the kind of results they are getting themselves.

The point of all this is that it is up to you to ensure your success in real estate. Nobody else will do it for you. You may get a stray lead from your office or have a few people around to offer sound advice, but it is ultimately your responsibility to educate yourself, motivate yourself, and train yourself.

The books you read, the seminars you take, the agents and clients you interview, the mentors you seek out, and the research you do will make the difference between whether you are among the few who are truly successful in real estate, or are among those who make just enough to barely survive and renew their licenses each year.