"Consult The Coach" Archives
Stuart Kaufman, MS, MBA
“The Real Estate Coach”

August 2007 - Volume 7, Issue 3

Q. Dear Coach:

I have a full time job working in a retail setting and do Real Estate on the side. I want to eventually transition into full time Real Estate. I have my license and have done a few transactions. I need to keep working to pay the bills, but want to make the leap to full time Real Estate. What do you suggest?

Signed,

Take the Leap

A. Dear “Take the Leap”,

Many agents are (or were) in the same boat that you are currently sailing. They discovered that making the transition to full time Real Estate is very challenging, but it can be done with careful planning and determination. Here are two examples:

David Pope, an agent with Prudential MacPherson in Lynnwood, WA, used to work two full time jobs – one at Costco and one as a Real Estate agent. He worked at Costco to pay his bills and for the benefits. He usually worked from 4 am – 12 pm at Costco, to provide some day time hours to work in Real Estate. He would take Saturdays and Tuesdays off so that he had at least one weekend and one weekday to work exclusively on his Real Estate business. David states that one of his biggest challenges was finding time to be with his wife. What helped David make the successful transition to full time Real Estate was setting up a regular schedule for himself, being very organized, and having a supportive broker and office coordinator. Eventually, David cut back to 20 hours at Costco, giving him more time for his Real Estate business. He now works Real Estate full time and has built a successful business.

Mayumi Shugarts, an agent at the John L. Scott Bellevue North Office, used a different strategy. She has been a full time Real Estate for the past three years. Prior to this, she was a model part time. Her transition strategy was to save up 6 months of living expenses so that she could dedicate her time exclusively to building her Real Estate business. Mayumi states that she had to cut back on her spending and make some short term sacrifices, but that it was well worth it. As a new agent, she closed 6 transactions in her first 60 days by finding buyers at open houses. Mayumi did her homework by interviewing 5 brokerages, making a budget, and fully dedicating herself to her new Real Estate business.

So, to make a successful transition, you must be organized and financially prepared to start (or continue to build) your Real Estate business. Finally, get the help and support you need from your broker, other agents, your coach and most importantly, your family.

About the Author:
Stuart Kaufman, MS, MBA, is a Real Estate Business Coach who has coached, trained, and inspired over 1,000 Real Estate Professionals to take their business to the next level while taking time to enjoy themselves and their families. He is a regular contributor to numerous Real Estate publications nationwide and is the head administrator of the Puget Sound School of Real Estate in Seattle, WA. Got a question for the coach? Contact Stuart at coach@stuartkaufman.com or 206-725-1584.

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