Real estate professionals need to spend a lot of time at work to succeed, and real estate agent work-life balance can be difficult to manage. If you follow the steps to getting a job in real estate, the only thing standing between you and a fulfilling career will be finding a healthy work-life balance as a real estate agent.
Experienced real estate agents are familiar with the pressures of the job, but very few understand how to manage the demands of work and a social life. Real estate agents do have to work on weekends, but business hours vary depending on the real estate business. We’ve put together a list of real estate agent work-life balance tips and the best companies to work for.
What Is Work-Life Balance?
Work-life balance is a matter of how you prioritize your personal and professional life. You need to make a deliberate choice to create work-life balance. Work-life balance means something different for everyone, but, with good time management and a reasonable schedule, you should be able to make time for your personal life while filling all your work responsibilities.
What Does It Mean to Have Work-Life Balance?
Having work-life balance means you have time for both your personal life and your work. Even though most real estate agents have work schedule flexibility, setting aside enough time for family and other social activities can be a challenge.
Why Is Work-Life Balance Important for Real Estate Agents?
Work-life balance is important for real estate agents because it lowers the chance of experiencing complete worker burnout like 10 percent of American workers do. With a good work-life balance, you are less likely to miss important life events or feel extremely stressed.
Real Estate Agent Job Responsibilities
A real estate agent’s job responsibilities go beyond selling and buying properties for clients. Real estate agents also have to do many administrative and marketing tasks. Check out some of the main responsibilities of real estate agents below.
Mediating Property Sales
Real estate agents facilitate sales for buyers and sellers of property. They guide each party through the entire process and make sure it goes smoothly. Real estate agents can work for both the buyer and seller, or they can work for one or the other.
Making Site Visits
Real estate agents take potential buyers to visit properties after first touring the property with the seller. Site visitations can be conducted during regular business hours but most happen on the weekends to accommodate buyers’ and sellers’ schedules.
Advertising Properties
Sellers hire real estate agents to sell their property, which requires marketing. To entice a prospective buyer, the real estate agent needs to advertise it and make it attractive to prospective buyers. Property marketing uses both mainstream and social media platforms.
Preparing Documents
Real estate agents prepare documents for the sale and purchase of properties, including loyalty contracts and purchase agreements. Property deeds and other documents that legally transfer the title of a property are prepared by lawyers.
Updating Property Listings
Another primary responsibility of real estate agents is to share available properties in local listings. They include information about the location and other features of the property and update listings when new properties become available or older properties are sold.
How Many Hours Do Real Estate Agents Work?
The standard real estate agent works about 40 hours per week, but experienced real estate agents may work long hours during the weekends. Real estate agents also have busier months with more hours of work per week and quieter months with fewer hours of work per week.
Do Real Estate Agents Work on Weekends?
Yes, real estate agents do work on the weekends because it is the most convenient time for prospective buyers to view houses. Real estate agents’ earnings depend on sales commissions, so they need to be available when clients are available.
How to Achieve Work-Life Balance as a Real Estate Agent
- Set a schedule. Use a calendar to create blocks of time when you are available to work and blocks of time when you won’t work. Stick to your schedule.
- Write weekly to-do lists. Real estate agents are responsible for a lot of different tasks, a to-do list will help you keep track of tasks and make it easier to schedule high-priority tasks.
- Take breaks. If you don’t take breaks, you are more likely to experience burnout. Take time off every week, and take vacations during the year when possible. When you are away from work, resist the urge to check your work email.
- Work remotely when possible. Don’t hesitate to work remotely if you can. For instance, instead of meeting with clients at the office, you can schedule an online meeting. Take advantage of platforms like Zoom and Skype. This gives you more time by eliminating your commute.
- Track your hours. Do you know the actual hours you work in a week? Keep track of your hours for two weeks and categorize how you spend your time. See if you can schedule similar tasks back to back to streamline your workflow.
Real Estate Agent Companies With the Best Work-Life Balance
Some real estate companies make it easier for employees to have a healthy work-life balance. Let’s take a look at some top real estate companies that offer a work-life balance, according to employee reviews on Indeed.
The Keyes Company
- Headquarters: Miami, Florida
- Locations: Over 50 offices in Florida
The Keyes Company is a good place to work as a new agent. They offer nine different educational programs to train new real estate agents and provide professional development for current real estate agents. Real estate agents at Keyes Company have flexible work hours.
Realty One Group
- Headquarters: Irvine, California
- Locations: Across the US
New agents at Realty One Group receive professional training in how to be successful. Agents have flexible working hours, and agents also get a reasonable commission for any sale or rental.
Realty Executives
- Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
- Locations: Over 500 offices in North America
Realty Executives is one of the oldest real estate businesses in the US. They offer their agents flexible hours, health insurance, and retirement options. Realty Executives has a robust mentorship program where more experienced real estate professionals offer guidance to newer agents.
eXp Realty
- Headquarters: Bellingham, Washington
- Locations: Completely online, agents in US and Canada
At eXp Realty, employees enjoy a flexible workplace through its completely online platform. Real estate agents at eXp Realty have plenty of opportunities for growth and professional development. Full-time staff get flexible paid time off and comprehensive medical insurance.
RE/MAX
- Headquarters: Denver, Colorado
- Locations: Many offices across the US
RE/MAX offers agents flexible working hours, health insurance, and a retirement program. Paid time off, parental leave, and bereavement leave vary based on location. Agents have access to different professional development opportunities.
Is Work-Life Balance Possible for Real Estate Agents?
Although real estate professionals work very hard, it is possible to have a healthy work-life balance. It is normal for service industry jobs like real estate to require a lot of work on the weekend or during vacations. To achieve a good balance between work and family life, you need to set professional boundaries and keep a strict schedule.
One of the reasons real estate professionals have trouble with work-life balance is that they are always reachable through smartphones. It can be difficult to set a boundary between office hours and personal time when you are always reachable. Keep a separate work and personal phone, and turn your work phone off during family time.
Real Estate Agents’ Work-Life Balance FAQ
Yes, many real estate agents work from home to complete certain administrative tasks, such as drafting documents, sending emails, and carrying out virtual client meetings. Site visits and home tours require real estate agents to work outside of the house, whether or not they have an office.
Yes, a real estate career can be rewarding and it pays well. Real estate agents have some of the most flexible schedules of any profession. The median wage for real estate sales agents is $48,340 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To become a successful real estate agent in 2022, you need to learn about the real estate market, work with other real estate brokers, and improve your customer service skills. Find a mentor and enroll in real estate courses to launch your career to greater heights.
To become a real estate agent in most states, you need a real estate license. Note that the requirements for each state varies. Most real estate companies prefer real estate brokers with a college degree in economics, business administration, or law. If you’re unsure which of these to pursue, you should consider starting with an Associate Degree in Business Administration.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
