Google “Bling” and “Estate Agent” and you are likely to find Tyron Ash in the photo. Now, why such a google search? Well I have several trainee EA positions at the moment and many calls I have had have prompted this article.
“Why Estate Agency?”
I ask, if looking at a CV from an 18 year old with not really any life or work experience worthy of a mention. “Well, I saw this TV show and the agents have the nice cars, the bling and a nice life but the work seems easy, its just showin’ people around nice homes, isn’t it”
Now I am not out to blameSelling Sunsets and all the celebrity focussed Insta friendly Homes and Mansions type programmes totally on this perception but they have a lot to answer for! No one can argue that its good to show how much wealth can be made in the estate Agency business……in many ways its the biggest attraction piece for Estate agency – its a commission role! Its also doing an attraction piece for the industry that it currently lacks and its inspiring a whole new generation if insta-ready teens to the industry.
This is where a little reality needs to be applied though, and if I could persuade these shows to do anything, it would be to address the reality of learning the business – because to be a great agent, especially here in the UK, there is a lot more grit involved, and its rarely glamorous and for sure the commission is not so lucrative!
Its not rocket science, but its more gritty than high heals, lots of flesh and a contact book, and to get the cars and the bling you need to be really good at selling and that takes time to learn and hone those skills.
Sometimes I wonder if these shows are putting Estate Agents into the Sex Sells category. It would be nice to see the oodles of knowledge and that, THAT become sexy.
The reality of becoming a trainee Estate Agent is this:
The average trainee in the UK is looking at a 17-19K base and 25K OTE in exchange for a 5 – 5.5 day week. The reality of the leaflet drop in the rain, the calling though a data base and back to back viewings on a Saturday with a Friday night hangover are certainly not the impression viewers of Selling Sunset have.
I love Estate / Letting agency business. Its fun, its rewarding and yes, there is a lot of money that can be made in it. Once you have earned your stripes and understood the business.
But who am I to give you a limiting belief? You can start your own business anywhere in the world and learn local laws and be a global “Real estate” entrepreneur. You can make serious money if you are good enough – but even the likes of Real Estate Celebrity Tyron Ash had to start as a trainee at 17 and learn the trade.
