So, you’ve decided to become a real estate agent. Congratulations! You’ve chosen an exciting and rewarding career path. But what does a real estate agent actually do? In this blog post, I’ll walk you through a typical day in the life of a real estate agent.
You can get a better idea of what to expect as a RE/MAX agent after reading this article.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Key Takeaways
- A typical real estate agent’s day includes morning admin (email, voicemail, schedule review), client appointments, and property showings.
- Agents spend a large part of the day showing homes, answering property questions, and reading buyer reactions to narrow options.
- After client meetings, agents handle paperwork, follow up, CRM updates, and coordinate with partners such as mortgage advisors.
- Marketing is a daily task that includes promoting listings, open houses, and the agent’s services on social media and other channels.
- Most real estate agents are self-employed, so hours often include evenings and weekends, plus ongoing planning for the next day.
The Morning Rush – A Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent
For most real estate agents, the day begins with a morning rush. You may need to check the weather forecast as you’ll be out and about walking around properties inside and outside.) This is especially true if you live in Rhode Island, as we do.
You’ll need to get dressed and ready for your appointments and check your email and voicemail for any messages from clients. You may have clients who want to change their listings online, or someone ready to list their home.
Then, review your schedule for the day.
If you have any open houses scheduled, you’ll need to plan ahead so everything is set up and ready to go before potential buyers arrive.
After taking care of all of the morning logistics, many agents take a short breakfast break before their first appointment. Even if you don’t have time to sit down for a meal, grab something quick to eat so you have the energy to get through the rest of the day.
Showing Properties
Now it’s time to start showing properties! Whether you’re meeting with buyers who are working with a purchasing agent or showing homes to sellers who are thinking about listing their property, being prepared is key.
Make sure you know the ins and outs of every property you show. That way, you can answer any questions that come up.
If you’re working with buyers, pay attention to their reactions as you show them around each property. Is this the type of home they’re looking for? Are they getting excited about any of the features?
By paying attention to their body language and cues, you can gauge which properties they’re really interested in and which they’re not so keen on.
After showing properties all morning or afternoon, it will probably be time for lunch. If you’re working with clients, see if they’d like to grab something quick to eat together. This is a great opportunity to get to know them better and build rapport.
Heading Back to the Office or Home Office of a Real Estate Agent
Once your meetings with clients are over for the day, it’s time to head back to the office and catch up on paperwork. This is usually when most real estate agents return phone calls, respond to emails, and enter new data into their customer relationship management (CRM) system.
If you’ve been meaning to follow up with past clients or potential leads, now is a good time to do so. You may also want to reach out to your local mortgage advisor and connect a few clients for mortgages, etc.
Marketing Properties and Yourself
Now, if you have a new listing, it’s time to market that listing online and on social media. You may have something in place for that, so you’ll need to keep them abreast of new listings.
If you don’t, you may want to spend a little time on marketing yourself and your business. Of course, with RE/MAX, that’s easy. RE/MAX provides many tools to help you market yourself.
With RE/MAX tech, you can have a new listing or an open house online and on social networks in minutes.
Preparing for Tomorrow – Another Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent
Before calling it a day, take some time to review your schedule for tomorrow. Make sure that everything is still on track. If any changes are needed, now is the time to make them.
However, you should also spend a few minutes planning out your strategy for your upcoming appointments. As well as brainstorming any questions or concerns that might come up.
When you’re done with all of your tasks for the day, clock out and enjoy the rest of your evening!
Self-Employed Real Estate Agents
Most real estate agents are self-employed, which means they can set their own hours. However, many agents find that they need to work long hours, including evenings and weekends, to succeed. A typical day in the life of a real estate agent may include:
- Meeting with clients to discuss their needs
- Showing properties to potential buyers
- Negotiating contracts
- Attending open houses
- Hosting open houses
- Marketing properties
- Attending brokerages and other meetings
Real estate agents must be highly organized and good at time management to juggle all their clients and appointments. They also need to be good at multitasking and be able to think on their feet.
Real estate can be a fast-paced, stressful environment, so it’s important that agents stay calm under pressure.
Looking For Sellers
In times of a slow real estate market, real estate agents employ strategic measures to attract more sellers. They focus on proactive prospecting, reaching out to potential sellers who may be considering listing their properties.
This involves conducting thorough market research to identify homeowners whose properties may be a good fit for the current market conditions. Additionally, agents work to refine their marketing strategies, leveraging both online and offline channels to create compelling listing presentations and showcase the unique selling points of the properties they represent.
They also prioritize networking and building relationships within the community, attending local events, and engaging with potential sellers to establish trust and credibility.
By employing these tactics, real estate agents aim to expand their seller pool and navigate through slower market periods.
Conclusion: A Day In The Life Of A Real Estate Agent
A career in real estate can be very rewarding—but it’s also a fast-paced and demanding career. As a real estate agent, no two days are ever going to be exactly alike.
However, there are definitely some common themes throughout most days in this line of work.
From showing properties and meeting with clients to staying on top of paperwork back at the office, there is always something new and exciting going on.
Thanks for reading—we hope this gives you a better understanding of what real estate agents do every day!
If you are ready to join us at RE/MAX, contact Richard Zompa today.
Richard and his wife, Jayma, have 6 RE/MAX offices in Rhode Island for you to choose from.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent
A typical day includes checking messages, reviewing the schedule, preparing for showings or open houses, meeting clients, and showing properties. After appointments, agents usually return calls, answer emails, update their CRM, and complete paperwork. Many also spend time marketing listings and planning for the next day.
A large portion of the day can be spent showing properties, especially when working with active buyers. Agents also prepare by learning the details of each property so they can answer questions during tours. Showings vary by market and client demand, but they are a core daily activity.
Most agents handle paperwork, emails, phone calls, CRM updates, and lead follow-up after client meetings, often later in the day. This is also when they reconnect with past clients and respond to new inquiries. If the agent works from a home office, this work often happens there.
Yes, many agents work evenings and weekends because clients often schedule showings and open houses outside standard business hours. Since most agents are self-employed, they can set hours, but long days are common. Weekend work is especially typical for open houses and buyer tours.
Agents often focus on prospecting, market research, and improving listing presentations to attract homeowners who may be ready to sell. They also build local relationships by attending community events and networking. In addition, they adjust marketing across online and offline channels to reach more potential sellers.
