choices, choices

[notfarnow]

When I was laid off in February, I went grovelling for a job at one of the big names in town, Company X. Someone said they had work coming that was right in line with what I'd been doing at my previous job, but a better atmosphere and more money. There was some talk of upcoming positions, but nothing solid.

So instead of sitting around and waiting, I took the real estate course, got licensed (2 days after my daughter was born) and started selling.

Last month Company X called back, and I went in for an interview, then another. I was upfront and told them that I was enjoying what I was doing, but would be interested in hearing what they had to offer.

Then 2 weeks ago the RE company I've been working for went t!ts up, and it looks like I'm out ~10k in commissions. It was a kick in the seeds, but seeing how I fared compared to the other ~35 agents... I feel pretty damn good. I managed to scramble and get over to ReMax, and actually have more business than I did a month ago.

So then today I get a call from Company X, and they present me with a formal job offer... 22% raise over my previous employer, better benefits, dynamic work environment, and I can pretty much write my own job description. Back in February, this would have been my dream job... I would have taken it for far less $$$.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to turn it down. I am just having too much fun selling real estate.

Tricky part now is convincing Mrs Notfarnow that this is the Greatest Idea I Ever Had, all over again. It was one thing when there was nothing else on the table, but it's going to be a challenge right after taking that $$$ hit, and when there's a regular "normal person" job waiting there.

Funny how life throws you curve balls.

[Rick Lee]

I wish I had this problem. When my last job went tits up, I was thanking my lucky stars my old boss wanted me back. I'd keep selling RE on the side if you can.

[pete3799]

That's going to be a tough call.
Hope RE is selling better up there than down here.
Good luck what ever road you chose.

[stomachmonkey]

Sounds like if you stick with what's floating your boat you're going to be better off at some point in the near future.

I bet you end up owning your own agency one day.

My step dad once told me. You'll never get rich working for someone else. For most people that's true.

My $.02

[notfarnow]

It's flattening out a bit these last couple months, but I'm still moving houses and have 10 decent listing right now... mind you 6 are co-listed. I'm also working on an inventory of listings for the spring... so far I have 7 that I'd bet fingers and toes on. I have 6 serious buyers I'm working with who I expect will pounce within a couple months. Two are 100-140k, one is 200k, the other three are ~350k. Then there's the buyers I pick up from my listings.

Company X is cool with me keeping my RE license for a couple months to tie up business, but I'd probably just hand it all over to my partner. Doing it part-time doesn't really appeal to me. All or nothing... part of the beauty of RE is waking up and knowing you have to OWN the day. It's a rush. We go door-knocking 2-3 days a week and I even like that part.

On the other hand, if I took the Company X route, I'd have security. Plus, I still have the severance from the layoff... which is conveniently and coincidently 911SC/Carrera-ish last time I checked.

I dunno.

[Oracle]

I vote for Company X; The RE stuff was just to get you thru the tough times.
Back to reality and get the monthly pay cheque.. If it happens again then you know how to fall..

Either way, good luck!

[notfarnow]

Problem is it kills me to even read that. Sitting in that office, hearing them talk about content management workflows, server upgrades and release projects... I could feel my eye twitching. It pays well, but holy crap it's boring stuff.

I went from there to showing a 235k house to a flipper who want to gut it and sell it for 370+k in the spring. The basement was a festering wound but we had some good laughs. The sump pump empties into the basemnt toilet. You don't see THAT every day

And RE wasn't just a stopgap thing. I had been scoping it out for over a year, but never had the nads to dump my 9-5. When they dumped me (with severance), it made a whole lotta sense all of a sudden. It's hard to switch back without giving it a solid go, even after taking that $$$ hit last month.

[ramonesfreak]

for the first time since i graduated 12 years ago i find myself out of work..for a month now. there are no jobs around here (attorney) and i have been seriously contemplating RE as a new path. i no longer believe in security. a weekly check yes, but no job is secure unless your a tenured professor or a doctor..in my opinion. if you enjoy it, i say stick with it. you seem to be off to a great start. some of the wealthiest and (apparently) happiest people i know are in the real estate business. seems to me to be a very enjoyable way to earn a buck, despite its challenges

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by srandallf

i no longer believe in security. a weekly check yes, but no job is secure unless your a tenured professor or a doctor..in my opinion.

bingo. a 5 month strike in 2005, then layoffs every few months since till I finally got ousted. 4 years of wondering when the next axe would drop, till I was thankful when I did get cut.

Then after only 3 mths in RE, the agency I worked for closed its doors, and still managed to keep damn near all of my clients. I suddenly feel like I have security. They are my clients because of my work.

Did I mention one of my listings is a 100yr old home that still has the original blacksmith's shop as an outbuilding? How fkin cool is that?

[jhynesrockmtn]

The real estate model is changing. I'm not sure agents ever are as marginalized as some are warning but companies like Redfin are trying to change how agents work, the commissions they get, etc. I'm just saying to contemplate this as you move forward. If you can see earning consistently more than you could down the road with Company X considering everything including benefits, expenses, etc. and you enjoy it, stick out the real estate thing. Just don't fall into the trap my ex did thinking she was earning what she was grossing. Her expenses were always higher than she thought and the consistency was for *&^%. She's been trying for 3 years now to support herself in real estate and keeps going deeper in debt. You strike me just through your posts as way more capable of building a business than she ever would be.

[nostatic]

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.

- Helen Keller

[Evans, Marv]

I don't think I could stand the eye twitch thing.

[Oracle]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

Sitting in that office, hearing them talk about content management workflows, server upgrades and release projects... It pays well, but holy crap it's boring stuff.

Ouch... that's exactly what I do for living! Oh well.. pay the bills and that's what matters...
Tomorrow I'll be thinking about the eye twitching thing during the weekly ECM meeting

[ramonesfreak]

[Rikao4]

RE, you like it..
seem to be good at it...
if you go back..
within 2 weeks you will be miserable..
if you must work..at least enjoy it..
and when you like what you...
you get better= $$$$

I'm sure Rob would tell you ..
go back ?..you nut's or drunk ?

Rika

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Sounds like if you stick with what's floating your boat you're going to be better off at some point in the near future.

I bet you end up owning your own agency one day.

My step dad once told me. You'll never get rich working for someone else. For most people that's true.

My $.02

Right on.

[berettafan]

how long to get your brokers license?

[Laneco]

Dear Mr. Notfarnow...

I suggest you do this: Have your wife add up all the hours you worked last month. If you do it, it won't be accurate. Have her do it as I can just about guarantee that she knows exactly how unavailable you were. Let her use a calendar and honestly indicate the time you spent working or were unavailable to be with the family because you were waiting for calls, closing deals, doing a showing etc. Add every hour up.

Then use your actual take home pay and divide that by the hours you "worked" to come up with your hourly rate. Don't forget the $$$ big loss last month as sooner or later some form of this always happens to a real estate agent... In fairness, maybe you need to average that loss out over a couple of months.

When you figure out your actual value per hour in that job, you might re-think taking the ordinary guy job. Especially with a family. I also suggest this to other people who run their own business. You may find out that you make SQUAT per hour but that the fun makes up for it. Without honest numbers though, you're just riding a salesman's rush from one point to another.

angela

[LWJ]

notfarnow,
I read your post and it is pretty clear what you need to do. You have said yourself in several different ways that you love RE and hate the Company X scene. This is a TERRIBLE RE market, even in your area. If you can make it now, you can make it anytime. I saw a bus that said this and it applies: "All you have is now."

Good luck.
Larry
(professional sales person since 1988)
(straight commission since 2004 - best decision EVER)

[Looking_for_911]

I had an ex-brother-in-law have the same sort of situation come up a few years back before the Depression of '09 hit.... he had a Company X offer him a great deal. Gonna be an aircraft specialist or some such hooey. They made the offer, he left a job to take it. First off they Required him to buy several thousand dollars worth of tools, some specialized to that industry. They get him on the job and for the first several months he did glamourous work like sweeping hangars and cleaning out file rooms, arranging boxes, etc. all with the promise that the government contracts were all but signed and planes on the way.
Well, you can guess the rest, he ended up being laid off because they weren't really going to hire the several mechanics they said they were.
Is there any chance this could be the same situation? Could they be dangling a carrot not telling you this is a glorified temp job?
I'd hope not.
There is an enormous amount of worth to being happy with your job. Not too many can say they truly love what they do for a living.