Becoming a Real Estate Agent

Masters at Work

by Tom Chiarella

Choosing a profession begins with imagining yourself in a here are all the details you need to get started in the popular field of real estate—from salary expectations, regional challenges, and how to use social media to your lucrative advantage.

What makes a great real estate agent? Is it just numbers? Sales volume? How do you get to the top of the market in boom times? How do you survive a soft market? What tools must you bring to the job? Is it at all like those reality shows on TV?

Starting in his own backyard, Esquire writer Tom Chiarella explores the requisite skills needed to thrive in various real estate a static buyer’s market in rural Indiana, a booming seller’s market in Seattle, and the incredibly high-end market of Chicago’s luxury high-rises. Forming a personal connection with each of his subjects, he watches them work in the front seat of their cars, at lunches, on street corners, and in the doorways of homes.

What Chiarella discovers is that great real estate agents devote themselves to the job with a sense of craftsmanship. Showcasing the individual tools used to develop a successful real estate career, Becoming a Real Estate Agent profiles individuals who live a life of thrilling improvisation, action, and instinct—a life in which excellence is sometimes gauged by the ability to walk away from a commission when circumstance demands it.

Genres: Business

160 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2019

Reviews

[Susie Chavez · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a quick way to learn how to become a real estate agent, this isn't your book. That's not to say you shouldn't read it, though. Chiarella takes a truly unique approach with this book, giving the reader multiple real-life perspectives from which to understand the most important aspect of real estate - the people. Short, sweet, and engaging, Becoming a Real Estate Agent will make you look at your local agent differently.

[Amelia Lipsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Listened to it on audio. Kinda boring but some good material and things to learn.

[Grace Campos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before Covid-19, I was planning on purchasing my first home and wanted to learn how Realtors think. I figured that if I can understand what they value and what's important to them as a salesperson, then I might be able to leverage that to get a better deal.

I picked up a few good pointers that I didn't read in blogs. For example, they really care about connections because they see each client (whether they buy a house or not) as a potential free advertisement or a client in the future. It's important to them to keep the connection 'warm' all the time! Good agents care about your financial future as well (they would never sell you a house that might be out of your range in 2-3 months). If an agent pushes you to buy a house outside of your price range - beware!

The book emphasizes on the entrepreneur nature of real estate. Each sale is completely based on how much the agent puts into work. They do not have the typical salary or work hours. They're provided the space and resources, but outside from that, they're on their own. It's definitely takes a certain personality to make this a career.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a short read. If you're a homebuyer, I think it's worth skimming through.

[Anthony Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like that this book takes a different approach by walking us through the activities, thoughts, and habits of 3 real working real estate agents. We discover how they became a real estate agent, how they get leads, where they work, how they show a home, how they handle an offer and do due diligence, and how they close. Although the actual technical details are not explained, through the author's prose and story-like writing, you are able to understand the interests, worries, and ambitions these real estate agents have and how they are successful in a role they find fulfilling. I enjoy the human perspectives that we get to see.

[Malvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a compilation of experiences of three successful real estate agents. It has plenty of great ideas for different markets and situations. It is good for someone trying to get an idea about the real estate world or a somewhat seasoned agent looking to refresh with some ideas.

I would not recommend it to a brand new agent. The book is about possibilities, not a system, which can be very hard for someone who are already overwhelmed by all the knowledge they need to absorb to get it started.

[Glenn Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

going through the buying process of a new house. I don't know how experienced he is but in this current market there are more agent that houses for say. this book does not make me want to be an agent, just not part of my personality.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no desire to become a real estate agent (ugh, I would be horrible at it), but Masters at Work is such a cool series.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike what I expected based on the title, not a lot of detail, but a good series of vignettes to give a sense of what the career is like with a few nuggets of info.

[Tabitha C · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable, easy read that follows 3 different agents.

[Zhon Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insights into the day to day work of a real estate salesperson. An easy read too.