Hawaii Real Estate, Hawaii Home Buying, Honolulu Housing Market, Hawaii Home Selling, Hawaii Relocations, Hawaii Military Relocations, Mililani Real Estate, Hawaii Homes Market

So, you want to be a Hawaii Real Estate Agent? You have an interview with a Broker at XXX company and the only thing on your mind is $$$$.  Well, there's always commission because you're an independent contractor. There is no two week or twice a month paycheck. You get paid when you sell a home.

You have income, taxes and expenses.

What they don't tell you before you get into real estate is that you will need money to start up with. "In order to make money you have to put out money".  Like with any business you have to have ‘start up' money to get going and keep putting money into your business just like any other.

The following list will give you an idea of what to save up for so you aren't going into the industry blindly and KNOW what YOUR expenses and responsibilities are as a Real Estate Agent.

In the beginning:

• Real Estate School
• State Exam (If you pass the school)
• Licensing  (If you pass the school and exam)

Starting Out and Ongoing Stuff:

• Multiple Listing Service, Realtor® Dues, Local Board Dues
• Business Cards (and if you want a professional shot go to a photo studio)
• Signs (Open House signs to start with) and if your company does not provide property signs you'll need a few of those too.
• Announcements and postage (you do want to get the word out to family and friends to start with)
• A good PC and equipment. (you will spend the majority of your time on your pc so make sure it's in good working order or buy a new one)
• Office Supplies (this can range from paper clips to a great all in one printer, scanner, fax, copier)
• Your Website (research different website companies, designers and so forth to see which will best suit your needs.
• A good blogging site. (ActiveRain is just $29.95 a month for a Rainmaker account!)
• A good virtual tour site (my favorite is www.realestateshows.com )
• Additional Education (process, financing, escrow, listings, purchases, marketing and more!)
• Gas, Car, Insurance, Upkeep (you will be using your vehicle more than usual ...obviously)
• Advertising (depending on the type there are costs for newspapers, magazines, books, websites)Savings in the bank of at least three to six months as it will take some time to create business.
• Errors and Omissions Insurance
• Some companies may charge office and desk fees.
• For every dollar you make there are taxes to pay. In Hawaii we have to pay not only federal and state estimated self employment taxes quarterely but have our General Excise Tax to pay as well.

Make sure you know everything there is to know BEFORE you pursue a career in Real Estate.  You have responsibilities as an independent contractor and you pay your own taxes and expenses. READ MORE HERE>>> Real Estate is NOT JUST A PAYCHECK Be proactive in your research so you aren't going into the industry blindly and thinking you're making oodles of money with no expenses or responsibilities.

Oh, and the biggest item you will need of all.

TIME.  LOTS of TIME. 

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

The following homework assignment was proposed to us by Bryant Tutas Broker/REALTOR(R) Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.  He wrote a post Is it brains, brawn or beauty? and asks these questions:

Well, I like homework assignments so I'm going to do it during a slow Good Friday morning at the office. (yes, I finished what needed to be done so far....besides, I'm a multi tasker LOL).

Here goes:

1)  What sets me apart from other REALTORS® in my area?  They KNOW me at our location in the Mililani Shopping Center. I am not just an agent but a 'fixture' in the office for office support as well. Anyone walking into our office immediately sees me there three days a week. I'm a long time resident of Mililani, Oahu, Hawaii and grew up from the beginning of the building of Mililani Town. I have had many referrals from clients, friends and family and word of mouth seems to work the best. We are centrally located to the Military bases and my online presence has been a PLUS for all Hawaii Military Relocating to Honolulu County. For this part I have a successful website and outside blog that bring many a contact and take heed to my own philosophy of The First 24 Hours- Crucial Internet Strategy for Listings

2) Why would the consumer choose me to work with instead of my competition?  I'm up front and to the point...HONESTY is always the best policy no matter what. I've worked hard in Building a Reputation Over a Lifetime and it shows in my demeanor no matter if it's business or just every day life. I'm me...what can I say. And when someone can see from the outside who I am inside then they know they're getting the REAL (as in Real Estate) Agent. I KNOW MY MARKET and I follow up with all long distance clients long before the Relocate to Hawaii. I also believe that my easy going nature and my boisterous (not really ...but infectious to say the least) laugh allows them to be comfortable. It's more than a transaction...it's a relationship too, right?

3)  Once I have their business, what do I do to keep it? I stay in touch with correspondence regardless if they are here or in the Continental U.S. They get reports as each part of the transaction progresses. Most recently my listing Royal Kunia Home JUST SOLD! was a long distance transaction with the seller whom I met only once on a follow up on his home in the beginning. By time the transaction finished we had hours upon hours of phone calls and over 700 pages of emails!

Bottom line....it's the transparency ....the 'no act' person beneath the professional who tells it best when Defining Success and this professional who loves what she does...and THAT'S my self analysis.

Thanks Broker Bryant!  That tickeled my motivation and gave me a jump start again!