It's easy to stand at the outside, looking in on the residential real estate industry and think, you're being overpaid. After being an experienced real estate broker for 9 years, I am able to say that I've never worked harder. My typical day starts beginning at seven a.m. answering emails or voice messages, formatting electronic property brochures, editing online tours and scheduling print ads for the weekend's openings for public viewings. During business hours the outwardly visible part of my working day involves meetings, showings for a new listing, preparing it, returning phone calls, faxing papers, creating copy for a new listing, scheduling a three-day home tour for incoming buyers for relocation, and all the other responsibilities a sole proprietor is responsible for. It's finished by 9 p.m. making an appointment to display an advertisement, receiving the counter-offer to a buy contract and consoling a buyer who wants to get out of a purchase contract because his girlfriend (who's income is required to pay the mortgage) ended up breaking up with her. This continues all hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In the purpose of full information, here's a complete list of the tasks that buyer and listing agents do. This list comes from my second workbook "Starting and Succeeding in Real Estate" Thomson 2003.

It is the duty of the seller to complete the sale of a property.

Agent time and marketing costs to receive an appointment to list.

Marketing material costs and time needed to prepare CMA (Comparative study of the marketing).

Time spent the listing appointment, to review CMA.

Market knowledge for preparing CMA.

Actual time for meeting with seller's representatives to sign contract of sale and any other documents.

Preparing a listing to be sold. Cost and time to create property brochuresand order yard sign, take property photos and virtual tours, entering into Multiple Listing Service, and marketing to other agents and customers.

Time to get ready and hold brokers open house(s).

Time to plan and conduct a an open public house(s).

Telephone calls to set appointments.

The time spent travelling between properties as well as showing the property for each appointment.

Contact property owners with showing feedback.

Reception of calls; return calls about property issues from public agents.

Advertise ads, publish ads in local/regional newspapers.

Take the contract along with any documents related to property, look over and give Click here! to sellers.

Present acceptance/counteroffer to sellers

Counsel property sellers through negotiation.

Courier contract to make changes and signatures.

Courier earnest money deposit.

If condo purchase and deliver condominium declarations, by-laws rules and application details.

Make a worksheet for brokerage for transactions.

Change the status of property on the Multiple Listing Service.

Take part in the property inspection(s).

Resolve inspection questions.

Contact and forward contract to attorneys, escrow agent as well as mortgage loan lender.

Communicate contract status to property seller and buyers agent.

Place under contract rider on yard signage for sale.

Schedule and show times to allow buyers to see the property or allow contractors, their friends and family visit the property.

Establish and participate in appraisals by appraisers of mortgage lenders on your property.

Ongoing assorted phone calls/e-mail to participants in transactions.

Prepare brokerage documents (closing statement, etc.) for closing.

Set up and join the last walk-through before closing.

Time spent between and locations that are closed.

Attend closing.

Preparing and submitting final closed documentation to the broker on the property.

Charges and time required for client present and thank-you.

For a seller: arrange for Movers, inspection repairs for snow/yard repairs as well as cleaning the property after move-out. shut off of utilities, winterizing pipes, etc.

It is the responsibility of the buyer to complete the purchase of a home.

Agent time and marketing expense to reach out to buyers by phone or email requests to meet them.

Floor duty in office each week, or monthly.

Attend office sales meetings, weekly, monthly.

Participate in company sales and award meetings.

Participate in continuing education and professional development courses.

It is time to make buyers' packets to be used at the meeting.

Actual time spent meeting in office for first time with potential buyers.

Meeting with potential buyers to meet with mortgage lender.

Setting appointments to look at properties.

Prospecting for properties to sell.

Meetings to tour homes with buyers.

Awaiting buyers when they visit potential properties.

Attending broker open houses to look at new inventory of homes available for sale.

Write contract, disclosures etc. for the property the buyer wants to purchase.

Delivery and presentation of contract to agents of sellers and the seller's.

Discuss the terms of the contract in agreement.

Offer buyers advice through negotiation.

Courier contract with buyers who need to sign to make any modifications as agreed during negotiations.

If condo procure and deliver condo declarations, by-laws, rules and application details.

Make a worksheet for brokerage for transactions.

Contact and forward contract to attorneys, an escrow agent and mortgage loan lender.

Make sure you attend property inspections.

Make a deal on issues.

Inform buyers of the status of the contract, attorneys and escrow agents.

Accompany buyers on property showings to get a measure, talk to contractors, or present the property to your family and friends.

Numerous calls and emails are sent to transaction participants.

Create the required documents for a brokerage closing.

Set up and take part in the final walk through before closing.

Participate in closing.

A thank-you present for the customer who purchases the gift, and present.

Assist buyers with movers, repairs , etc.

Follow-up after closing with buyers.

If you're looking for an agent in the real estate industry then you need not explore for long. There are many decent agents available and in reality, not too many bad ones. However , if your goal is for someone better than average You must be aware of how and where to look for them.

One thing a real estate agent will do that deviates from the norm is open houses. Some agents think they take too much effort and often say negative things about them . For instance, "You never sell the house you are opening. You can only use it to prospect for new buyers." That's simply not true. If a property's value is at a fair price and an agent has been committed to holding an open house at least every two weeks, they will easily receive an offer for the house within 3 months. Positive thinking is what you need to be on your side.

Another method to determine whether a real estate professional has a passion for their work is to see how well established they are. Does the agent have a real estate website? What is the user-friendlyness of it? A real estate agent who hopes to remain in business for a long time and provide assistance to their clients usually have websites created. When you use that agent, you are able to take advantage of all the capabilities of their website that will make the buying or selling process simpler.

There is absolutely nothing that could compare to the dedication and effort that comes with an agent that attends door-to-door. Some see them as a nuisance. However, consider how hard they have to work to know the area they are experts in. If they come to your home and give you small calendars, or pen that has their office number then why not make use of that agent for your next purchase? They've clearly invested a lot of effort to find you in the first location. They'd almost certainly spend the same effort into making your buying experience enjoyable and giving you an overall great experience in your real estate transaction.