Welcome to our second installment of Agent Insights! This week, we're featuring Aaron Woodman - a real estate pro with over a decade of experience. In his article, Aaron shares his background and explains why he took a several year hiatus from his role as a real estate agent - then talks about his plan for getting back into the game. This content was originally featured on Inman Next.
Fast forward through 28 seasons of “Survivor,” lots of life lessons learned and a recent move to a new state, I’m going for “take 2” at the crazy world of being a Realtor.
I previously sold for seven years, and I started an office that grew to 180 agents. So, why did I leave? I had built the company, many of the agents and their careers, and I wore myself out. The doctors thought I had meningitis, and after a botched spinal tap I laid in a dark room hoping to regain my strength. Once leaving the hospital I didn’t have the strength to keep up — or the desire to return.
Being in real estate is more than just showing homes and filling out paperwork. I also saw a change in the market, with buyers who had no business buying homes walking away from the closing table with large checks.
I sold the business and moved on to other pastures for a few years. I never lost my passion for helping agents or the occasional friend who needed help with a transaction. It truly is in my blood.
About four years ago I got back into the real estate space full time in a consulting role, helping agents and brokerage companies with their strategy, using my experience as a former agent and brokerage owner. Being a consultant means you’re on a plane 78 times in an eight-month period and you miss your family and loved ones a lot.
I knew change was on the horizon. A month ago, I toured homes for a family member and saw the level of agents doing deals, and the overall experience of a ho-hum real estate transaction. It got my wheels spinning, but it also made my heart sink.
I realized I love coaching agents on a one-on-one basis and being onstage sharing my knowledge, but I also care about the millions of homeowners and the real estate industry as a whole. I thought long and hard and prayed harder for what I should do. I saw a lack of leadership and agents following the advice of people who had never sold real estate.
How could I make a difference? By becoming an agent again, by having an active role in decisions being made and educating from within the industry. I’m excited to be a Realtor again; I’m excited to share my experience of what it’s like to know one person in a new town (I have been here one week).
I will build my business and I will allow all of you to watch. There will be challenges and choices to make, but I’m excited to start over again.
If you are wondering where I am going to start, here is my plan:
Here is my question for you:
Should I start my own company or work for an established brand? I would love to know how you started. Leave comments below, and let’s grow together.
Aaron Woodman has over a decade of real estate sales experience as both an agent and a managing broker/owner, and most recently as a consultant for residential brokers, property management firms and real estate technology startups. You can contact him via his website at www.aaronwoodman.com.
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