I was just reading a blog about a listing agent who never called back to tell the buyer's agent that it was ok to show. One of the comments was that it was probably a part-timer who was more interested in their free-time than they are in fulfilling the agency agreement.
It seems to me that it is a common theme that other agents automatically assume that an agent that is part-time is always inefficient. I actually feel offended by that notion. I think that work ethic has more to do with how well you perform your job than whether you are full or part-time.
Technincally I would be one of those part-time agents. I am an undergraduate psychology professor. During the academic year I work very hard on both jobs (I don't teach over the summer). I am always prepared for my classes and available for my students. I am also responsive to my real estate client's needs. If someone calls when I am in class the call is returned usually within the hour. There are many "full-time" agents that don't return calls that quickly. I spend more time in the office, at sales meetings, on floor time, at open houses, working with clients, and blogging than many "full-time" agents. I have my listings set up with a showing service so that a buyer's agent is not held hostage waiting for a return phone call. I work closely with another agent so that we are able to cover for each other if for some reason one of us is unavailable (illnes, other committments, child care, vacations, client conflicts, etc).
My decision to become a real estate agent was purely about doing something that I enjoyed doing. For me, I love teaching and I am good at it and I love helping people buy and sell homes and I am good at it. These two jobs fulfill two different parts of my personality. The teaching allows me to impart my knowledge of psychology to young interested minds. The real estate allows me to work intimately with people helping them make some of the biggests decisions of their lives. I feel completely fulfilled since making the decison to do both. I may be busy but I am very happy. My work ethic is such that I would not have taken on this additional career if I could not give it 100% effort.
Its important to remember that many part-time agents are part-time not because they are lazy but instead financially they are not able to meet their obligations without the additional pay check. Its difficult for me to see how someone who is choosing to work more than one job can be considered lazy.
Personally, I don't see myself as a part-time agent. I work full-time in real estate (at least 40 hours/week) and I teach college full-time. I have two very fulfilling careers.
