A good agent is known to be successful at selling lots of properties. A great agent is known for honest, hard work, and understanding the needs of both the seller and buyer – and as a result, is successful at selling lots of properties. Xan is known for the way she radiates positivity, and it is this too, along with her seemingly never-ending sparks of energy that makes her a great agent. As a self-employed Remax agent, she thrives on the rewarding feeling of helping people from all walks of life find a new, beautiful place to call home. FundiConnect chats to Xan and gets a glimpse into the day of the Cape Town-based real estate agent.
So Xan, tell us, what does a typical working day involve?
| Time of Day | Activity | Comments |
| 08:00 | Wake up & shower | |
| 08:30 | Small breakfast & at least 2 cups of
coffee 😉 |
|
| 09:00 | Meeting with a client, show properties, arrange photographer for new listing, present an offer, follow up with clients etc. | Every day is a bit different |
| 13:00 | Flat viewing with a lovely young couple from Europe | . |
| 15:00 | Realise I never had lunch! Grab lunch, then back to work | Melissa’s quiche…amazing. |
| 18:00 | Walk the dog | I love this, walking in nature and having time to myself, yay! |
| 19:00 | Dinner with my family | The kids love to take the leftovers with them |
| 20:00 | Check some last emails and reply | Admin can go on until 22:00… |
| 21:30 | Climb into bed and read one or two chapters of my book | I’m currently into biographies |
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Working with people and helping them to make good financial decisions. I also enjoy viewing amazing properties.
What do you enjoy least about your job?
Probably desk work and the fact that show-houses fall on Sundays.
Is there a qualification required to perform this job?
Yes. You need to do few courses, including a one-year internship and 2 exams. You need lots of in-house training, as well training through qualified companies.
Is there any training provided by the organisation once you come on board?
Yes. You have ongoing training and workshops.
What type of person would be well suited to this job?
A very mature person who can deal with all kinds of characters in society. You need to have a passion for the job, as well as negotiation skills to make all parties in a deal happy. As an agent you sell trust, not just homes.
How long have you been in this position and how did you get there?
I’ve been an estate agent for 8 years, but had been studying the property market for 15 years before already, as a hobby. I eventually decided to do the course and tackle the bull by the horns.
Do you have any additional advice for someone interested in pursuing this career?
which buyers and sellers go through. Be quick and keep your ear to the ground.
What is the earning potential of this career?
Probably something between R500 000 to R3 million per year. It strongly depends.
What is a typical starting salary in this career field?
There is no salary. You start as an intern and get a portion of the commission, until you go on to earn your own commissions.
Any quirky advice for scholars looking to pursue a career in your field?
There is a lot of money to make, but you need to be committed, and not restrict yourself to regular office hours. It’s important to stay very connected to your clients. They become your friends, and they also refer you to future clients.
It used be quite easy to become an agent, but the profession has been a lot more respected over the past few years. If you want to find out more about the qualifications and training you need to become an estate agent, check out this interview we did with Anna Gehlhaar, one of Xan’s colleagues.
