What's it like renting apartments?

February 27, 2012 8:12 AM

What is it like being a real estate agent for rental apartments in Boston? Or other cities.

I've always been interested in transitioning from a typical cubical job to one where I work in an office, but also work with people outside of the office, like a real estate agent.

Can you tell me what it's like to be a real estate agent for renting apartments in Boston? Do you like it? What don't you like about it?

I've read a decent amount of things on the internet but mainly about people that sell houses, not renting apartments. I'm interested in the day to day life, the pay, pros and cons, and anything at all that you'd like to share.

Thanks!

posted by modoriculous to Work & Money (2 answers total)

I worked in a Boston real estate office. We rented apartments to students and doctors. You have to pass a test to be an agent, and most of your revenue for the year will be in the months leading up to Sept 1st which is "moving day" here. You can make decent money, but the money is inconsistent. You could rent out an apt, and then have to wait a month or longer for the check to come in. You will have to deal with scummy landlords, competitive agents, and crappy bosses. The turnover for real estate agents is very high, so it's easy to get a job, but it can be hard to do well at it. You'll be spending a lot of time on craigslist. You'll need your own car, you are responsible for gas and parking tickets. You will have to interact with students, and dealing with those students parents as they will be co-signers. You will show tons of apartments and 90% of the time it'll be a waste of your time. Many of the agents I knew had part time steady jobs like bartending so that they could deal with the gap in income. Hours are what you make them, but usually 9 or 10 am to as late as 6 or 7 at night. Dealing with existing tenants can be a bitch, and dealing with keys can be a bitch, and dealing with directions can be a bitch. It's not really a career move... unless you might want to start your own office one day. Anyways, the harder and smarter you work, the better you will do for yourself. There are heaps and mounds of shady tactics in that industry, so watch your back.
posted by pwally at 8:29 AM on February 27, 2012

Rental is a hard way to make a living. The people who do it well either have exclusives with landlords who use them to outsource marketing, screening and showing, or have one or more great, and exclusive (contractually or practically) channels to tenants (schools, relocation heavy employers, church pastors, divorce lawyers, what have you.
posted by MattD at 10:46 AM on February 27, 2012