When I stepped into the world of real estate, I knew there’d be a lot to learn. What I didn’t expect was that one of my first—and hardest—lessons wouldn’t come from a client or a contract, but from within the industry itself.
As a new realtor, I was brought in with the understanding that I’d be helping two seasoned professionals as they gradually stepped into retirement. I was eager, grateful, and ready to do the work. One of these realtors was moving out of the country and traveling frequently, so naturally, I began assisting her with various tasks: showings, inspections, communication, and more.
She had mentioned she’d compensate me for my time, but in my eagerness to learn, I brushed it off. I told her I was just happy to help. After all, I figured this was how you earned your stripes in the early days—put in the time, gain experience, and learn from the ground up.
Seven months went by.
Then, a trusted friend—who also happened to be the person who introduced me to this business—pointed out something I hadn’t realized: the tasks I’d been handling were not just informal help. They were actual assistant-level duties, and I should have been compensated from the beginning.
With his support, I finally brought up the issue and sought compensation. And while I was paid after the fact, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. It didn’t feel good to realize that had I not asked—or had my friend not spoken up—I may have continued to give my time away without fair acknowledgement.
I take full ownership for not asking earlier. I was new, and I didn’t know what I didn’t know. But here’s the thing—this wasn’t information provided in any licensing course or onboarding. It was a blind spot, and one that could have been easily avoided had expectations been communicated clearly from the start.
To be fair, I don’t believe this individual acted with ill intent. But the truth is, whether it was intentional or not, it still came across as taking advantage of someone’s eagerness and inexperience. That’s a hard pill to swallow.
So why am I sharing this?
Because maybe you’re a new agent too, excited to prove yourself and hoping to soak up all the knowledge you can. My advice: ask the questions. Clarify expectations. Don’t assume that experience has your best interest at heart just because it’s, well… experienced.
I’m still grateful for the exposure and the learning. But I’m also incredibly thankful to the friend who had my back and reminded me that my time—and yours—is valuable.
This was my rookie mistake. And it came with a lesson I won’t forget.
Have you had a moment where you realized your time wasn’t being valued? Or a rookie mistake that taught you a big lesson? I’d love to hear it—drop it in the comments. Let’s help each other learn.
