Start-Up Estate Agent aged 19?

[Theoffice007]

Why not print some leaflets and deliver door to door?

That was said on the latter part of my suggestion

 

[ArooElephanto]

I would go for it. However going in thinking you know everything is completely wrong. Of course you don't know everything, the experience just isn't there.

Experience beats everything. University means nothing but a piece of paper to say you've worked to a certain level. Experience is key.

Guess what though? The only way to build experience is to get stuck in.

That's not just experience in working as an estate agent but experience in business.

If you get started now and are still going in say, two years, you will think back over those two years and realise just how much you've learnt.

Get cracking boy!

 

[Theoffice007]

I would go for it. However going in thinking you know everything is completely wrong. Of course you don't know everything, the experience just isn't there.

Experience beats everything. University means nothing but a piece of paper to say you've worked to a certain level. Experience is key.

Guess what though? The only way to build experience is to get stuck in.

That's not just experience in working as an estate agent but experience in business.

If you get started now and are still going in say, two years, you will think back over those two years and realise just how much you've learnt.

Get cracking boy!

People are getting the wrong end of what I've been saying lol, by saying I pretty much know it all I meant the basics, not the whole marketing field itself.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[DavidAshdown]

Keep us posted on progress and good luck.

 

Right so I have a dream and haven't slept quite a few nights thinking about it and I thought I'd let it all out here and hope to take in some USEFUL advice.

I'm 19 and am currently a University student and a property enthusiast. My local area has a slight problem, there are tons of houses going up for let and sale but there are no estate agents for 4 miles and as a result, estate agents from other areas benefit from this.

This is what my plan is (nothing official so don't grill me), I want to start a estate agent with the help of a friend who will be a business partner. Flipping burgers at McDonalds has enabled me to save £5,000 and he also has £5,000 saved up giving us £10,000 to splash.

Benefits:

-We've both done Marketing for 3 years and know pretty much everything in the field. (1 year A-level and 2 years Uni)
-Although advertising could be quite costly, We intend to use gumtree a lot as there is little/no costs involved and maybe think about rightmove later.
-We have a friend who's a professional web designer and will run the website at very little cost.

The couple of concerns I have are firstly, will anyone take a couple 19 year olds seriously? We're both good salesmen as we've been selling various other products for a profit.
Also would £10,000 be enough to get a small little office for some time and to get up and running?
Finally, are we really old enough to take such big responsibilities that could affect peoples lives drastically if anything was to go wrong God forbid?

Also are we in need of any qualifications or need to watch out for any legal issues? I've done some research but it's all pretty outdated.

Like I said only a idea so should I pursue this dream or go back to flipping burgers lol

Thanks.

I hate to break it to you, but most students know almost nothing about nothing, everyone else has got degrees too but real experience on top is what will add value to that paper qualification of yours. Its a decent start but that is all it is.

Not wanting to pi%% in your chips mind I would say go for it

Just consider that at 19 you will (Probably) be more inclined to over estimate your abilities and potential upside than someone who is a little more used to more than just theory.



Good luck

I applaud you sir for going to work in MacDonalds to raise the cash, many who post about financing a business might do well to copy you!

 

[10032012]

People are getting the wrong end of what I've been saying lol, by saying I pretty much know it all I meant the basics, not the whole marketing field itself.

Thanks for the replies!

Yeah but you have to tone it down a little.

You can be a tiny bit cocky, arrogant etc. however it sticks out a lot to people when you yourself might not even realise. I am sure you don't mean you are some marketing expert already but especially on a forum people cannot tell by the major factors of communication: tone of voice and body language. So its easy to misunderstand.

Its just your enthusiasm being seen as that. Many on here might not even have any academical qualifications but have developed skills and knowledge through experience and professional courses. They realise experience is more valuable than qualifications.

There is nothing wrong specifically with your posts, but when you say you are at uni, worked at McDonalds... (oh dear) and you are both good salespersons (how exactly?!) then end up with a "lol" joke about flipping burgers... that annoys people as many people got where they are by hard graft (yes even flipping burgers or cleaning toilets).

Its rather an immature wet-behind-the-ears thing to say. More to the point unprofessional - and to do good in your intended field you need to learn that professional etiquette and work ethic.

Of course, I assume, you were just "being human" with the joke... but I think many understood it to mean you are above it all (hard work) and looking for shortcut ways to success with the naive understanding that a uni education would open doors and grow money trees.

 

Yeah but you have to tone it down a little.

You can be a tiny bit cocky, arrogant etc. however it sticks out a lot to people when you yourself might not even realise. I am sure you don't mean you are some marketing expert already but especially on a forum people cannot tell by the major factors of communication: tone of voice and body language. So its easy to misunderstand.

Its just your enthusiasm being seen as that. Many on here might not even have any academical qualifications but have developed skills and knowledge through experience and professional courses. They realise experience is more valuable than qualifications.

There is nothing wrong specifically with your posts, but when you say you are at uni, worked at McDonalds... (oh dear) and you are both good salespersons (how exactly?!) then end up with a "lol" joke about flipping burgers... that annoys people as many people got where they are by hard graft (yes even flipping burgers or cleaning toilets).

Its rather an immature wet-behind-the-ears thing to say. More to the point unprofessional - and to do good in your intended field you need to learn that professional etiquette and work ethic.

Of course, I assume, you were just "being human" with the joke... but I think many understood it to mean you are above it all (hard work) and looking for shortcut ways to success with the naive understanding that a uni education would open doors and grow money trees.

Did you not read the original post?

He wants to be an Estate Agent!

 

[Christine Hough]

Yeah but you have to tone it down a little.

You can be a tiny bit cocky, arrogant etc. however it sticks out a lot to people when you yourself might not even realise.

It never came over that way at all to me. Sure he has a lot to learn, but it comes over that he is up for it and confident/comfortable with himself. That's fine by me.

Nothing wrong with knowing your strengths, and he does have family in the business.

 

[Jet Virtual]

I would go for it. However going in thinking you know everything is completely wrong. Of course you don't know everything, the experience just isn't there.

Experience beats everything. University means nothing but a piece of paper to say you've worked to a certain level. Experience is key.

Guess what though? The only way to build experience is to get stuck in.

That's not just experience in working as an estate agent but experience in business.

If you get started now and are still going in say, two years, you will think back over those two years and realise just how much you've learnt.

Get cracking boy!

Couldn't agree more with the comments made here!

 

[Young Recruit]

I know where Theoffice007 is coming from. I knew everything at his age too.

But a few years later I realised that didn't.

JA

 

[Financial-Modeller]

OP, why not offer to work in your Uncle's agency for a while to get experience of a working business.

You might avoid costly pitfalls that way and you could revert to your plan to launch an agency locally when you'll have a track record.

 

[Theoffice007]

Yeah but you have to tone it down a little.

You can be a tiny bit cocky, arrogant etc. however it sticks out a lot to people when you yourself might not even realise. I am sure you don't mean you are some marketing expert already but especially on a forum people cannot tell by the major factors of communication: tone of voice and body language. So its easy to misunderstand.

Its just your enthusiasm being seen as that. Many on here might not even have any academical qualifications but have developed skills and knowledge through experience and professional courses. They realise experience is more valuable than qualifications.

There is nothing wrong specifically with your posts, but when you say you are at uni, worked at McDonalds... (oh dear) and you are both good salespersons (how exactly?!) then end up with a "lol" joke about flipping burgers... that annoys people as many people got where they are by hard graft (yes even flipping burgers or cleaning toilets).

Its rather an immature wet-behind-the-ears thing to say. More to the point unprofessional - and to do good in your intended field you need to learn that professional etiquette and work ethic.

Of course, I assume, you were just "being human" with the joke... but I think many understood it to mean you are above it all (hard work) and looking for shortcut ways to success with the naive understanding that a uni education would open doors and grow money trees.

Merely a little misunderstanding, didn't intend to come over that way.

 

[Theoffice007]

OP, why not offer to work in your Uncle's agency for a while to get experience of a working business.

You might avoid costly pitfalls that way and you could revert to your plan to launch an agency locally when you'll have a track record.

I hung around with him at work for 2 weeks but it was really quiet as his area homes 5 estate agents on one road, however saying that I took alot from that 2 weeks.

For example, how to stand out in front of 4 other estate agents (I noticed PK properties were best) and what methods they were using.

 

[DavidAshdown]

If it homes 5 estate agents on one road how does it survive, and if it does then he must be doing something right ??

 

[thelegalstop]

It is good to see young enthusiastic people, ready to meet the life! Even if you decide not to do it at this stage, I am sure that sooner or later, you will be a successful person. Good luck

 

[Theoffice007]

Thanks a lot guys for the replies!

A lot of motivational messages and I think I'm happy to go for it on my part...Going to talk to the father tonight.

Wish me luck.