The average new real estate agent goes out of business in 2-3 years. The number one reason is not screening clients properly, my first client looked at 40-50 houses, wrote on two and never bought any, wanted to keep looking. My Manager took me aside and had a heart to heart with me, instructed me to ask my client for a non refundable retainer, I did and my client parted company. That lesson cost me 5k, but it was the best 5 k I ever spent. I researched her (later) and found out she had a Realtor before me. To my knowledge she never bought a house to this day. 13 years in the business now, I don't turn a wheel unless new clients are under contract.
The confusion that you experience is the fact that most people do not work for 100% commission. I have no medical, no sick days, no vacation days. I pay taxes and have to reimburse the gst paid by the clients back to the government. I pay dues and fees to the city, the province and the country real estate organizations. I pay money to hold my license at a brokerage, I lease a office, I have to pay for all required update courses, gas, insurance, vehicles, computers etc etc. The only time I get paid is when a deal closes, its my job to ensure that the clients that I work with will buy a house, otherwise I am spending money for nothing. As well I have a duty to the sellers not to disrupt their lives unnecessarily by bringing unqualified people into heir homes. You would be the first person to complain if I brought some baddies into your house, we have a problem with opioid and jewelry theft. I am the one that is held accountable for any problems that arise from a showing.
There are two sides to every story, a good sales person will normally get it right, but no one is perfect, as well we have bad people in our industry, just like any industry!
