Breaking Down the Barrier of Being Young in Real Estate

Breaking Down the Barrier of Being Young in Real Estate

I’d like to start this off with a little story about what happened to me last weekend: I was out running errands after an open house, with my last stop being at the liquor store. I gathered my items, brought them up to the cash, and was - believe it or not - asked for my I.D. Yes friends, I was carded! I was ecstatic, and immediately told the cashier that it made my day. I was feeling pretty good, when the lady in line behind me felt the need to say, “well you LOOK young…” While that might seem like a good thing (and hey, thank my mom for those good genes), I couldn’t help but be reminded of how often I am referred to as “the young one” in both my personal and professional life. Especially in real estate, where experience is everything, it can be tough to be taken seriously.

I get it - experience is a huge asset in this industry. The more deals you’ve closed, the more market fluctuations you’ve navigated, the more you’ve seen and handled, the better, right? But no one really talks about how hard it is to step out of the shadows of the industry giants. It’s sort of like being in high school again, trying to be noticed and respected among the seniors. And besides, who’s going to listen to me - “the young one” - when they can talk to someone twice my age? Surely that person is better suited and more knowledgeable, no?

Here’s the thing: age is really just a number. It doesn’t tell the whole story of your experience, passion, and dedication. Sure, I might be young, but I bring fresh energy, a new perspective, and a whole lot of hustle to the table. In reality, experience can come from anywhere, and mine, in particular, comes from long before I was licensed. I've been working full-time since I was 20 years old - and whether I look it or not, that’s almost 15 years of professional experience I have under my belt. And in terms of personal growth, I’ve been through more than I’d like to divulge in this blog, but I’ve learned more life lessons than most people my age because of it.

Now I’ll be the first to admit, and gladly so, that I don’t know everything - especially when I was just starting out in real estate. Enter: The Hisey-McDermott team. Since being licensed almost five years ago, Heather and Lezlie have taught me the ins, outs, ups, downs, and in-betweens of what it really means to be a good real estate agent, for which I am forever grateful to them. And since our industry is constantly changing, I can’t imagine being able to do my job without their mentorship and constant support (and that situation isn’t about to change anytime soon, so long as I can help it!).

But even though we are a team, the reality is that a Realtor’s daily interactions with clients are often one-on-one. So even though our team has a wealth of collective knowledge and experience to offer, having a client choose to work with me over someone else is often based upon the first impression that I make, not the team. Which leads me to explore a funny paradox that we face in real estate: when it comes to selling your home, we always tell clients that first impressions matter. People decide within the first 30 seconds of being in a home whether or not they’re interested. Yet, when it comes to choosing a Realtor, we ask them to look beyond the initial impression and see the value we bring, regardless of age or looks.

So, how do I tackle this challenge? By showing up, proving myself with every deal, and letting my work speak for itself. I make sure my clients know I’m here for them 24/7, ready to answer any questions and guide them through every step of the process. I leverage my knowledge, my skills, our team’s resources (of course), and I always bring my A-game. Last but not least - I CARE. I have always gone that extra mile for my clients, and I don’t intend to stop anytime soon. So even though I’ll likely still cringe anytime someone says that I look young, it won’t stop me from doing my job and being able to help clients, both old and new. So here’s to breaking down barriers in the world of real estate - “the young one” is here to stay!