How to Balance Parenting with a Real Estate Career?

It’s that time of the year again where we celebrate all the wonderful fathers out there. It also couldn’t be a more apt moment to explore how the “super parents” in the world manage to have it all. It’s no secret that juggling a career and life all while raising happy, fulfilled children can be challenging. This is where real estate is coming through for parents by offering unmatched flexibility and unlimited earning potential. Here are some top tips on how to balance parenting with a real estate career …

1. Create work-life balance

Maintaining a strong sense of work-life balance is going to be your most important tool in juggling parenting and a real estate career. Put simply, both your child and your career are important facets of your life that deserve your attention and energy. You will have to set boundaries for yourself to make sure that work does not spill over into your home life and vice versa.

2. Create an effective workplace

With a real estate career, most of your tasks can be handled from home and most brokers are happy for agents to work remotely, possibly only coming into the office a few times a week. Having a dedicated home office space is a must for focus and efficiency. Also, try to keep your office separate from your family life. For example, don’t let your children bring toys into the room, and make sure everyone knows to leave you alone while you’re working unless there is an emergency.

3. Live by your calendar

Your calendar will be your best friend when it comes to juggling real estate and parenthood. A calendar app or a day planner can serve as a great tool. Of course, you also need to be diligent with your calendar. Avoid saying ‘yes’ to any offers or the kids' playdates without checking your calendar first. It’s important to make it a habit to refer to your calendar before you commit to anything, especially showings.

4. Stay motivated

One of the biggest benefits of choosing a real estate career is that you have the freedom to set your own schedule. Having a career in real estate is essentially having your own business. You’re building a client base, coming up with your own business strategies, and implementing your own administrative systems. And, as a parent, you have the opportunity to build a business that will be your legacy to future generations. It’s important to remember why you’re doing real estate in the first place and to keep yourself motivated through the slumps.

5. Have a support system

In almost every instance, it’s a bad idea to bring your children along for any type of real estate meeting or transaction. This means you will need someone who can watch your children when timely opportunities or unexpected work emergencies arise. If running your own business while being a parent isn’t working out, then you may want to consider joining or forming a real estate team instead. Often, team members will share responsibilities among themselves or only take responsibility for a certain portion of the transaction and this can make things far more manageable.

The RE/MAX family

At the end of the day, balancing parenting and a real estate career may be difficult, but it can be done. All you need is some excellent time management skills and the willingness to work on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. At RE/MAX, our property professionals are a wonderful example of how real estate can become the lifeblood of your family. As long as you have the support of your loved ones and team, you will always be able to make it work!Find out how to make the move to RE/MAX.