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Are you looking to jumpstart a new career in 2023? With its flexible schedule and potential for business growth, a career in real estate can be an appealing option—just ask Melinda Scott. After taking a break from the housing market to raise her family, Melinda recently joined the team at LAH Real Estate to re-start her career. Keep reading to see if real estate is the right choice for you!
Meet Melinda Scott
Originally from Mobile, Melinda Scott found her calling in real estate early in her career. However, a move to Birmingham in 2008 put a hold on her practice, and Melinda found a new job with a local software development company. After marrying her husband, Melinda took a break from work to focus on raising her three children.
Now, with her youngest old enough for a little independence, Melinda decided to leap headfirst back into the housing market.
“Getting back into real estate was an easy transition because it never really left my mind. Friends have always asked me about the housing market or my thoughts on a house they were considering. I figured I should get back into the practice and get paid for it!”
Melinda Scott, LAH Real Estate
(Re)starting a career in real estate
Although Melinda had practiced real estate before, re-starting her career wasn’t as simple as walking into the nearest firm’s office and asking for a job. First, she had to get re-qualified to practice real estate here in Birmingham—which consisted of 60 hours of pre-license coursework and a final exam. After passing, Melinda had 90 days to find a firm to work for.
“It was important to me to find a local company that was respected in the area. My husband has a local IT firm, so we appreciate the value of supporting other local companies. What drew me to LAH initially was the office building that they opened in Hoover. That office represents a long-term commitment to the area, not a temporary one—LAH is here to stay.”
Melinda Scott, LAH Real Estate
Melinda officially joined the LAH Real Estate team in July. Despite having to start from scratch, Melinda has been successful thanks to the support that LAH offers.
“When you’re just starting out, you don’t have the income for an assistant. Luckily, LAH has an in-house marketing department that helps us design our marketing materials and send out mailers—as well as an assistant at each office who assists with listing and closing paperwork. That really helps each new agent focus on building relationships and getting more business in their pipeline.”
Melinda Scott, LAH Real Estate
Interested in real estate? Here’s how YOU can succeed.
Want to learn what it takes to succeed in a career in real estate? Melinda shared the tips that have jumpstarted her real estate career since joining LAH.
“As a real estate agent you are largely autonomous. You make your own schedule and you do as much or as little work as you want, and your success is dependent on that. Starting a career in real estate is a lot like starting your own business, and it can take months to really find momentum. I recommend having some money saved to keep you going while building up your brand.”
Melinda Scott, LAH Real Estate
For Melinda, the most important aspect of her job is taking good care of her clients.
“They say that buying a home is one of the top five most stressful things that you will ever do in your life, and it is my job as a Realtor® to take that stress off of the customer. My goal is for my clients to see me as reliable, relatable and responsive. So much of your success in real estate is dependent on learning how to communicate with people and understanding the value of communication.”
Melinda Scott, LAH Real Estate
Although getting started in real estate can seem daunting, Melinda believes that a successful agent can come from anywhere.
“No matter your background, everyone has something that can help lend themselves to a career in real estate, and there are millions of different people in the world all looking for their dream home. You have a sphere of influence, and there are people who trust you. If you educate yourself on the real estate process and treat your clients with respect, it’s only a matter of time before word gets out about who you are.”
Melinda Scott, LAH Real Estate
Learn more about LAH Real Estate by following them on Facebook + Instagram and click here to learn more about becoming a real estate agent in Birmingham.
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