Who Do I Hire First?

If you desire becoming what I call a "Lifestyle Agent," or realtor who is able to take time off and continue to generate revenue, one of the most vital steps is to hire someone. This can be disillusioning for some agents, whether they are unsure of their own management skills or nervous about providing their clients less personal interaction. Even worse is the nagging debate of "who do I hire first?"

Let's look at Molly's Muffins as an example. Molly's Muffins is a small bakery its owner Molly had dreamed of owning since childhood. Because of the passion she has already invested in the idea, it seems easy for her to take on all the roles of the business. At first, that is.

After a few weeks of running the register, doing the books, baking, and marketing, it becomes clear to Molly she is bound for a burnout. Not only is she exhausted, but if she were to take time off or fall ill, her doors would close as would her income opportunities. Molly knows it is time to get support and hire help. So many roles seem to exist...which one does she hire to fill?

Her first instinct is to hire someone to do the tasks she tends to enjoy less...mostly cleaning. This seems to be a feasible fix for a moment, until Molly remembers her real problem is not that the store won't be swept when she leaves, it's that income would stop entirely! Having someone to clean the shop and run the registers would indeed be helpful, but what about the books and the marketing calls? Molly knows she must hire a manager who can cover all these tasks in her absence.


Real estate is no different. As an agent, you begin high on passion, opportunity, and money. Soon, your stress is heightened, you find your personal life is lacking, and you just want to relax. It may seem appealing to hire someone to do cold calls, or an assistant to hire your administrative duties. Really, the only position that will allow you to take time off without other facets of your business stalling is an operations manager.

Ready to hire so you can kick back?