Here’s why Donovan left his IT job for a career in real estate.
Today we want to share a testimonial from one of our agents, Donovan Broadus. He’s been with the i-Lead Team for some time now, so we thought he would be the perfect person to share what being on our team is really like.
“I was inspired to get into real estate by my best friend, who’s been in the industry for six years now. I guess he saw something in me and suggested I try my hand at selling homes. I had worked at a car dealership earlier in my life, but real estate turned out to be a totally different game.
At first, things were a little stressful. Every new agent finds out that leads don’t just appear out of thin air, and I wasn’t any different. I first started last February, and from then until May, I was basically doing nothing but cold calls. I shadowed my friend who got me into the industry, and besides calling potential leads, my job was to drive him around and watch him deal with his clients. Eventually, I helped him with his transactions, and I gained enough experience to close my first transaction in May. Considering that some agents take six months or even a year to close their first deal, I was extremely grateful for everything my friend and the i-Lead team did to set me up for success.
When I first started studying for my license, the pandemic hit, and I was laid off from my job. It was a scary time, but looking back, it ended up being a blessing in disguise. At this point, I had no choice but to dedicate myself to being the best agent I could be, and I think it’s helped me so far in my career.
“I am extremely grateful for everything the i-Lead team has done to help me succeed.”
One of the biggest things I had to get used to at first was cold calling. Even before I was officially part of the team, I would call people and practice introducing myself. It took some time to get used to people hanging up on me mid-sentence, but once you get used to it, you can call anyone without the fear of rejection.
When I closed my first transaction, it was an awesome feeling. One check from a close is as much as a months’ worth of wages at my old job. However, money isn’t everything. I love the opportunity to help clients with tight budgets find a home they love at an affordable price. Seeing how ecstatic people get when you help them find a home has been a fantastic perk so far in my career.
If I had never gotten into real estate, I’d probably still be working an IT job, and I wouldn’t be investing in myself like I am now. Not only is the money nice, but I’m working toward a long-term goal of opening my own IT consulting business while continuing to work with real estate and investments. Real estate is going to be THE job; it’s not going away.”
We’d like to thank Donovan once again for sharing his story. If you are interested in a career in real estate, or if you have any questions, please call or email us. We’d love to help!
