Before you start real estate, let me tell you what nobody tells you: you will be available 24/7.

Your clients will call at 9:30 PM when you’re getting ready for bed. They’ll text at 7 AM on Sunday. You’ll miss family dinners because you’re showing a house. You’ll work nights and weekends. And if you don’t answer, that deal might disappear.

That’s the job. And most agents accept it. But that’s not why they quit.

Agents quit because they don’t have a system. They show up to the office, sit at a desk, and waste the day. They’re staying busy, but they’re not productive. They don’t know what to do next. They don’t know how to convert a lead. And nothing is happening.

Then they see other agents closing deals while they’re still stuck. So they quit.

I almost did. Four or five months in, I was ready to throw in the towel. But what saved me wasn’t motivation. It was systems. Real systems. And here’s how to build them.

The Problem: No System Means No Productivity

Here’s what my first few months looked like: I’d arrive at 8:30 AM, do role play from 9 to 10, and then I’d sit at my desk. I didn’t know who to call. I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t getting Zillow leads yet because I was still in Scrimmage. So I just… bullshitted. I stayed busy, but I wasn’t productive. There’s a difference.

Staying busy = looking like you’re working. Productive = actually moving the needle.

Most new agents confuse the two. They check email. They scroll social media. They organize their desk. None of that closes deals. The things that close deals are: calls, conversations, appointments, follow-up, systems that track leads.

I was doing the busy stuff. So I had nothing to show for it.

The Turning Point: Getting a Real System

When I got mentors in Brittany and Stephanie, everything changed. Not because they motivated me. Because they taught me systems. Specific, repeatable systems.

Here’s what my day became: 8:30 AM - Open emails and review the day 9:00 - 10:00 AM - Team meeting / role play 10:00 - 11:00 AM - Self-training (re-listening to my calls, grading myself, learning from recordings) 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Work leads 1 through 6 (hottest leads first), make calls, set appointments 1:00 - 2:00 PM - Lunch 2:00 - 5:00 PM - Prospecting, follow-up calls, open house prep for the week This wasn’t something I created myself. Brittany and Stephanie helped me build this. And the beautiful part? I can do it anywhere. At the office. At home. In my car. The system is portable because it’s structured.

That structure is what separated me from quitting. Because now, every hour had a purpose.

Every task moved me toward closing deals.

System #1: Lead Tracking with Follow Up Boss

Most agents lose leads. They get a call. They follow up once. If the person doesn’t respond, they move on. The lead disappears.

Follow Up Boss (our CRM) prevents that. Every lead goes in. And it doesn’t let them fall through the cracks.

Here’s how I use it: Every Zillow lead that calls gets entered immediately. Their contact info. The property they’re interested in. The appointment time. Whether they showed up. Whether they said yes or no. Everything is tracked.

Then, if they go silent, the system reminds me to follow up. I don’t have to remember. The system tells me: “You haven’t touched this lead in 3 days. Follow up.”

Accountability is built in. No lead is forgotten. And that’s why agents with a CRM close more deals than agents without one.

System #2: Zillow Leads - The ALM Process

Once I started getting Zillow leads, I had to learn the exact process. Not just “pick up the phone.” A specific sequence.

Step 1 - The Call

When the lead calls, I answer. I ask a few questions on the phone (ALM = Ask, Listen, Mention).

I ask: Are you working with an agent? When do you want to tour? Then I ask them to confirm an appointment time.

Step 2 - The Text Confirmation

Once they agree, I send a text: “Hi, I’m Arlette from Zillow. I saw you were interested in [property]. I can’t wait to see you at [time]. Here’s my number if anything changes.”

Why? Because people ghost. I need to confirm they’re actually coming before I drive across town.

Step 3 - Add More Homes to the Tour

While they’re on the phone or in the text, I ask: “Are there any other homes you’d like to see while we’re in the area?” This does two things: It maximizes my time with them. And it gives me more time to build rapport and assess if we’re a fit.

Step 4 - Prepare the Package

Before I meet them, I pull: CMAs (comparative market analyses), property profiles, information about first-time homebuyers. I go in prepared. Not winging it. The goal is to show them I know what I’m doing.

Step 5 - The Meeting

I show the homes. But while I’m there, I’m building rapport. I’m asking: Where are you looking?

What caught your attention? What are your dreams? What’s your timeline? The goal is to understand them, not to pitch.

Step 6 - Set the Next Step

At the end, I don’t say “I’ll call you.” I say, “Let’s set up a lender’s consultation for Thursday at 3 PM” or “Let me send you these other homes and we can tour them Saturday morning.” Every conversation has a specific next step. A time. A date.

This is the ALM process. And it’s why every Zillow lead has the potential to become a client.

Because it’s not random. It’s structured.

System #3: Open House System (Before, During, After)

When I first started, I thought an open house was just “stand there and talk to people.” I was wrong. It’s a system with three phases.

Before the Open House

I create a to-do list: Clean the property. Set up refreshments. Print CMAs for visitors. Prepare business cards. Know the listing details inside and out. Have buyer packets ready. Set up sign-in sheets so I can get contact info.

During the Open House

I greet every person. I ask: What brought you here? What are you looking for? I walk them through the home and explain everything. I’m building rapport, not selling. I’m getting to know them. And most importantly, I’m asking qualifying questions to see if they’re a buyer or a tire-kicker.

After the Open House

I follow up. People who signed in, I call. People who seemed interested, I email with more homes. I set appointments. I don’t just let them walk away.

This structure is why open houses changed my business. It’s not about getting foot traffic. It’s about converting traffic into appointments and appointments into clients.

Why Most New Agents Miss This

They show up to the office but don’t shadow. They don’t ask to watch showings. They don’t ask to sit in on consultations. They don’t use the resources available.

I was the opposite. I was constantly asking, “Can I shadow you? Can I sit in on your buyer consult? Can I come to your open house?”

And here’s the thing: nobody pays you to shadow. You’re not closing deals. You’re not making money. But you’re learning. And if you’re learning, you’re investing in yourself. That matters more than money in year one.

The agents who quit are the ones who think every hour has to make them money. The agents who survive are the ones who know that learning is an investment.

The Real Turning Point: Implementing Everything

I had the systems. But they only worked when I actually used them. And that’s where I almost quit.

I was driving an hour every day. I was showing up. I was role playing. I was doing open houses.

And I still didn’t have a closed deal. I was watching other agents from my start date opening escrows while I had nothing.

That’s when I questioned everything. Was I cut out for this? Was I wasting my time?

But Jeff, Brittany, and Stephanie didn’t let me quit. They kept pushing. They kept teaching. And then Zillow leads started coming. And suddenly, I had clients to practice on.

That’s when the systems started working. Because I wasn’t practicing in a vacuum. I was practicing with real people. Real situations. Real stakes.

And that’s when things clicked. From no deals to one closed. Then two in escrow. Then three active listings. Then 11 appointments set for the month.

What Actually Stops Agents from Quitting

It’s not one thing. It’s a combination.

Mentorship. Real mentors who push you, teach you systems, and believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself. Systems. A daily schedule. A process for leads. A way to track and follow up. Using all resources. Shadow. Ask. Role play. Learn. Finding your why. Why are you doing this? For me, it was my family. My sisters. Whenever I wanted to quit, I remembered that.

And understanding that learning is winning. You might not be closing deals in month one or two.

But if you’re learning systems, practicing scripts, and implementing processes, you’re already winning.

If You’re Thinking About Quitting Right Now

Step back. Look at what’s around you. The mentors. The systems. The resources. Are you using all of them? Or are you using 30% and expecting 100% results?

If you haven’t implemented the systems shown here, you haven’t tried yet. A structured daily schedule. Lead tracking with a CRM. The Zillow ALM process. Open house systems. If you’re doing all of those and still not seeing results after four or five months, then maybe it’s not for you.

But most agents don’t get that far. They quit before they really start.

Remember your why. Lean on the people who believe in you. Use every system. Follow the daily structure. And know that if you’re learning, you’re already winning.

Ready to Make It Through Year One?

If you’re in your first year and thinking about quitting, or if you’re considering joining real estate and want to know the truth, the first step is a conversation. Let’s see if Power is the right fit for you.