A Day in the Life of Naomi Keshinro

"I think the best part of my job is being able to convince people to buy what they never thought they will buy. It's your duty as an agent to bring out the positives of every property and make people see beyond of what they would see in the first moment."

What attracted you to this industry in the first instance?

I didn't start out as a real estate agent, but one thing let to the other and here I am. It was however my first proper job ever since I graduated from Uni. Someone introduced me to a real estate agent, I sent my CV and I got the job. I hated viewings at first, but I ended up loving it.

I think the best part of my job is being able to convince people to buy what they never thought they will buy. It's your duty as an agent to bring out the positives of every property and make people see beyond of what they would see in the first moment. I also tell them what could be done with the properties, that's part of my selling point. So I love it, I believe it's a fulfilling career. If you grow, you get paid well. But the job needs long hours. If you are not ready for that don't bother going into this industry. And if you're ready to work after hours you can build friendships, clients become your friends. They trust you with their properties, so for them to trust you with their keys, for you to manage the property, they need to trust you as a whole. A lot of trust goes into it at the end of the day.

What skills do you feel contribute most to success in this industry?

Personality and image. I think that's what you need to have in real estate. You need to be able to talk to people, come across very well, be presentable (it goes a long way!).

People need to believe in you, so you need to look good. They need to buy into you first, it is very important. Some properties do sell themselves, but for others you have to sell yourself first before you sell the property.

How does a person progress in your field?

If you hit your targets, then it means that you're good at what you're doing. If you don't meet your targets, then it means that you'll get a low pay package and that's why people move from the industry. But when you hit targets and you make money, bonuses come in, so it could be very rewarding. Once you hit your targets, for any employer that appreciates good work the best way to show it is to get you trained and move you up the ladder, you might be in charge of a team and then in charge of a branch.

What is your typical day like?

Morning meetings. We speak to our clients, applicants, landlords, get the viewings done. I generally do most of the admin in the office. Mondays are very hectic, I have my one-to-one with everyone. That could be very stressful, especially if you are in a managing position like myself. My duty, managing the team, is to make sure that everyone is doing their jobs effectively.

How many hours do you normally work per week?

Very long hours. Right now I can't even count the number of hours, because when I'm home I'm still working.

Generally, my colleagues work from 9am till 6:30pm, but most of the time the viewings take 'till 7pm. They work 5 days a week, they take a day off during the week and they work one day in the weekends. Sometimes they take their weekends off and they come back on Monday, but it's just 5 days a week.

Would you choose this career if you could make the decision again?

Yes, I would do. I didn't plan it out to be, but real estate is rewarding. If you're wise, if you're not lazy, if you know what you're doing, it is rewarding.

What (if anything) would you do differently?

Right now? I don't really know. I do manage a team of people at the moment, and I think I have a great team. I'm happy with them, although sometimes it can get challenging. You have your ups and downs, but I don't think there's anything I would do differently.

How do you want to improve yourself in the near future?

Have my offices, get a bigger team. Be a little more patient. But I can't complain about anything, we're doing very well.

What advice would you give to an individual who's starting a career in this industry?

Be ready to do very long hours, be dedicated, do your job like it all depends on you. Do your job like nobody else is going to do it, so just give it your whole. Be ready to work long hours, don't be lazy, don't complain.

This industry can't go wrong, people will constantly need a place to stay. It's an industry that always expands, it can't die. So put in your best, it's very rewarding.