Work life balance as commercial real estate broker? There’s a twist to it.
"Work-life balance" has gained popularity in recent years, and with good cause. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for both long-term career viability and emotional well-being. In fact, it is now frequently brought up in recruiting meetings with agents who are new to the commercial real estate industry.
But can you really have work-life balance in such a competitive, commission-based industry?
The answer: it depends on you.
It's critical to comprehend what each person's definition of work-life balance is. I ask new agents what they think balance looks like when we talk. The responses differ greatly; some claim they only need a day or two to recover, while others want their weekends and evenings to be protected. Although there isn't a single, universally applicable formula, I tell everyone that you are establishing a business. Your chances of success increase with the amount of time, effort, and purpose you put into starting your CRE career.
So, can you achieve work-life balance in this industry? Absolutely—but not without strategy and effort.
The Tough Truths
Let's begin by being open about the things that make balance challenging, particularly when you're just starting out in your career:
1. Revenue from Commissions:
What you kill, you eat. This implies that there is ongoing pressure to push forward, close deals, and prospect. Many agents have the mentality that they risk losing business if they miss any opportunities to build new business or if they are not always available to their clients. This does not accurately represent the industry.
2. Client-Driven Schedule
Investors and clients don't work 9 to 5. They might give you a call on the weekends, at night, or on holidays. Your time isn't totally your own in the beginning. However, by training your clients, you can manage your time. You should respond if it is an emergency that can wait until morning, but if it is something that can wait until then, you should inform them that you are working on it and will provide more information in the morning.
3. Volatility of the Market
CRE experiences cycles of boom and recession. You will strive to stay afloat in slow times and strive to outperform in prosperous ones. This is a great time to use the proverb "Make Hay While the Sun Shines." You might need to devote more effort to your firm during a boom cycle in order to capitalize on the expansion prospects.
4. Getting started
CRE is a highly challenging field to enter; there is fierce competition, a lot to understand, and the potential for long weekends and long hours if you want to start making money right away.
Here’s How to Create Work-Life Balance in CRE
Despite the challenges, there are ways to build balance without compromising your career trajectory:
Specialize Your Focus-Don’t try to cover every asset class or submarket. When you specialize in a specific property type and geographic area, you learn that aspect of the business quicker, and you become the go-to expert. That focus builds your reputation faster and streamlines your workflow.
Use Systems & Support- Invest in CRMs, virtual assistants, transaction coordinators, and marketing automation. These tools can help you be more efficient by offloading administrative tasks so you stay focused on high-impact work.
Time-Block Relentlessly-Treat your personal time like it’s a meeting with your top client. Block out time for prospecting, contract oversight, lead follow-up, and—just as important—rest and recovery.
Work Smart, Not Just Hard- Top brokers don’t rely on grinding 14-hour days forever. They focus on securing high-quality clients, nurturing referral networks, and building long-term client relationships. The sooner you focus on the long game in your career the better off you will be.
Just Say No - Before you step foot over the threshold to your office to do a showing or a pitch, take the time to vet out the potential client first. Make sure the client is truly ready to move forward on a transaction, and has the capability of finalizing the transaction. Many agents waste their time because they do not qualify their potential clients. I know it can be difficult to turn down a potential client but your time is your most valuable asset, and it shouldn’t be wasted on someone that cannot move forward on a deal.
Set Boundaries Early-Your clients will follow your lead. If you answer emails at midnight and take calls on Sundays from day one, you’ll set that precedent forever. Be proactive in setting expectations—and stick to them. I like to let my clients know that I will always be back to them within four (4) business hours. This allows me to block out specific times for business development that is not interrupted.
The Bottom Line
Yes, work-life balance in CRE brokerage is possible—but usually earned through intense effort up front. Long-term success doesn’t come from working the most hours—it comes from building leverage through relationships, reputation, and repeatable systems.
