Every once in a while someone will ask me, “So…what do Realtors actually do all day?”
I understand why people ask. Most of what people see are the exciting moments like the “Just Listed” photos, the Open Houses, the “Under Contract” announcements, and of course the smiling closing pictures with happy buyers holding their new keys. Those are certainly the highlights but they’re only a tiny glimpse into what my Real Estate Broker career really looks like.
You Only See the Highlights
One of the biggest misconceptions about real estate is that Realtors get paid for the work we do. In reality, I’m paid only if a transaction successfully closes. I don’t receive an hourly wage, a salary, or a paycheck every two weeks. I invest my time, my expertise, and often my own money with no guarantee that I’ll ever be compensated. And honestly, sometimes that’s terrifying!
When I take on a new listing, I’m not just putting a sign in the yard and hoping for the best. Before a home ever reaches the market, I’ve spent hours researching comparable sales, studying market trends, advising my clients on pricing and presentation, coordinating professional photography, writing property descriptions, creating marketing materials, entering the listing into the MLS, and preparing a strategy for how we’ll introduce the home to buyers. Once the home is live on the market, the work really begins.
There are private showings, broker tours, open houses, social media campaigns, email marketing, conversations with other agents, follow-up with prospective buyers, feedback from showings, pricing discussions, negotiations, inspections, repair requests, lender communication, escrow coordination, and dozens—sometimes hundreds—of emails, texts, and phone calls.
Helping Buyers Find the Right Home
Working with buyers is just as much behind-the-scenes as it is opening doors. Long before we ever step inside a home together, I’ve spent time getting to know my clients—their goals, priorities, budget, and lifestyle—so I can help them find not just a house, but the right home. I research neighborhoods, review comparable sales, analyze property histories, verify zoning and vacation rental regulations when applicable, coordinate showing schedules, communicate with listing agents, and often preview properties or gather additional information before we even arrive.
Once my clients find “the one,” my role shifts into advisor, strategist, and project manager, helping determine a competitive offer price, negotiating terms, coordinating inspections and appraisals, reviewing disclosures and condo documents, keeping lenders and escrow on track, recommending trusted local professionals, and anticipating potential issues before they become problems. My goal is to make what can feel like an overwhelming process as smooth, informed, and stress-free as possible, while always protecting my clients’ best interests.
Not Every Transaction Makes It to the Finish Line
Some transactions (on both the buyer and the seller side) come together beautifully while others require months of patience, creativity, and persistence. And sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, they simply don’t come together. That’s one of the hardest realities of this business.
A home can be beautifully prepared, professionally marketed, accurately priced, and still not sell. Markets change. Interest rates fluctuate. Buyer priorities shift. Sometimes a buyer simply doesn’t see the same value the seller does. In real estate, value isn’t determined by what any website says or even what comparable sales suggest. Ultimately, value is simply the price where one willing buyer and one willing seller reach an agreement. Until that happens, there isn’t a sale. It’s simply how real estate works.
Running a Small Business
What many people also don’t realize is that Realtors like myself are small business owners. I’m responsible for paying my own self-employment taxes, Hawaii’s General Excise Tax, health insurance, retirement savings, licensing fees, continuing education, MLS dues, association memberships, marketing expenses, technology subscriptions, vehicle expenses, and all of the other costs that come with running a professional business.
There are months when everything seems to happen at once and several transactions close together. Then there are months when nothing closes. Even experienced Realtors such as myself can go several months without a commission check. It doesn’t necessarily mean I’m not working. In fact, those months are often some of my busiest times because I’m prospecting and planting the seeds that will hopefully become future closings.
That’s one of the greatest lessons real estate has taught me: you have to believe in the work, even before you see the results. Still, I genuinely love what I do.
I love helping first-time buyers find the place they’ll call home. I love helping families move into the next chapter of their lives. I love helping sellers maximize the value of one of their largest investments. And I love solving problems—the unexpected issues that inevitably arise during almost every transaction.
The Relationship Doesn’t End at Closing
The truth is, my job doesn’t always end with the closing. Sometimes that means meeting movers when a client is still on the mainland, recommending contractors, helping coordinate cleaners, checking on a vacant property, selling a client’s bicycles after they’ve moved, giving someone a ride from the airport, or simply being available when a client needs advice months or even years after we’ve worked together. Those things don’t appear anywhere on a closing statement.
They’re simply part of taking care of people I’ve come to cherish. It’s also why I often say that AI can help write a contract, but it can’t be your Realtor.
After more than ten years in real estate, I’ve come to realize that success isn’t measured only by the number of homes I’ve sold. It’s measured by the relationships I’ve built, the trust my clients place in me, and the privilege of being part of some of the biggest moments in their lives.
So the next time you see a Realtor celebrating a closing, remember that what you’re seeing is the finish line, not the race itself!
Why I Love Serving Kauaʻi
Living and working on Kauaʻi has taught me that relationships matter far more than transactions. This island is built on trust, community, and taking care of one another. That’s how I’ve always approached my business, and it’s how I’ll continue to serve my clients—whether we’re celebrating a successful closing or navigating the challenges that come before it.
To learn more about the Kauai Real Estate Market and to read more of my blogs, please see my Hawaii Life real estate page.
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