In the business world, there’s always uncertainty. While we try to believe that we know what tomorrow will bring, nothing is for certain in the real estate business.
One thing I do know for sure is that working as a real estate agent offers a lot of flexibility in terms of where, when, and how you work. Working from home as a real estate agent is growing in popularity, and I’m seeing more and more remote real estate agents popping up. Beginner and veteran agents desire these schedules, and brokers are listening.
This guide aims to show you how easy and affordable it is to work from home as a real estate agent. The startup costs are low, and there are few barriers to entry. Let’s take a look.
Setting up a Real Estate Home Office
If you already have your real estate license, the first thing you’ll have to do is set up your home real estate office. The good news is, you can do all of this for around $1,000 or less depending on how thrifty you are. Here are all the things you’ll need to set up your real estate agent home office.
Your Computer
The first and most obvious thing you’ll need is a computer. Trust me, you need a reliable one to keep your workflow going, so don’t skimp too much in this area. If you’re operating on a shoestring budget, consider checking out the Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, local newspapers, and eBay. I recommend going with a laptop so you can stay mobile and work from anywhere. There could be times where your broker needs you in the office, and you’ll need to be able to bring your laptop into work. If you want a new laptop (which I recommend), Amazon has good prices too. You can pick up a new HP 14-inch laptop for approximately $425-450. Let’s keep a running total of the overall cost of setting up a home real estate office. Total Startup Cost: $425.00 Chances are you already have high-speed internet in your home, but you’ll want to think twice about upgrading your current service to a faster one. Also, keep in mind where you’re locating your home office in comparison to the location of your Wi-Fi router. If your router is on the other side of the house, you’ll want to figure out the range of the router and decide if you need to get one with a further range or get an extender. I can also attest to the fact that upgrading to a faster high-speed package will allow you to work faster and experience fewer bottlenecks due to technology. Working from home as a real estate agent is all about working smarter rather than harder. Depending on how expensive your internet is, you’re looking at spending between $80-150 per month on this. Total Startup Cost: $525.00 You need a dedicated workspace if you’re working from home as a real estate agent. Don’t think you can sit at the kitchen table and get work done for very long; it doesn’t work. It’s important that you have an office with a desk or at least a dedicated area in your home for your business. 
High-Speed Internet
Desk Space
The desk you choose depends on how you work and how much space you think you need. When you’re starting out, you don’t need anything fancy. Start small and work your way up.
Amazon has a lot of different style desks, but this one here is highly recommended. It’s easy to assemble, extremely affordable, study, and exactly the no-frills desk you need. If it doesn’t match the design of your office, there are plenty of other options within the same price range.
Total Startup Cost: $625.00
Comfy Chair
The next thing you’ll need is a comfortable desk chair. Here’s another thing you don’t want to skimp on because you’ll feel it in your lower back if you do. You want to get a chair with a high back that swivels and has comfortable armrests. If you plan on spending as many as ten hours a day in the chair, you should have one that reduces stress and strain on your body.
Prices vary, and you might need a larger or smaller chair based on your body type, but the AmazonBasics chair comes in three colors and has raving reviews for being so affordable. Expect to pay between $100-200 for a solid chair.
Total Startup Cost: $775.00
Phone
As a remote real estate agent, you won’t need a landline since you’ll spend a large portion of your day out on the road, giving tours, showing homes, meeting with clients, and hosting open houses.
If you currently have a cell phone, you don’t even need to purchase a new one. You can continue to use the number you have for no added cost.
That said, a lot of real estate agents working from home like to create a little separation between work and play, so it might be beneficial to get a second phone number for personal use.
Total Startup Cost: $775.00
Printer/Scanner
When setting up a home real estate office, you’ll want a good quality printer scanner combo. Many aspects of the real estate business are paperless now, and we always try to limit the amount of paperwork necessary, but most paperwork only occurs when you sell or rent a home.
So, you don’t need to spend a ton of money on a professional printer/scanner/fax machine; a standard home office one will work just fine.
I highly recommend the Brother brand because they’re affordable and reliable. Reliability is the biggest issue, and you want to make sure you can easily connect the printer to your devices.
The Brother Monochrome Laser Printer is my choice. It’s a printer/scanner with a 250-sheet capacity, and you can print a variety of different types of papers as well. You can save money on marketing expenses by creating fliers and pamphlets yourself.
Total Startup Cost: $925.00
Filing/Storage
As I said, most of our work is paperless, so the days of endless filing cabinets are gone. You might need a small file sorter to keep track of paperwork you use frequently and lead lists, but you may not even need that anymore.
What you do need is a plan to keep everything organized on your computer. I recommend using an app like Trello or ClickUp to organize your day, schedule out meetings, and keep track of all potential sales opportunities. Best of all, both of these task management tools are free.
Total Startup Cost: $925.00
Software
The types of software you use will depend on what agency you work for, but most aren’t required, especially when you’re just starting. You’ll want to use tools like:
Zillow Premier Agent - Listings
RealScout - Marketing/Lead Gen
Everlance - Tracking mileage
Quickbooks - Income tracking
Home Value Leads - Home valuation
You may use all or none of these tools, and most of them are free or very affordable, so they barely add any cost to your monthly operating expenses.
Total Startup Cost: Approximately $1,000.00
Advantages of Working From Home as a Real Estate Agent
There are many advantages to working from home as a real estate agent. The first one is the commute. It’s easy to move from your bed to your home real estate office, and it not only saves you time, but it’ll save you a little wear and tear on your vehicle as well.
One big advantage that I see is a lot of agents feel tied to their office. When they have an office, they tend to have meetings with potential clients in the office rather than at a neutral place or at the client's location.
It’s more personal to go meet with your clients at a place of their choosing, and not having a physical real estate office helps push new agents to do that.
Disadvantages of Working From Home as a Real Estate Agent
If you lack discipline, working from home will be difficult. There’s something to say about suiting up, driving to an office, setting up, and putting in some work. You become invested in the work, and it’s often easier for people to work in this situation.
Another downside of working from home is the lack of community or networking with other agents. When you work in a busy office, and you see what all the other agents are doing, it can motivate and inspire you to put in the work.
That said, if you’re self-motivated and driven to succeed, you’ll do well no matter where you’re working. Working from home as a real estate agent requires a lot of discipline.
Can You Work from Home as a Real Estate Agent?
The answer is yes, and now you have all the real estate agents tools of the trade to set up your home office. You must create a dedicated workspace with all the essential gear you need to get off on the right foot.
Whether you’re a seasoned agent looking to take your work home or you’re new to the business trying to get started, working as a remote agent offers unique perks that only the real estate industry offers. You get flexibility, freedom, and the opportunity to earn a high income independently without someone breathing down your neck.