People often ask me what a "typical day" looks like as a REALTOR®. The honest answer is that no two days are exactly alike — and that's one of the things I love most about this work. But after more than 20 years in real estate and over a decade of serving clients across Mid-Michigan, I've developed rhythms and routines that keep me grounded, productive, and responsive to the people who trust me with one of their biggest decisions.
Here's what a day in my professional life actually looks like — the real version, not the highlight reel.
6:00 AM — The Morning Foundation
I'm an early riser by nature and by necessity. Before the day's demands begin, I take time for myself — coffee, a quiet house, and a few minutes to review what's ahead. This is when I check my calendar, scan overnight emails and texts from clients, and look at any new listings that came on the market after dinner.
Real estate doesn't follow a 9-to-5 schedule. Clients text at 9 PM about a house they just saw online. Agents respond to offers at 6 AM. Staying aware of what's happening — without being consumed by it — is something I've learned to balance over the years.
I also spend a few minutes reviewing market activity: what's pending, what's withdrawn, any price changes on homes in areas I'm actively watching for clients. This isn't busywork — it's how I stay sharp on market conditions across the communities I serve, from Grand Blanc to Brighton to Lapeer.
7:30 AM — Planning and Priorities
By 7:30, I'm at my desk or in the car. The first task is identifying the day's priorities. Some days are heavy on showings — I might tour six or seven homes with a buyer in a single afternoon. Other days are dominated by listing appointments, paperwork, marketing, or strategic planning.
A typical priority list might look like this:
- Follow up on an offer submitted yesterday for a buyer client
- Prep materials for a listing consultation at 11 AM
- Meet a relocating couple for afternoon showings in Fenton and Linden
- Review staging photos for a listing going live this weekend
- Respond to two new inquiry leads from the website
The specific tasks change, but the structure stays consistent: client-facing work comes first, administrative work fills the gaps, and marketing supports everything.
8:00–9:00 AM — Client Communication Block
The first hour of active work is dedicated to client communication. This is when I return calls, respond to texts, check in with clients about pending transactions, and touch base with lender partners and title companies to keep deals on track.
Communication is arguably the most important part of what I do — and the part most clients notice. A buyer waiting for offer acceptance needs to know what's happening, even when the update is "nothing has changed yet." Silence creates anxiety. Consistent communication creates trust.
I've learned over 20+ years that the clients who feel most confident about the process are the ones who never have to wonder what's going on. That's a standard I hold myself to every single day.
9:00–11:00 AM — Listing and Pre-Listing Work
Mornings are often when I handle listing-related tasks: conducting comparative market analyses (CMAs), preparing listing presentations, coordinating with photographers and stagers, and writing property descriptions that capture the character of a home rather than just its specs.
A good listing starts long before the photos are taken. It starts with understanding what makes a property special to the right buyer — and then marketing it in a way that reaches those buyers effectively. I personally write every listing description for my properties because I believe generic, auto-generated copy doesn't do justice to a home that someone has loved and lived in.
11:00 AM–12:30 PM — Listing Consultations
Mid-morning is prime time for listing consultations — the initial meeting where I visit a seller's home, walk through every room, discuss their goals, and outline a marketing strategy. These meetings typically run 60–90 minutes because they're conversations, not presentations.
I want to understand why someone is selling, what their timeline looks like, what concerns they have, and what "success" means to them. Every seller's situation is different — a young family relocating out of state has different priorities than a downsizer who's lived in their home for 30 years. The strategy needs to fit the person, not the other way around.
During these consultations, I cover pricing strategy, staging recommendations, photography and marketing plans, and realistic timelines. I believe in honest, data-driven pricing over aspirational pricing. A home that's priced right from day one generates more interest, more showing activity, and ultimately a better result than one that starts high and chases the market down.
1:00–4:00 PM — Showings and Buyer Consultations
Afternoons are often when I'm on the road. This is the showing block — the part of the job that clients see most, but it's really the tip of the iceberg.
When I take buyers on showings, I'm doing far more than unlocking doors. I'm evaluating each home in real time: the condition of the roof, the age of the furnace, signs of moisture in the basement, how the floor plan actually flows for daily life, the neighborhood context that photos don't capture. I'm answering questions as they come up, helping buyers think through priorities, and — when a home clearly isn't right — honestly saying so.
On a typical showing day, I'll tour 4–7 homes across two or three communities. This might mean starting in Fenton, driving to Grand Blanc, and finishing in Davison — covering a lot of ground and a lot of information in a few hours.
Buyer consultations are similar in depth to listing consultations. Before we start touring homes, I sit down with buyers (in person or virtually) to understand their needs, budget, lifestyle, and must-haves. This prep work — which often takes an hour or more — is what prevents wasted time and ensures every showing is purposeful.
4:00–5:30 PM — Administrative and Transaction Work
After showings, I return to the office or my home workspace for the transaction management that keeps deals moving. Real estate involves a surprising amount of paperwork and coordination:
- Reviewing and responding to inspection reports and repair negotiations
- Coordinating with lenders on appraisal scheduling and underwriting updates
- Tracking contingency deadlines and ensuring all parties meet their obligations
- Reviewing contracts and disclosures to ensure accuracy and compliance
- Preparing closing documents and coordinating with title companies
Transaction management is the part of the job that most clients never see, but it's where deals are won or lost. A missed deadline, an overlooked contingency, or a miscommunication between lenders and title companies can derail a closing. I treat this work with the same seriousness as every client interaction — because it directly impacts my clients' lives.
5:30–7:00 PM — Marketing and Content
Late afternoon and early evening is when I focus on the marketing work that keeps my business growing and my clients' properties visible. This includes:
- Social media content creation and posting for active listings
- Writing or editing blog content and community guides for this site
- Email marketing to my client database with market updates and new listings
- Reviewing website analytics and adjusting strategy based on what content resonates
Marketing in real estate has changed dramatically since I started in 2014. Social media, video, and digital content are now essential — but they work best when they're rooted in genuine local knowledge. A polished photo tour is nice; a photo tour that explains why a specific neighborhood feeds into a specific school district, with context about the community, is what actually helps a buyer make a decision.
7:00–8:00 PM — Evening Follow-Ups
The last active hour of the workday is for follow-ups. This is when I circle back to morning messages, update clients on anything that developed during the day, check in with agents on pending deals, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Evening is also when some clients are most available. After their workday ends, buyers and sellers often have questions, want to discuss options, or are ready to make decisions. I keep my phone accessible in the evening because this is often when progress happens.
I won't pretend I'm "always on" — boundaries matter, and my family gets my full attention when I'm off the clock. But real estate is a people business, and being responsive during the hours when clients are thinking about their move is part of the service I provide.
The Weekend Difference
Weekends are typically the busiest days in real estate. Open houses, showings, and client meetings ramp up because that's when buyers and sellers have time. Saturday mornings often start early with open house preparation — staging adjustments, signage, directional arrows, and making sure the home looks its best for walk-in traffic.
Afternoons are frequently booked with showings, and I often host 1–2 open houses on weekends for active listings. Sundays I try to protect for personal and family time, though I stay available for anything time-sensitive.
What People Don't See
The visible parts of real estate — the showings, the open houses, the "SOLD" signs — are the tip of what this job actually involves. Behind every smooth transaction are hours of research, negotiation, problem-solving, and coordination. Behind every listing is a marketing strategy that includes professional photography, targeted digital advertising, MLS optimization, social media campaigns, and networking with other agents.
And behind all of it are relationships. The client who referred me to their colleague because I kept them informed during a difficult inspection negotiation. The seller who hired me because I helped their neighbor sell three years ago. The buyer who came back for their second purchase because the first one was stress-free. A large portion of my business comes from referrals and repeat clients, and that's the metric I'm most proud of.
Why I Share This
I wrote this article because I think it helps to know who you're working with. Real estate is a relationship business, and trust starts with transparency. When you understand how I spend my days — the priorities, the discipline, the communication standards, the attention to detail — you know what to expect when you work with me.
Whether you're buying your first home, selling a property you've owned for decades, or relocating to Mid-Michigan from across the state or country, you deserve an agent who shows up fully every day. That's what I commit to, and that's what I deliver.
Schedule a consultation or contact me directly — I'd love to put these days to work for you.
