Meet Jason Makowski!
Jason started in real estate in 2003 and is rounding out his 20th year in the industry. He believes that persistence and a diverse community are both vital to a successful real estate brokerage.
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Do you think your college studies had an impact as to where you are now?
Yes, I took a real estate course at Grand Valley that was taught by Doug Adams, a local appraiser, and I really enjoyed that course. It was a great class with great subject matter, but I never thought it would result in me segueing into real estate.
Everyday in real estate looks very different, but what does a typical day in your life look like?
Real estate can be a whirlwind; you can go into a day expecting one thing and then have the exact opposite happen. You get calls out of the blue and people wanting to see something at that very moment. You are always changing your schedule. I make a game plan each day and then make changes to the plan to accommodate my clients as needed.
What is one characteristic that every real estate agent needs to be successful?
Thick skin and drive. Our business is one of the only out there where we don’t control a lot. We can go into a deal thinking nothing could go wrong when suddenly an issue emerges. You need to have thick skin because you work with a lot of different people with different personalities that you must learn to relate with.
In your opinion, what is the hardest part of real estate?
The hardest part is your first 12-36 months. With a very slow ramp up, you can easily go a lengthy period of time without making a penny. The more hours you put in, the greater your income potential, the more people you get out and meet, the more business you will likely get involved in.
What is your best piece of advice for new college graduates entering the workforce? Would you recommend real estate?
I would recommend real estate. I think if a person is in a position where they are willing to put in the time and effort and can get by with little to nothing on the income spectrum for the first few years, it is a great business. Everyone starts the same way: you build your book of business up, and after several years, you can be very successful. I would like to see more diversity in the commercial real estate industry. If you enjoy working with people, numbers, and you like problem solving I would strongly recommend giving commercial real estate a shot.
What do you think is special about NAI Wisinski of West Michigan that sets us apart?
I think it’s the environment here. It is a big, caring family. Everyone looks out for each other and would bend over backwards to help somebody. We are very laid back, nose-to-the-grindstone people, but if there is someone in need everyone will step up and help, which I really appreciate.
If you had to put yourself into a career tomorrow that wasn’t real estate, what would you pick?
Probably banking or investment since I love working with numbers. That’s what drew me into this business as well. You are creating financial models and dealing with numbers daily, and if you’re good at this, it really helps in this business.
If you had to pick a city to do real estate in that was not in West Michigan, where would you go?
I would pick somewhere in Arizona. I really like the scenery, climate, and environment.
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To contact Jason with any questions or inquiries, click the link below!