Breaking Barriers in Real Estate

Breaking Barriers in Real Estate

An Interview with Bianka Maier on International Women’s Day

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re thrilled to recognize and honor the achievements of women in all industries, including real estate. Women have made significant progress in many fields, and our industry is increasingly providing opportunities for women to succeed.

To support and empower women in real estate, it’s essential to share their stories and learn from their experiences. In this spirit, we sat down with Bianka Maier, a top real estate agent at RE/MAX Germany, and her journey of overcoming obstacles and achieving success has lessons for all agents about how to use resilience, hard work, and determination to thrive in our highly competitive field.

 

 

 

 

Making a bold career move

Bianka’s journey into the real estate industry began as a leap of faith. With no prior experience in the real estate industry, she had worked at the police department, a doctor’s office and at restaurants in the past, but health issues had forced her to leave those jobs. So as a single parent with no financial support, Bianka knew that to provide for her young children she would need a career that she could control. Her decision to become self-employed led her to attend a RE/MAX career night, where she made the bold choice to pursue a career in real estate.

A negative experience with a real estate agent in the past convinced Bianka that she could do better. “I thought real estate agents did a bad job,” she recalls. “But I wanted to make a difference.” Bianka put her passion to work and completed her first transaction after just a few weeks, marking the beginning of a successful career with RE/MAX.

Bianka’s early career in real estate was not without its challenges, particularly in learning the digital tools she needed. “I had no digital experience and never owned a laptop before,” says Bianka. “Also, I had no internet exposure, which made it difficult for me to use social media effectively.” But she persevered, relying on her fearlessness, honesty and transparency to build her brand on social media.

 

 

 

 

Investing in knowledge and networks for success

In the fast-paced and ever-changing world of real estate, continuing education and professional development are key to staying competitive. For women in the industry, investing in their knowledge and networks can provide the foundation for success.

Certainly, Bianka credits RE/MAX Germany and the available training courses for helping her overcome a lot of her challenges. “The trainers were encouraging,” says Bianka, “and the role-playing involved in the training helped me build my confidence so much.”

But education isn’t just limited to formal training courses. Building a strong network is also crucial for success in real estate. Connecting with other professionals in the industry, joining industry associations and organizations and seeking out mentors and sponsors can help women improve their skills and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and practices in the industry. By building relationships and learning from others, women can gain the skills and knowledge necessary to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

 

 

 

 

The power of perseverance and focus

Bianka’s success story is filled with moments of triumph, including achieving a turnover of over one million euro a year. As someone who has made it in the industry, Bianka is always willing to share her secrets with others who are just starting out. She advises newcomers to stay focused on their goals and not get sidetracked by distractions.

“My advice to those starting out in the real estate industry is not to waste time looking left and right. Stay on the path you’ve set for yourself,” Bianka emphasizes. Learning to handle rejection is difficult for everyone, but Bianka says that the key is to remember that you will grow into the role. “Take advantage of the resources that RE/MAX offers and don’t try to create everything yourself. For example, I immediately ordered 20,000 flyers in the beginning, rather than trying to figure it out alone.”

Maintaining focus is crucial for success in any field, and in the fast-paced real estate industry, it can be especially challenging. By keeping their eyes on the prize and refusing to be distracted by setbacks or obstacles, women can achieve their goals and build successful careers. Whether it’s through setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks or developing strong time management skills, staying focused is key to realizing one’s potential.

The benefits of embracing differences in real estate

Bianka’s story demonstrates that achieving success in the real estate industry takes more than just hard work and determination. It also requires an environment that values different perspectives and experiences. For women, building strong networks, embracing learning opportunities and leveraging technology can help them overcome obstacles and thrive in their careers.

However, the benefits of welcoming new perspectives in real estate extend far beyond individual success. Companies that encourage teams from varied backgrounds profit from improved problem-solving, decision-making and communication. Organizations like the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) are leading the way in promoting these values, offering resources such as the Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit to help companies assess and improve their workplace cultures.

Bianka’s success and the industry’s focus on embracing differences are paving the way for a more competitive and successful real estate industry overall. By creating an inclusive environment, everyone can benefit – from agents and brokers to customers.