How a female real estate agent made it

My name is Jackie Mubiru. I am a Real Estate Broker. I pass my free time here at this shop in Najjanankumbi. I sell soda at wholesale prices. I also sell some electrical goods.
It (real estate brokering) started when some friends started asking me to find them land for sale and houses for rent. I would spend money in the process and by the end of the transaction, I wouldn’t get anything.

Capital free venture
I thought, why don’t I join this trade? Do I need capital? I already have clients.
One day, I went back home and said to my husband, “From today onwards, I have become a broker. I am going to be different from other people.”

Beginnings
I started in 2010. There is a lady I respect a lot, called Margaret Lukwago. She encouraged me, “I have saved money from being a broker. I have Shs5m. I have managed to save it from my business activities.”

For the first job I did in 2010, I went to Kajjansi, Nakigalala side. I found good land. When I took my client, she admired it and later paid for it. I didn’t charge my client anything, since it was my first job and I was giving it a try.
Glory be to God that she paid Shs5m for the land and Shs1m for brokering the land.
She then added me another Shs50,000 because I had invested my transport.

Challenges
People despise us (women) and I am small. It has also been difficult to get trustworthy people to work with. They always emphasise money. The good thing is that when a customer sees a woman he thinks a woman is better, that we are more trustworthy than men.

I also don’t get to go everywhere on the ground. But when I get a client who wants to buy land, I have to inquire from the LCs about it. The challenges are with the houses for rent, the one and two-roomed houses.

Dishonesty is rife
When you get a client and call a fellow broker and this person goes on the ground, you may think they are faithful. But they may ask the client for the inspection fee, which is Shs20,000. Then they may take the client to houses that are already taken and say, “That one is good. I am going to talk to the landlord, so that you can take it. Come back tomorrow.”

But when the client comes back the next day and says, “Here is the money. I’d like to pay for this house,” they may tell that person, “Ah! You have come late. The house has been taken. Bring more money for inspection and we will look for another house.”

My tips
If a person wanted land or a house and they called me, I would ask them what areas they are interested in, the size of the land, the price at which they are willing to pay and things like whether they do not like hilly or slum areas. I start searching based on those specifications. When I find some pieces of land and the person makes their choices, we go there together.
If the person doesn’t have transport, we share the fare. If they select a piece of land, I have to go back and search about it some more.

I normally warn my clients. Some brokers will give you a photocopy of land in a different area that is say, 10 acres. Because you have put it in your head that the land is 10 acres, they will show you a different place and give you different papers. Then you will end up paying for something which is fake and you lose your money.
Before you rush to buy, take your time. Things that are done in a rush normally end up badly. Go to people you trust for advice.

It is not standard practice for brokers to ask clients for money before they work. If you hear about the big (real estate) companies, land inspection is free. I am not sure about inspections for rentals.

What clients pay
For rental inspections, if it is one room, the client can give you Shs5,000 or Shs10,000. If he has money, he can give you Shs20,000. If there are two rooms, inspection is normally Shs20,000. If it is a house of Shs1m, they can give you Shs50,000. That means the pocket is bigger.
If you take a house of Shs100,000, you will give me Shs50,000 - half of one month’s rent, as payment. It is not a must. We must negotiate and agree.
This job is not hard. You don’t need capital. All you need is your strength. You need to get up one day and start searching for other brokers.

There was a time my husband wanted me to go to town (Central Business District), to carry out my trade there. He gave me Shs9m. I decided to buy a plot instead.
I thought, even though I don’t do anything with it, the value will rise with time.

Benefits
I searched for a Shs9m plot and bought it. Thereafter, God provided and we built three self-contained houses on it. We earn about Shs500,000 a month from them. We use it to pay tuition for our three children.
I am happy I didn’t go to town, because I have seen many friends of mine get disappointed.
Somebody says, “I was given $10,000,(Shs25m) but right now, I have nothing.’
So I feared town. On average, I earn Shs800,000 a month as a broker.