How commissions can be rewarding for some employees

One deal can change everything in real estate, and Tamara Cortan is living proof. A former flight attendant who lost her job during the pandemic, Tamara turned to real estate, a sector that kept moving while much of the world stood still.

- Waad Barakat

At one off-plan launch, she brokered and closed sales for three buyers, each purchasing two units. By the end of the evening, she had earned the equivalent of two years of her previous salary in a single day.

"I brought three buyers with me to a property launch; each of them bought two units," she recalled. Now working with Crompton Partners in Abu Dhabi, she added, "All the sales representatives were busy with my clients. I was running from one table to another like a bee. I earned two years' worth of my previous salary in a single day. But more than the money, my heart was full."

Working on a commission basis, Tamara learned early on that the key was building relationships. "There's no salary," she said. "You give out a lot of free advice. And sometimes, clients walk away and close with another agent."

Trust and persistence

For her, the job is about trust and persistence. "When you chase, clients run. You've got to listen - really listen - to what people need."