Fidel Escobar is a remote worker based out of Providence, Rhode Island. Working as a real estate wholesaler for the last seven months, Fidel has gained tons of experience in remote work. He has also learned about what strategies work best for him, especially during the pandemic.

Thank you, Fidel, for taking the time to speak with us! We enjoyed hearing from you about your experiences during COVID-19.

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When Fidel Escobar chose to start his remote business seven months ago, he never imagined just how virtual it would become. As a real estate wholesaler, Fidel’s business centers around the virtual professional world, as he uses mainly phone calls to connect his clients. 

Switching from cafés to parks

Prior to COVID-19, Fidel enjoyed spending his days in cafés and other communal workspaces to prospect his clients across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the surrounding states. Once the pandemic struck, Fidel adapted quickly as his normal workspaces closed. Over the last several months, he chose to either work outside in local parks or at home in a workspace he created. But regardless of the space, Fidel’s priorities, tools, and mission remained the same.

As the pandemic stretched on, Fidel knew he had to stay proactive and organized. His business was less than a year old and he worked to adjust to the self-directed nature of remote work. Unlike a traditional office setting where the company dictates the terms of the work day and sets the schedule for employees, Fidel had to do this on his own. COVID-19 “has taught [Fidel] to be more organized.” It pushed him to master tools like Google Keeps, read organizational books like Remote Nation’s 30 Hacks for Productive Remote Work, and reach out to friends familiar with remote work. Fidel said, “It was hard to keep focused by myself.” But he kept at it. “I don’t let that stop me from expanding my network of real estate professionals or others who work remotely.”

People are still buying houses

Overall, Fidel’s business has not suffered due to COVID-19. He notes that the “real estate market has not moved, even with the whole pandemic. People are still buying houses because interest rates are so low and keep dropping.” Even in cities, Fidel notes that “Coronavirus doesn’t stop people from navigating into cities. It’ll never stop people.”

Ultimately, remote work during COVID shows Fidel he enjoys “working more hours towards what I want to do” and “focusing on myself, since I’m now on my own schedule.” In the past, Fidel worked as a bartender. He enjoyed it at the time, but he is glad he pursued sales in more depth. Although he enjoyed talking to people while bartending, those relationships were short-term and now “with sales, there are more people to talk to, more opportunities to expand my network and make long term connections with people of similar mindsets and interests.” Comparing bartending to real estate wholesaling, Fidel says, “Working from home is a lot better. My own comfort-level just skyrocketed.”