Estate agency work life balance

[Shwish]

I'm currently in a job that really isn't my bag. I took it as a short term thing after having been home with kids for 3 years but that was 6 years ago and I'm worried about becoming typecast. I'm working in finance and it is really not what I want. It's very spreadsheet / numbers / focused working alone whereas I'm quite an extrovert and more of a "big picture" than a "details" type person. So I'm looking for a career change. Problem is I don't have a degree so I'm a bit stuck as to what to go for really.
I think I'd love the variety of working in sales at an estate agent and I have an interview next week so will obviously be asking lots of questions then, but realistically it's not likely to have a great work life balance is it? I don't mind working Saturdays but I don't want to be doing EVERY Saturday and I don't want to be working late because after-school club finishes at 6. The office closes at 5.30. is it likely I'd actually be out at 5.30? Do most agents have to work most Saturdays?

It's a horrible job. People hate estate agents.
Are you good at networking?
Estate agents are all about knowing people, knowing everyone!

Sorry to seem negative. I work in property (not an EA). Not many people stick at it.

Ha! Don't apologise for the negativity, I want reality!
I'm hoping that people who hate estate agents wouldn't hate me. I'm not a wide boy.
Networking? I'm honestly not sure. Maybe?

I used to work as an EA and worked every Saturday. I would also be doing viewings when the office was shut - 8-9pm at night, weekends - Saturdays and Sundays if needed. It depends on the company and their policy but it wasn't family friendly in my experience.

Yes that's exactly what I'm worried about really. Logically I suppose you sort of have to be working when other people aren't. I guess I'll have to find out more and make my decision based on that. They've been pretty accommodating on the interview front so maybe that's a good sign. They wanted to do interviews on a particular day that I can't get off work so they've offered to see me at a different branch in my day off.

I am an EA but in Scotland so it’s different to England as I work in a Solicitor estate agents. We work 1 in 6 Saturday mornings plus our usual hours during the week. We have 4 viewing agents who cover sales and Lettings so I am office based 9-5.

The firm I worked for prior to that had one viewing agent who and that same person covered the office on a Saturday so no Saturday working but I did do evening viewings and the occasional Sunday for a popular property.

I think go with an open mind and see what their working pattern is and see if it can work for you.