Looking to carve out a career as a real estate agent? Make sure you follow these tips to stay on top of the game.
Becoming a certified real estate agent is a relatively easy process, however, there is a fine art to becoming a successful one in this day and age. Here are a few snippets of advice that are sure to send you on the right road to winning at being a real estate agent.
Get the right attitude
Before anything else, having the right attitude is key. A real estate agent needs to be social, even more so than the average person. If you think you can only handle people in small doses, then it’s better to look for a new vocation. Real estate agents need to be networking all the time, which means being open and outgoing with everyone you meet. At parties, you should be practicing your listening skills and aim to speak to at least three different people over the course of the evening. You need to be the living embodiment of a “people person.” However, you also need to be aware of when being “too much.”
Market yourself as a professional
People gravitate to leaders they can trust. Buying a home or any kind of property is a big deal for anyone, so naturally, they would look for a real estate agent that embodies the right qualities. Depending on what property you specialise in, you should be at the top of your game.
- Become a part of estate agent forums or organisations, and if there is a gap, create one
- Optimise your social media accounts: post relevant industry information and service offerings
- Read up on everything relating to your industry and its trends
- Attend conferences and talks about the property industry (for career advice) and in the marketing world (to better market yourself and your business).
It’s all about lead generation
Chasing leads is the majority of the job. As some say, “you’re a marketer first and an agent second.” This is because without leads, there are no sales. Besides marketing through mailers, calls and newsletters, you can chase leads in your neighbourhood. As mentioned in the first point, you will have to cultivate a social, extroverted attitude. This will help you to chase leads by becoming a part of your neighbourhood by joining community groups, writing for the local newspapers, joining fitness or culture clubs and networking at community events. There are so many potential clients found right on your doorstep who will appreciate working with a real estate agent they know.
Don’t let success keep you stagnant
Once you’ve started to become successful at a medium or large scale, the main piece of advice is not to become stagnant. Success can make one complacent, which is not a good trait for a real estate agent; especially given the unpredictable nature of the property market. As you evolve, your marketing and selling strategy should as well. Assess your business now and again, and see where the kinks lie or where you can improve. For example, as your business grows, hire help to hold down the fort while you concentrate on chasing more leads or giving your clients more of your time.
Don’t stop being a real estate agent once the sale goes through
Make sure your clients are helped every step of the way, from scouting properties they may want, to dealing with home inspections to helping them find attorneys for legal advice. This ensures you give great customer service that will help generate referrals and it will show you have your clients’ best interests at heart. Once the deal has gone through, make sure to follow up with clients as well. The main thing to remember when starting out as a real estate agent is to remember that it’s not going to be easy. You may have to be constantly on call for clients and will need to nurture patience and organisation. The best solution to the pressure is to find someone to shadow who you can bounce ideas off, get tips from and learn the tools of the trade.