By Luke Constantino | August 2, 2006
I've been in real estate for over 10 years and I found the best way to "Make it rain" is to be extremely educated in ever aspect of your market area, dress and act appropriately for your surroundings and most important, be involved in your community and be out there... SHOW YOUR FACE!
Be Extremely Educated In every Aspect of Your Market.
Just because someone is an agent doesn't make them a Realtor. Consumers these days are very educated, so you have to stay on the cutting edge. Not only do you have to know every aspect of real estate and be ready for all angles of it, you have to know your mortgage rates, legalities, how to explain the real estate process to the consumer in depth, all legalities and why you above all, should get the highest commission. This is the first step, if you aren't prepared for this... You're dead in the water.
I can look at a property in an area and be ready (off the top of my head) to give someone a ball park figure of what they are looking at due to the amount of research I do. If this is the profession you have chosen, try to be the best at what you do. There is a very large foreclosure market out there right now; do you know how to deal with it? How about the price fluctuations in your area? Do you know how to tell someone their property is more or less in price than the guy down the block and why? You better.
Intelligence is what rules the world; people will not an idiot sell their property.
Dress and Act Appropriately
There is some places I go to where I wear a suit compared to being casually dressed. You do not want the seller/buyer to feel uncomfortable by your attire. I've also seen and heard of Realtors losing a listing due to smelling like cigarettes or having bad breath. You are also selling yourself out there, be a valuable commodity. A seller is not going to be convinced that you are going to find proper buyers if you are not proper in you appearance...
Be the best you can be when dealing with that seller/buyer or just stay home.
Last and most important;
BE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, SHOW YOUR FACE!
Put your best foot forward. Most consumers perceive us as used car salesman. Funny, I'd like to see a used car salesman do what I do or be as educated in his field as I am. As I said before, this is your chosen profession, be a professional. Get involved in your community; not just to meet people for buying or selling... Do it for real. If you do not like people, and cannot be honest in your intentions, maybe you should sell used cars! Belong to different organizations in your community, get involved in them. Lions, Rotary, Masons, Knights whatever organization you feel strongly about. The more your face is out there the better chance your neighbors will know you and what you do, that simple.
One more piece of advice:
After every Buy/Sell follow through.
I have heard this from countless Realtors that are very successful. People like to know you were not doing this just to get paid; you really enjoy your profession! Send a card; give a phone call or an e-mail from time to time. I myself have made long lasting relationships through real estate and really like the people I have worked with. I love asking how they are doing and getting responses...
The satisfied ones are the most rewarding!
Thanks for the post. I agree education is important. There is so much to learn .