Pat Kennedy wants us to share our tips for new agents. contest
Not sure I qualify as a salty old successful veteran since I am a young early '60's and only in the business for 23 years. But what the heck...you have heard me say a lot of this before as I advocate and defend new and inexperienced agents and I still believe it holds value for New Agents as well as those who are struggling.
We all want to soar to new heights...so here are my Top 20 Tips!
Bonus Tip: If you are a new agent, I am going to let you in on a secret...if anyone here on AR or anywhere else says they have a perfect life and career...they might be BSing ya!!
I have not been down the path that any of you have been on...but I have been on a pretty rocky one just the same in my younger years...So...
What can a new agent do who has little experience but a huge desire to succeed?
In no particular order:
Tip 1: Order a thousand business cards with a current picture of you and give them out in the first (or next) 6 months or less. If you are not handing out cards daily to everyone and constantly putting them on bulletin boards, etc...you are wasting opportunities.
Tip 2: Do not get upset when a friend or family member does not use you (trust me...that may be for the best).
Tip 3: Quit reading "guru" books by inactive agents and start reading every blog that you can here on AR. Read the ones that have value to your young (or struggling) career.
A good place to start is with those who have commented on Pat Kennedy's blog... Also, many of those who have welcomed you here to AR are extremely successful and willing to share their methods.
Tip 4: Every single new agent should spend a minimum of 10 hours a week reading blogs and learning on AR...not leaving long comments....reading and learning. If you must leave a comment...make it short...if it becomes a long one...turn it into a blog. Remember that every thing you say and write on AR or other blogs will be floating in cyberspace for a longtime to come.
Bonus Tip: Create a file of blogs you want to return to for reference. (Actually every single agent and broker should do this regardless of success).
Tip 5: Don't be afraid to Talk...to people...to agents...to lenders...to other professionals..and ask questions...then walk the talk...
Tip 6: Learn your communities...learn what has sold, by whom and with what agent and brokerage and to who and why...where did the buyers come from. Who sold and why.
Tip 7: What agents are recently out of the market and on to a different stage in their life? Their clients are left treading water many times or do not want to use the referred agent. Maybe you can help them, ehh?
Tip 8: Go to church, school, and other activities and let people know what your career is. No kids...volunteer at the schools...especially grade schools where there are growing families with needs for larger homes.
Tip 9: Learn what others are doing to be successful...did I mention to ask questions...Observe. Listen. Bonus Tip: Know the answers or where to get the correct answers. Don't make up the answers.
Tip 10: Always speak the truth...always do what is is morally and ethically right. (as well as legally right...and they don't always match up... so make sure you have your bases covered)
Tip 11: Let everyone know in your Sphere of Influence and beyond what you are doing and how they can help you. Use Social Media to your advantage...not for party pictures!
Thought for today: Only one person invented the wheel...everyone else copied and fine tuned it!!
Tip 12: Buy a comfortable pair of shoes and wear them out handing out recently "Area Solds and Listings" fliers or other fliers made for only a few cents each. Form callouses on your "knocking knuckles". I know...you do not want to do this...neither did I...wish I would have though because I do it now.
Tip 13: Do not take worthless or unsaleable listings. Do not work for free...or list a property for more than what it should be. Only a fool will buy a million dollar listing for two million...and very few fools are left out there...so do not take a listing for way more than it should be listed at.
Tip 14: Don't waste your money on worthless advertising. Don't buy worthless internet leads. Most advertising is worthless in my opinion. You can spend from $1,000 to $10,000/month on advertising... DON'T DO IT. Every salesman in the world has the next best thing to make you successful but the only thing that will make you successful is you.
Tip 15: Give maximum effort: My favorite saying right now is this:
EFFORT EQUALS OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS…LACK OF EFFORT EQUALS OPPORTUNITY FOR FAILURE!! Your Choice...Pick only one!
Tip 16: Make sure your managing broker will help you be successful...if they have no time for you...or are an active listing broker (which makes them your competitor and probably the one who gets the good phone leads)... do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. (yes...there are some good active listing Brokers out there but can you find the right one for you?)
Tip 17: Answer your phone whenever it rings...otherwise you are wasting their time and effort.
Tip 18: Wear the type of clothes that successful...not rich...successful people wear in your market area. You do not have to wear expensive clothes...but clean and correct for the occassion will help!!
Bonus Tip: Regardless of what year or type of vehicle you drive...it should be clean inside and out.
Tip 19: Develop a Referral Network NOW with agents in other communities that your area people move to or from. Don't wait years to start this...that referral lead may be just around the corner.
And finally,
Tip 20: Always remember...every single agent and broker started somewhere and were once as inexperienced as any new agent is today! It gets better and easier so DO NOT GIVE UP!
GOOD LUCK !! Feel free to contact me if you have questions or thoughts...or a lead for my area!!
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