Special offer

5 Things NOT to Do in Real Estate

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with www.PrinterBees.com BRE# 01392374

So far this year we’ve talked a lot about how to make 2019 an incredibly successful year in your real estate business.

But there’s something else on my mind – things I see Realtors® do that hold them back. So today I’m sharing five things you should NOT do if you want to have a great year in real estate.

These may elicit a laugh or a cringe, but either way you’ll learn what to avoid!

Don’t Rely Only on Book Smarts

Getting into real estate makes you think you have it all down pat. After all, you just passed the exam with flying colors!

While that’s certainly an accomplishment, it’s less than half the story. The reality is that real estate is a PEOPLE business! 

If you know all about contracts and escrow, but have no idea how to relate to people, you won’t do well in this industry. Focus first and foremost on your relationship skills, communication ability, and marketing outreach.

Success in real estate is all about connecting to people!

Don’t Listen to “It Won’t Work” From Others

Open houses stink. Cold calls never work. Door-to-door never builds relationships. FSBOs are a waste of time.

If you listen to everyone else’s negativity, you may as well throw in the towel right now. According to them, there’s not a single marketing method that’s effective!

Skip the negativity. Try things on your own. Get some farming postcards. Do popbys. There’s a reason new agents sometimes outstrip an experienced agent at their own game – they don’t have the blinders on about “what doesn’t work” and they just try everything!

Don’t Use a Photo From 1998

I know most of us don’t think time treats us kindly. We wish we still looked the way we looked 20 or more years ago.

There’s a problem, though… remember what I said about this being a people business? You won’t be able to connect with prospects or build relationships if your photo doesn’t even resemble you!

Bite the bullet and get an updated professional photo on your business cards and other materials. Look your best, but look natural as well. You don’t want someone wondering, “If that’s her, who is this photo on the card?”

Don’t Be Afraid to Share About Your Business

No one wants to be “annoying,” and most of us also have a strong fear of being rejected.

If you let that hold you back from talking about your work, you’ll unfortunately be very unsuccessful. Work on building relationships in a large variety of contexts – community groups, neighborhood associations, volunteering, and more.

Within those relationships, there will be opportunities to share about your real estate work and invite them to meet with you. Go for it!

Most of All: Don’t Be Inconsistent

You can do everything right in real estate and make ONE mistake and it will sink you.

It’s this: being inconsistent.

Without consistent marketing, consistent outreach, and consistent relationship building, you’ll never have a consistent business. As a result, you’ll have stress, feast-and-famine, and financial struggles.

Don’t do that to yourself. Keep your marketing and effort consistent this year. Get your marketing materials in order today. We can help!

 

What’s the biggest mistake you see in real estate? Share in the comments!

 

This post originally shared on PrinterBees' Real Estate Marketing Magazine.

Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Excellent tips...required reading!!

Feb 05, 2019 01:24 PM
Nadine Larder

Thanks Li, I'm glad you liked it! 

Feb 07, 2019 10:08 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Really enjoyed you 5 tips of what not to do in Real Estate.  Very effective and yes, I chuckled a bit too, so it was educational and entertaining!  Thank you Nadine Larder  

Feb 06, 2019 06:09 PM
Nadine Larder

Wow, thank you! What an amazing compliment! I'm so glad you liked it. :-) 

Feb 07, 2019 10:08 AM
Rosemarie Zuleta
TurnKey Real Estate - Great Neck, NY
RZuleta

Thanks for this awesome informations. This will help me a lot in venturing in this new career.

Feb 06, 2019 07:22 PM
Nadine Larder

You're welcome! I know you'll be amazing. 

Feb 07, 2019 10:08 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Great post - and you gave me some giggles. First I thought about some people I know who have ONLY book smarts. Ask them to use common sense and they're lost.

And then the photos. One of my early real estate instructors talked about not wanting to meet someone at the airport and having them ask if they were there in place of their granddaughter.

I also thought about the time a few of us took advantage of a "free sitting" at a photo studio. We went in and the hair and makeup people got us all ready for the shoot.

We got one free print with the sitting - and that's all I got. I looked just like I expected an aging "madam" would look. My secretary, being much younger and prettier, looked like a film star - not appropriate for a business card, but her husband liked the free print.

Feb 06, 2019 08:51 PM
Nadine Larder

Hahaha, great stories! Thanks for sharing Marte!

Feb 07, 2019 10:09 AM
Anne Corbin
Long and Foster - Lake Anna - Spotsylvania, VA
Serving Lake Anna & Central Virginia

I had an agent in my office who didn't want to use photos at all because she wanted to hide her age. She was concerned it wouldn't bring her business. I remember meeting an agent in South Carolina that was an AR referral for my daughter. She didn't look anything like her picture when we met! LOL

Feb 07, 2019 07:14 AM
Nadine Larder

LOL! You have to own who you are and how you look - after all, to do business people have to meet you!

Feb 07, 2019 10:09 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

These are all great for newbies and reminders for the rest who have been at it a while.  Consistence is the one thing I'm working on right now, which i'm hoping will pay off.  Great list!

Feb 07, 2019 01:41 PM
Nadine Larder

Consistency always pays off - but most folks don't stick around long enough to find out! Go for it - I know you'll do great! 

Feb 08, 2019 01:48 PM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

I am especially fond of the tip about sharing your business--and be enthusiastic about it!  When you love your job, others see that--and it reflects well on you.  

Feb 10, 2019 09:49 AM
Nadine Larder

Absolutely! I love sharing about what we do at PrinterBees!

Feb 13, 2019 02:47 PM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Great tips and a timely reminder about updating your personal picture. I've been remiss about that and your post just reminded me that I should get a newer picture of me so prospects and clients will recognize me. I'll have to get new biz cards, stationary and update my websites.

Feb 11, 2019 12:53 AM
Nadine Larder

Go for it! We'd love to help - we even have a coupon on our website! Check it out: www.printerbees.com.

Feb 13, 2019 02:47 PM