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96 Comments on Can a New Agent Make it in Today's Market?
Great Post! It is all about attitude in this business. If you want to suceed then you must stay positive and set goals! New agents need to realize it takes time and you cannot be afraid to beat the bushes. The business will not come to you. You have to go out and GET IT!!!
I personally think that any "NEW" business takes time to get your name out and to build! It takes some time and being dedicated to it! It usually will work for you if you work!!
This is a tough business. The more you need the money, the tougher it is. The key is to have enough staying power to learn the business and make your contacts. Good post.
It can happen but it takes a special person with determination
I think a lot of people think this job is easy. I have never worked so hard in my entire life. I was a paralegal for twenty plus years and I thought I worked hard. I didn't have a clue. I think a new agent can make it if they are willing to work harder and smarter.
As a new agent, it really helps reading about others experience. I'm going into my 3rd month in the Metro Detroit area, and was starting to get a little discouraged. I set a timeframe of 3 months for myself for my first transaction and am starting to realize I may need to extend that a bit. It is hard to keep a positive attitude 100% of the time.
Emily - I feel your pain. I returned to the real estate world last February after two years away and, even walking into a market I knew with a sweet sphere of influence I'd built over 12 years, it still took me a couple of months to see my first closing. It does take time and patience, neither of which someone attracted to a commission-based career is usually comfy with! I know I'm not! My best advice is to be out there in the world every chance you get looking at real estate, talking about real estate (without a salespitch, of course), learning about real estate. I find that even now if I'm not focused on the real estate sales part of my life, it quiets WAY down... And when I say "focus" I mean positively... not frantically wondering what I'm doing wrong!!!! (yep, I have those days, too)
A positive attitude is a must, but there is so much more to be successful in this business, especially in this market. I believe that you must have goals and a plan. I have all my Agents write their goals down at the beginning of the year. However, I don't want just a number, I want a plan on how they intend to reach that number. Most Agents, in fact most business people, don't have a solid plan for their business.
On top of that, I believe in finding a program that will work great for you. That was my purpose in starting The eHomes Realty Network. It gives Agents who need guidance on how to make it in Real Estate. It also guides Agents how to use the Internet to be successful. When I first started in Real Estate back in 2001 I didn't know a soul in my area. By implementing an Internet program, you can virtually go from no business to a successful business in a matter of a few months. My average new Agent is making money within 3 or 4 months and then after their first year they are doing great. It's a process and not a get rich scheme, but it works. If you have questions on how to get started in Real Estate, drop me a note and I'll be glad to help!
I really think this is the time for a new agent to learn. If you can learn and make it in this market you will be the best in a good market
Being a positive person is great and a necessity. However in this market, you better have a sound idea of what you are out to accomplish. For me, 25 years ago, my broker owner told me I needed to specialize in something that I found motivating. For me that was mulit-family projects i.e. condominiums, conversions and town home projects. I started in a geographic are that I knew (close to home) where I could spend a large amount of time researching, door knocking, and finding out what developers were up to.
As time went on, I went to the core of the city of Seattle and found an office that was centrally located. I split my time focusing on projects near my home and near my office. For me that was the key to longevity. I had a specific business plan, in which I had written how much money I needed to make. I broke it down by month and then factored in how many construction sites I would have to knock on to get one listing. I had a plan and worked it. It helped me focus and stay motivated. I learned everything I could about zoning, design, architecture, what was selling and what wasn't.
After several condo projects I gained more confidence. I never stopped prospecting which is crucial. I also hooked up with a person who had a similar philosophy and business and we formed a team. From there it simply took off. But we never gave up on setting goals and a business plan every year.
For agents in this market, you have a great opportunity. Many agents without a firm and set plan, will go away and leave the business. Too many agents in the last 5 years have been order takers, not sales people. Get the best training possible for sales skills. Be diligent and never give up. Most important though is that you see the business thru the eyes of your clients. Know how they feel, what they want and expect. Have those issues addressed in your marketing proposal ahead of time. AND always review your goal every week!
....."Blog. Blogging is a long-term prospecting strategy. If you want to become a specialist in your market or in certain property types or certain client types, get blogging about them TODAY. In a year, you'll be glad you did."
I plan on being in real estate for the next ten years---that is why I started bloging (just three months ago and hoping this works)! Thanks for this post!
Thank you for the blog. I'm a new agent of about a month and a half and its hard to sit around and stare at the walls sometimes. I'm trying though!!!
How long have you been in Denver? I grew up in colorado and boy do I miss it!!!!
Brittney - I've been in Colorado since 1994; moved here from San Francisco. Yep - it's a great place to live! KEep me posted on your successes, k?
You will never go wrong with a positive attitude!!! Hanging around people with the same drive, dreams and attitude will also help you go a long way.
Good Topic. Good Presentation. In my fifteenth year, but my daughter just finished first year in a tough market. She did great! She prospected, prospected, prospected. She has an upbeat attitude. She is liked by virtually everyone she comes in contact with. She also bartends three nights a week, which was great for contacts. She uses e-mail, Face Book, texts, and communicates with her database every way possible and whenever possible.
It is VERY POSSIBLE to do well if you work it.
Dave Culbertson
Broker/Owner
Real Living Home Team
1485 Yauger Road, Mt. Vernon, OH
ph: 740.393.3777
cell: 740-485-1641
fax: 740.393.1369
RealLivingHomeTeam.com
What is that old saying.....Sometimes we have to stand in the rain to see the rainbow!
Jennifer, thanks for blogging about a subject that's very close to my heart. I've been in the business just under 2 years and expected to be able to support myself more comfortably by now. It's definitely a difficult time to start and you are very right that it's not a step to take lightly. However, I adore what I'm doing and know in my heart that in the coming years I will be able to make a go of it!
One thing you didn't touch on is that every Rookie needs to be prepared to network like crazy! That's something I neglected at first, but I have since realized the importance of just putting yourself out there constantly.
Thanks again for a great and timely post!
Jennifer, great job with your post...as usual. I am also one of the newer agents in town with less than 2 years in. It is doing what I asked for after retiring. It's just not doing it fast enough or with any consistency. That is part of having the financial cushion to help out. It's difficult to get established but it is well worth the effort.
Thanks for this post. I really needed to hear it right now. It just strengthens my resolve to get out there and do the work that I need to do!
I'm teaching real estate licensing courses here in PA at Penn State. Most of the people who sign up for these classes have NO CLUE what they're in for, or what this job is all about. I tell it like it is. I not only teach the material and how to pass the test, but also inject info about what it means to be a realtor! What our days are like. What happens during a deal, how to interview at broker offices, etc. It's a HARD JOB. It's not all fun and games, and when they walk in on day 1 I think they have no clue at all what it's really like.
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