Long ago, or maybe even less than a year ago, you decided you want to become a Realtor. You found a Real Estate School, paid your money, learned about the test, passed the test and then what? Did you search for a mentor? Hit the library for real estate books? Find Active Rain and read every article as fast as you could so you didn't make mistakes that others have made over and over? That's a start.
During the two weeks of pre-test classes I learned that once the majority of my classmates passed the class and test they were on their own. They would be left to find their way to success in a hectic real estate business. The image that comes to my mind is of someone standing still in the atrium of a professional building while people are rushing by, some knocking into them, with their own business agenda.
I, on the other hand, was lucky that my office offered free in-house classes. I knew this before I signed up for to be a Realtor. We were able to sign up for phone etiquette which taught about turning call into an eventual sale. We also had the opportunity to learn how a closing works which was taught by our adjacent title company. The open house class helped us prepare for what Sunday might bring. There were series classes on buyers and sellers. Our office offered so many more classes that helped out every agent from new to seasoned. I took every class I could and kept notes on them all. I have found these classes to be an extraordinary help. What agent had the time to teach me all of this while running their own business? Not to mention that I would not have time to learn all of this on my own. I did have one agent that was in the business only a short time ahead of me and had passed on knowledgeable information and allowed me to shadow her on a few open houses.
Along with the classes, our office has books and dvd's we can check out to to keep us abreast of the happenings in real estate. Not all offices are created equal. The real estate business is every woman/man for their self.
How did you learn what you know? I am sure there is always the good old trial and error that all of us have experienced.
- If your office doesn't offer classes like mine, check to see where you can learn what you need to get you through the first couple of sales.
- If you didn't network in the pre license classes, you should have. If you did, connect with those that are on the same timeline as you.
- Your local library should have some books you can borrow that other Realtors wrote.
- Try to find another newbie at your office to partner up with and share information with.
- Maybe you are a smooth talker and can get a seasoned agent to allow you to shadow them.
- No matter how long you have been a Realtor, it is never a bad idea to learn something new. Update your skills!
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