Over my first couple of months in real estate I have learned volumes about marketing, about people, and about why I love this job. Here is a brief list of what I now know:
* You will never have as much time or money as you have marketing ideas in real estate. (Postcards, Farming, Networking, Trulia, Blogging, Buying leads, REOs, websites, expired listings, FSBOs, relocations, Foreclosures, one and on and on...)
* Ongoing contact with your database is priceless. (I just got a listing because the client felt her previous agent was not as driven as I am because I send her a lot of emails).
* If you ask everyone for what you want, you will be amazed at how many people are willing to give it to you. Referrals, training, listings. My faith in the kindness of others is constantly renewed in this career.
* Sellers sell to people, not contracts. Presenting offers in person is a dying art, but even a cover letter can make all the difference in the world when you are in a multiple offer situation.
* Good things come in small sales. My first-time home buyers who are very emotionally invested in their purchase are likely to be life-long customers and friends. These are often the most rewarding transactions.
* If someone calls to ask if you are accepting buyers and seller they are trying to sell you leads. (No offense to housevalues.com, realtytrac.com, getmyhomesvalue.com, and I'm really trying to sell you something.com, but I've only been in real estate for a couple of months and I can see they could all use a new sales-pitch).
* Real Estate is the most rewarding and challenging career. Over the last couple of months I have helped a couple find their first home together just before their wedding. I have helped a client get out of an apartment where the mold problem was so bad it was giving her daughter seizures. I have helped a family relocate half-way across the country into a rental site-unseen until we find them a new home to purchase. I am helping a client locate a home at an air-park to accommodate a client's plane. I have shown million dollar homes, and REOs that should be condemned. Over the last couple of month I have learned about marketing, and transactions, and legal issues, mortgages, foreclosures, and escrow. I have learned about people and most importantly I have learned about myself.
The most important thing that I have learned is:
* I will always have more to learn about real estate.
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