When done properly, starting a career in real estate can be a rewarding experience. Whether it’s selecting the right neighborhood for your client, or finding the home of their dreams, you’re helping people. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Knowing how to market yourself, build relationships and maintain contact are vital areas that need attention during this initial period. They all contribute towards achieving leads and ultimately selling houses. As you dive into training, it’s important to focus on skills and best practices that’ll set you up for success.
With that in mind, here are some keys to success for new real estate agents looking for success in their new career.
Find a mentor for guidance
First and foremost, find yourself a mentor who you can shadow and learn from. This will help give valuable insight from someone who already knows the real estate business.
Ask your mentor about any strategies they may employ. Like proper time management and marketing techniques that will be invaluable when getting your real estate career off the ground. You should never underestimate the power of experience.
Develop your soft skills
Real estate is similar to customer service in terms of how much you will be interacting with clients. It's essential that your soft skills are up to par when dealing with customers. Chances are you’re helping them make the biggest purchase of their life.
You need to be a strong communicator as well as a fantastic listener. You’ll need to provide meaningful advice while interpreting what people tell you. All without coming across pushy or manipulative. When it comes to any sales job, the first thing you have to sell your customer on is yourself.
Establish connections
Networking is an essential part of being successful in real estate. As you progress in the industry, you will be dealing with all sorts of different people. From brokers and other agents to investors and inspectors. It’s important to nurture and build these relationships.
Keep their contact details safe as there may come a time when seeking advice could prove invaluable. Many agents receive referrals which just goes to show how important it can be to establish good rapport with colleagues.
Don't forget about buyers after purchasing either. Check up on them from time to time. Not only will they appreciate the thoughtfulness, but it could lead to new business.
High quality listing photos
Listing photos are the first thing a potential buyer sees when looking for a new home. In addition, a seller may want to take a look at your other listings before choosing you to sell their home. That’s why it’s so important not to cut corners when it comes to photography.
Low quality images can negatively affect their view of you and the home itself, which may cost you sales and leads. In some cases, like luxury properties, it may be best to bring in a professional. With any listing, you’ll at least want to use a high quality digital camera.
There’s no denying that smartphones these days take some excellent photos. Even so, they don’t compare to the ones the pros use, or even a reasonably priced standalone camera. While it may be tempting to just whip out your phone for a few pics, don’t do it. When it comes to real estate photography, it’s not worth it in the long run.
Learn the ins and outs of real estate contracts
Real estate contracts can be full of terminology that you may not understand right away. That’s why it's so important to do your research and find out what each one contains.
This includes timelines, financial terms and inspection details which are all essential for a successful transaction.
Ensure there is no confusion on either side by educating yourself thoroughly on the agreements your clients will be signing. They need assurance that their financial future and home owning experience will be in safe hands when dealing with you.
Don't skip the inspection
Agents often make the mistake of skipping home inspections, but this is a critical part of any real estate transaction. During these visits you will be negotiating on behalf of your client. What the inspector finds can have an effect on how much they’ll pay.
It's important to put these findings into perspective so that buyers know which problems need urgent attention. Things like faulty plumbing, insulation issues, or a cracked foundation need to be addressed immediately.
A home inspection helps to figure out how any necessary repairs will be taken care of. And maybe more importantly, who’s going to pay for them.
Develop an effective marketing plan
When getting started in real estate, it’s crucial that you’re able to market yourself. Sure, a broker will probably provide some leads, or maybe you’ll know somebody looking to buy or sell a home. To truly be successful though, you’ll need a way to generate your own business organically. You should be advertising on various platforms for maximum engagement.
Start with social media. It’s the fastest, easiest, and least expensive way to start. As a matter of fact, unless you pay for ads, it’s free. Follow the right accounts and pages, engage in conversations, and post often.
If you have the budget for it, think about investing in your own website. A broker might provide you with your own page on their site, but it just won’t have the same effect. Look for ways to improve your website’s visibility to search engines. Make sure it’s got some useful content.
Signs in yards and business cards are great, but those alone won’t cut it anymore. Without a doubt the internet has changed real estate and the ways you find customers. Take all the leads and referrals you can get! Just be sure you’ve got a strategy for building your own clientele.
In closing
When a new agent is starting out, learning the real estate industry can be daunting. And while it may seem overwhelming, using these keys to success will make the transition a lot smoother.
It’s been said that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So the question is, are you ready to take your shot?
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