Real Estate Sales Advice-Working Your First Deal

Hello Doug - obtaining your real estate license can be a combination of emotions.  Excitement as well as possible feelings of anxiety.  That's understandable.  While knowing others have felt the same way may not toss aside any fears, following the basics you have learned can help you move forward.  Good luck to every newbie.  

I was a real estate "groupie" for ten years before I was licensed.  Not only do I lean on my broker, but we sleep in the same bed every night.  I was prepared and never told the other agent I was new on my first deal, and I'm very confident no one could tell.

This is a good post with good information for a new agent.

Follow those guidelines and tweek them just for you and you will grow in this business.

Doug Rogers, this is such a helpful guide for new agents! For a #6, how about keeping detailed notes on all interactions and transactions? It’s a small but crucial step for staying organized and professional in the real estate business. 📝🏠 #AgentAdvice #RealEstateSuccess #StayOrganized

When I first got my license- I told my earliest clients that I was new- but not really. In the many year prior to changing careers into real estate- I worked in finance and simultaneously was serving on my condo board as Treasurer and later as President, so I knew a lot more than many experienced agents when I was newly minted agent, sans the sales aspect and some  procedural aspects. In my first sale ever (all cash buyer) - I later learned that she referred to me and her architect as "The Dream Team". I am still getting referrals from her 8+ years later without prompting. Among my earliest clients- I am still in regular touch with them, most are looking at transacting again (a few are already repeat clients), referring others, and sometimes looking for guidance.  The one "mistake" I made early on in a deal- I asked to join the listing agent for the meeting with the appraiser- a procedural faux pas that I wasn't aware of- the listing agent got extremely upset. When she calmed down a little- I told her that this was only my second deal and 1st financed deal and asked her to cut me a little slack...her jaw dropped. The reason why she got so angry was that she thought I had a decade plus of experience and that I didn't trust her experience. She then laughed- because I came across so knowledgeable in working with my clients (this is a complicated income restricted co-op) - that I blew her away prior to this- and she wanted to hire me. I declined but was flattered to have a co-broker already trying to recruit me after only closing one sale at that point. 

I think you lay out some great points.  Perhaps I would have avoided that blow up if I told that agent on my second deal that I was new to begin with- in a nod to your first point. Today- we both look back and laugh at that moment. 

These are great tips for newbie agents, Doug! I would add: document, document, document! Keep detailed records of all meetings, conversations, work done, houses toured etc., and #7: review all documents multiple times before presenting them to the client to sign. Learn to be comfortable summarizing paragraphs and know what every addendum is about. 

GREAT post!  Each of us can probably remember that "newbie" scenario in vivid detail.  It's scary and you just wnat to offer the best service and advice.  But that last part can feel daunting without experience. Your tips are spot on!  

This is such a refreshing take on starting out in real estate, Doug Rogers! Your insights are super helpful for newbies navigating their first deals. Thanks for sharing!

Being up front and honest is always good practice. I appreciate when a new agent is willing to learn and not act like a know-it-all.

Hi Doug- Love this and congratulations on the Feature!!! The tips you shared are spot on and ones anyone new to the business would do well to follow. 

Great tips and I might add confirm all information offered by the listing agent. We are human and humans are not perfect.

Hi Doug Rogers Great advice!  I have 5 agents and each one of them joined me fresh out of real estate school.  I love that because they learn how to do things MY way! 

I remember my first 2 deals very clearly in 1992 after getting licensed.  Both were buyers and (still) family friends. 

They knew I was a newbie and gave me their full trust!  One of them even waited until I had my license to buy their home. 

I sold both families multiple homes  and helped other family members over the years!

How did I do it?  By being honest...by working hard...by studying the current market...by so many things that I still use 33 years later.   

Thank you for sharing!

Great tips! we can all remember our first real estate deals! Mine was a FSBO, in Surprise Arizona! That ran out of time and needed an agent.  

These are great tips. My struggles early on were that I didn't know enough and I was afraid of not knowing the answer to every question. I learned that other agents and buyers, sellers, investors...etc would rather an honest "let me check on that" over a bunch of BS.  To the newbies get out there and don't be afraid of not knowing everything.  You will never know everything because they keep changing it.  Dealing with folks honestly and fairly goes a long way.

My #6, Doug Rogers, is LISTEN.

Too often we are tempted to step on sentences of our clients when we should be listening to them fully and then asking questions and listening to make sure we are understanding them correctly.