When I moved to the Bay area, I was literally jobless, homeless and friendless --- a trifecta of challenges. Having just been involuntarily retired (laid off) from a cushy corporate position, I was adrift in a sea of indecision. My love of architecture prompted me to be a realtor, at a time when it seemed that everyone wanted to be in real estate!
Starting as a realtor with no experience was daunting. But there were folks who helped along the way, and this is how.
Gallagher & Lindsey REALTORS based in Alameda CA, the company I joined at the height of the market, offered classes to would-be realtors, and brought us into the fold even before we took our test.
What they did for, and gave us
- Agent development team who managed our training program
- Guest speakers who held classes on a variety of topics including, but not limited to:
- Basics of writing an offer
- Strategies on writing a good offer
- How to read a preliminary title
- What to look for during a home inspection. A pest inspection.
- Government compliance (in our city, it's sewer lateral and gas cut off valve)
- Basics of using the MLS --- posting, searching, classifying
- Basics of mortgages, loans and preapprovals
- Farming
- Quizzes to prepare us for our Real Estate Principles test
- Included us in company events, including the annual Christmas party for agents
- Caravan of newbies going on brokers' tours to get us familiar with the market and how agents promote their listings (it also enabled us to meet other agents --- and this was a real education in itself!)
Having this background enabled us to hit the ground running as soon as we passed our test and got our license.
And in our early days as REALTORS, the seasoned agents helped us by
Inviting us to do open houses with them and giving us pointers on how to do it- Showing us the importance of sign directional placement (and where NOT to place the signs where they would block the crosswalk, for example)
- Answering thousands of questions
- Guiding us when posting listings, and pointing out how to avoid MLS violations
- Sharing tips and tricks of the trade that include having a list of resources such as reputable lenders, helpful title company reps, etc.
- Guiding us when we wrote our first offers, and reviewing what we did
- Showing us how to maximize opportunities for up-calls during floor time
- Giving us feedback on our listing presentations --- and even coming with us for our first presentations for moral support
- Providing key information to include in our presentations
- Serving as cheerleaders when we needed it
- Telling us their own experiences --- when they stumbled, and when they succeeded --- to let us know that we can and will overcome the challenges of being newbies
- Guiding us through an escrow, making sure we remembered key steps like contingency release deadlines
- Advising us on how to practice safety when showing property
Now that I'm more experienced, I am truly indebted for all the help I've received these last years, and will always endeavor to pay it forward. Not only do I help the older agents(particularly with using computer programs and software), I also help the newbies with their own challenges. Along the way, I've encouraged others to participate in new ways to communicate with their target audiences, like blogging.
Here's a big THANK YOU to people who helped, and continue to help us thrive. I am eternally grateful.
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