Keeping in the Game

today as a realtor (edit/delete)

keeping it real, having a career in real estate is certainly not for the faint of heart.  when i first got licensed in january of 2006, i was entering the field where it seemed that any home with a sign in the yard sold in 90 days.  wow.  i kind of missed that bus unfortunately. 

today it takes more than a lockbox, 1 digital picture and a steel yard sign to get the job done.  i really believe that it's down the bare basics now. 

1. get in front of people: "belly to belly" as I've heard it said.  meet people, network, pull in leads, and FOLLOW UP.  you need 3 times as many listing to make the same money you were able to make years ago. 

2.  price it right the first time.  back to my memories of when i first got into real estate.  as long as you were "in the ballpark" your listing would sell eventually.  now, you have to be vigilant and to the point when you set your list price.  i often joke with my sellers that i need a grief counselor to accompany me on my listing appointment now.  "i'm sorry mr. seller that you bought your house a year ago for $389000, but today it's worth $229,000."  that's a tough pill to swallow no matter what their needs or abilities are.

3. show your own listings!  get your buyers and show them your listings.  no one will sell your house like you can. remember that.  there is no place for a lazy realtor in this market!  point out the deal the buyer is getting, the advantages of your listing, location and key features.

4.  stay in the game. stay in the game!  if you have to chant it every morning at breakfast, do it!  you cannot and will not succeed in this career if you start to dabble in others!  if listings aren't selling the way you need them to, then go get more listings and price them right!  go pick up buyers and specialize in them! find a way to set yourself apart from the Realtors in your area and draw buyers to you.

5. the key is perseverence.  if you are able to survive this market then you will be standing heads and shoulders above the rest in your market share when the market rebounds.