If you are a new real estate agent, you likely have some dreams about where you want to take your career and maybe you just don’t know exactly how to get there. Or, maybe it’s been a long time since you passed your real estate exam but are unsatisfied and ready to take your skills to the next level.
In this article, we will give you some real estate agent tips to keep in mind to make sure you reach your peak performance and your goals.
Commit yourself to being (or becoming) a real estate agent
Working in the real estate industry is going to be rewarding but will require a full commitment on your part. If you want to be a successful agent, you will need to give it your all, and yes, sometimes that may mean working long hours and long weeks, but it will be worth it! When you master your real estate skills, there will be no need for a side hustle or second job, but you need to commit now to fully becoming the agent you really want to be.
Strategize your career plan
Some people get successful through pure luck, but unfortunately, the chances of that happening aren’t really worth counting on. Rather, you will find the most success when you take steps to plan where you want to be, then create a strategy that will get you there. Remember: it is never too early to start strategizing.
Firstly, think about your ultimate career goals and keep them in mind for all your decisions. It’s also helpful to think about goals on multiple time scales. Short-term goals are quickly achievable and shouldn’t take longer than a month or two.
Medium and long-term goals should be kept in mind over longer periods, with shorter goals working to make the bigger goals a reality. If you set up your strategy right, your goals will fall in place like dominos, making each victory easier than the last.
And don’t just make up goals in your head. Write them down and hold yourself accountable for making them a reality.
Stay organized
In the course of your job, you are going to be dealing with hundreds of pieces of information – from different properties, client info, leads, and more. All this information is powerful, but it will be of no use if you can’t find it. Start early with maintaining organized records of everything. Develop good habits now and they will quickly become second nature.
There are apps and services you can use to help you stay organized and track your data. Something like a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform is a must for any real estate agent who wants to make lead generation easier, identify hot leads, and keep in touch with clients.
Get comfortable around people
Your social skills are crucial to your success selling real estate so you need to make sure you are putting your best face forward. If you tend to be a shy person, try to get out of your comfort zone and realize that it will help your success greatly. Your people skills will help you succeed when talking to clients on calls, at showings, at open houses, and more. And, great social skills will help you with this next tip on our list:
Make connections: with clients and those in the real estate industry
One of the biggest assets for a real estate agent is the connections they are able to make. Relationships with satisfied clients and business associates in the industry can result in tons of potential leads. These connections can lead to good reviews, referrals, and career opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to you.
However, don’t just connect with people superficially for the sake of how it can benefit you – authentic connections will prove the most rewarding of all.
Join or build a team
One thing is true for all of the most successful real estate agents: they didn’t get there alone. The best real estate businesses have a team of like-minded individuals around them who support each other to form a unit that is better than the sum of its parts.
For new real estate agents, joining an established team can fast-track your learning process and help you make those important connections. If you are already somewhat established, think about what building your own team can do to raise your business to new heights.
Establish your personal brand
There are thousands of real estate agents in the country and most clients don’t decide who to work with from a purely objective point of view. Rather, you should focus on brand building to create a personal brand that will attract the kind of potential clients you want to work with.
Your personal brand is all about projecting who you are, your appearance, your values, and your work style. Part of your personal brand may also mean creating brand visuals. Every real estate agent should have professional headshots and photography. In addition, a quality logo or brand identity for your real estate business can make you really stand out.
If you want to take your brand to the next level, consider working with a marketing agency to make you stand out as the go-to agent in your area. Advertising is well worth the money in the number of new leads you can generate as a result.
Take advantage of technology
These days, an agent without an online presence might as well not exist. Also, consider that the generation of tech-savvy millennials and Gen-Z make up an increasing percentage of home buyers. The future of real estate is online, and you need to get on it as soon as possible.
Your website
Firstly, you need a professional website for your services. This should clearly communicate to potential clients who you are, your values, your skills, and most importantly how they can contact you. You may even want to include an automated calendar where clients can easily book a call with you immediately. You can also include additional content like blogs or a photo gallery to make your site more appealing.
Digital marketing
Marketing yourself properly online can do huge things for getting your name out there, and the world of digital marketing has no shortage of different opportunities. Beyond running ads online you have options like featuring in online publications, hosting informative webinars, or running an email nurture sequence.
Social media
You should also seriously consider getting on social media. Social media is a different kind of marketing that can do a whole lot for getting your brand out there and help you generate leads. There are many different social media platforms you can get on, with a potential audience of millions just waiting for you.
Check out our real estate agent tips for getting started on instagram.
Make your listings stand out
Most potential buyers look at a listing online before ever deciding to go visit the home, so you need to make your listings stand out. One standard to do this is to have professional high-quality photography, but now many real estate agents are opting for video tours and virtual tours with 360° photography.
These new technologies are super convenient for the buyers and can generate a lot of interest for your properties. You can even integrate these with your website or social media to both create content and get more eyes on your listings.
Consider your niche
There are a lot of agents who have had great success working with a wide range of real estate types. However, a good strategy, especially for new agents is to choose a single niche that will be your primary focus for your business. Do you want to sell cottages? Commercial properties? Condominiums? Choosing one focus will help you build experience quickly and stand out as a knowledgeable expert.
Learn about your local real estate market and stay up to date
Once you choose a city to work in, it’s your job to become an expert in the area. Learn as much as you can about the properties in the area, their market value and the different neighbourhoods. Even try to expand your knowledge to surrounding areas that may be competitive with your own.
Finally, keep up to date on the local area through market statistics and other industry news. You should strive to always be in the know about what is happening in your area and the industry.
Always keep learning
You probably learned a lot about real estate when you studied for your real estate license, but your real estate education does not end there. A successful real estate agent should always be curious for new knowledge and should be constantly trying to learn more about their industry. Not only does this make your job easier, but it will give you an advantage over the less informed.
Work on your financial skills
The simple truth is most people work to earn money. You want to work hard so you can live the good life and retire early and comfortably. However, those benefits will be impossible if you waste all your money away. If you educate yourself on financial literacy, you can not only save tons of money but see it grow.
This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the rewards of your hard work now but save some for later and you will thank yourself. You should especially know something about investing, as there is a good chance many of your clients will be looking at real estate as an investment.
Share your tips
These basic tips should get you on a good track to becoming the best agent you can be! Have any tips of your own? Share them in the comments below to help other agents expand their knowledge!
</p.also,>