280,599
It's all about the client. Never act like something is too small or beneath you. Work your butt off. Put everyone in a data base and send them something monthly. Take every class you can. Save 1/3 of your commissions for taxes. Save part of the remaining commissions for an emergency fund. Live on less than you make. Other than that, this is a piece of cake!
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Marte Cliff
Priest River, ID
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Tammy Adams ~ Realtor ...
Maricopa, AZ
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
-
Eric Kodner
La Pointe, WI
-
Kevin Mackessy
Highlands Ranch, CO
-
Hajni Cheek
Walnut Creek, CA
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
-
Lindsay Reagan, Realtor
Wellington, FL
-
Ron Aguilar
Saint George, UT
1,432,649
Get my own domain name and e-mail address that will follow me when I move to a new brokerage. The other thing I would have done was picked my first broker better. I would not have focused on the commission split so much as training and leads provided by the broker.
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Marte Cliff
Priest River, ID
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Carla Muss-Jacobs, RET...
Portland, OR
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Velda Miller
Murray, KY
-
Hajni Cheek
Walnut Creek, CA
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
-
Gene Riemenschneider
Brentwood, CA
1,683,912
I wish I had started in my early 20's. Word of mouth is the best way to get business. Keep in touch with past clients, because they are your lifeline. You will end up with everone they come in contact with, that wants to buy or sell a home. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
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Lindsay Reagan, Realtor
Wellington, FL
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Frank Rubi
Metairie, LA
5,772,575
Treat your clients luxuriously regardless of the $$$ they are spending. This is their biggest purchase. A
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Marte Cliff
Priest River, ID
-
Eric Kodner
La Pointe, WI
-
Hajni Cheek
Walnut Creek, CA
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
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Lindsay Reagan, Realtor
Wellington, FL
3,988,007
Consider everyone a prospect. Don't give up ever and even when you are told no again and again. There is always a next time and your perseverance will win you new business.
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
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Lindsay Reagan, Realtor
Wellington, FL
3,986,258
Tell everyone you meet that you are a Real Estate agents and hand them a card. en the next time you meet them tell Them that you are a Real Estate agent and give them a card. when they have about 10 of your cards give them another one every other time. PEOPLE FORGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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Velda Miller
Murray, KY
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
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Lindsay Reagan, Realtor
Wellington, FL
1,027,602
Seriously, the one thing I wish I had known in the beginning was that it was OKAY to schedule nail and hair appointments and NOT feel guity when I wasn't available for clients. I got lucky and started off busy, which I was not expecting for which I was not quite prepared. I should have set up a database immediately. I should have figured out sooner I could order groceries at night and delivered when I was not home. Don't let the business run you - be sure to put yourself and your family first, and run your business.
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
1,767,614
Hi Ashley, the advice I wish I'd gotten when I first started out was this: "Never let go of a past client."
I wish I had started a database with the first client and kept mailing to them from then on. Most agents don't do this. In fact, Nina Hollander just wrote a post revealing that 91% of all agents don't follow up with past clients.
They can be your gold mine - but not if you let them forget you!
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
1,251,755
Hi Ashley Alred
Do not spend a lot of time advertising on bus benches, billboards, and in magazines. Instead meet the people, farm by walking or sending postcards and if you want to spend money advertising, do it on the internet.
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
1,466,207
Ashley, make sure you have a business plan set up for the year. More importantly, don't make one and forget about it. A business plan should be a living document and constantly updated with new goals and objectives as you progress through the year.
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
41,485
Don't ever trust what a lender says. Don't ever take on a lender as a partner in your projects unless your projects are in the multi-million dollar air. No matter how nice your contact at any lender seems. Always use private investors for small projects. If you can't find any, then pass on the project.
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
969,888
One of the lessons I tell all my agents today is to Market your self. Let the world know you are a Realtor. Here's another fact to keep in mind when your thinking this might not be for you. The average agent only closes 6 deals a year. So set your goal.
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
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Ron Aguilar
Saint George, UT
4,800,082
Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and make calls to everyone, whether you know them or not.
Get out in your community and let them know who you are and what you do.
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Frank Rubi
Metairie, LA
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
2,817,671
I think you'll find this article will come in handy. It really applies to most any business. This is from Lori Ballen, and I thought it was a great article.
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
243,701
Copy other high producing agents in your office. Research in detail what they do and how they lead generate. Google them and find every website they use. Try to find one or more of them to mentor you. In return for their help, you could offer to do open houses for them, and/or cover for them on their days off and/or vacations.
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Ashley Alred
Pullman, WA
57,915
Always have it on paper. You aren't their friend but their friendly prosfessional. Give them information and let them decide, always let them decide then document. Succces for me begins when I know they trust me. The answers I see here are really great. I'm in a meeting (at dinner with my family) have an appointment(getting my hair cut) are just as valid as showing homes and closings. After all you are running your business and your life!
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
38,154
921,504
The first thing would have been for you to define your business and create a plan.
The second thing would be to select the right broker(meets the only criteria that is of importance to you) whose mutually aligned interest to your pretends success.
The third thing was exploiting the resources you bring to get into the 90 day market.
The fourth thing was creating a 'how to get new business' strategy while cultivating your resources.
The fifth thing is revise your business plan to reflecting your existing reality.
The sixth thing is to identify your 'thing.' Hopefully something that delineates you but that is NOT so important. Chances are, whatever your 'thing' is you can out market those around you.(that comes up in a minute) If you notice all the BIG companies are only promoting one feature of the product whether it is 'name your price' or "I'll be there," or for the iPhone c, color skins. Pick the horse you want in the race and ride it.
The seventh thing, if your business is still not getting traction, give yourself an shot of adrenaline and spend the time to create a MODELING profile. No, this is not a new career, but a strategy called MODELING. (I would advise newbie agent to do this step number 3.) They will find themselves on par with their best agents in the area really, really fast.
As you can see, none of these 7 things are actionable without knowing the details. None of them may be applicable to you since little is known about your situation.
Above all, my advise to you, that you really, really, really need to take to heart is to be good to yourself. Make sure that in your life you have regular exposure to physical exercise, new experiences, educational growth, spiritual growth, social activity, and do not fall prey to the shame triggers that make women behave crazily. Be very slow to respond when the thought "I don't wanna do that' crosses your mind. It's a biggie.
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Shuchi Agrawal
Flower Mound, TX
7,836,134
Put everybody you know in your database and make sure they know that you will appreciate their referrals. Constant contact will keep you name at the top of minds.
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Robert Hicks
Savannah, TN
6,393,404
I had been playing in this game for 30 years before I became an agent, I had a good idea what I needed to do.
279,878
4,319,419
630,251
305,560
I think the key is doing something everyday and knowing that if you do it everyday it will begin to show a difference. - Specifically marketing. It takes time and we all "want it now". ... Good luck!
248,771
A part of every day requires prospecting for new Clients, and promoting yourself as a successful seasoned Realtor. Try numerous forms of prospecting, then narrow it down to 3 or 4 activites you look forward to doing daily to prosper your business.
359,046
Hi, Ashley...you sure are getting a lot of great advice here! Here's my two cents:
1. Create good work habits such as immediately entering contact information and notes into a database; planning the frequency that you will use to update all of your social media sites 2. Set up a schedule to make calls to your friends, family, past work colleagues just to say "how are you doing..." or "how has the winter been for you..." Then tell them you are a Realtor with (X) and do they know of anyone who is thinking of selling or buying a home. If they don't know of anyone right now, make a note on your calendar to ask them again in a few weeks. Tell them you value their referrals if they ask why you keep asking! 3. Always write a thank you note (by hand) to anyone who gives you a referral. Some people include a gift card with the note. I prefer to wait to see if the referral results in business and then follow up with a second note with a gift card included ($25 or $50, maybe...depends on size of transaction.) 4. As so many others have said, keep in touch with past clients. Once you've gotten to know them, ask them for the birthdays and anniversaries in their family. Tell them you want to be their REALTOR for all their future moves, too and you'd like to stay in touch. If they have a child graduating from some school, send a congratulations. You can drop off a pie at Thanksgiving, or make a donation in their honor to Toys for Tots at Christmas, etc. 5. Learn from every transaction. Ask yourself what you could have done better. Did you need to stay in touch with your client more frequently? What could you have done to make things go more smoothly. 6. Find a good mentor. Not every long time agent is a good agent or a good mentor. Find out who has good common sense, who is successful in your office, who is respectful in the way they speak about others (colleagues, buyers, sellers). 7. Learn how to do a great Listing Presentation. There may be agents in your office who will share their ideas, but if not, you'll find that information on ActiveRain. 8. Have your admin. or your broker right out the different stages in each type of transaction (selling and buying). 9. Never be afraid to tell someone you don't know but you will find out. No one expects us to know everything. When we're new agents, we're so fearful that someone will find out we know nothing. 10. Wishing you the very best!!
48,786
Ashley, thanks for posting this question. I've just learnt a great deal from all the answers myself. I'll echo almost all the comments. Debbie Gartner, thanks for sharing Lori Ballen's 43 steps. One thing I wish I would have focused on more is daily lead-generation - spending a few hours everyday doing something that would generate more leads so that I had a steady pipeline.
582,106
Build an online reputation for yourself and not just for your brokerage. That means working to build your own SEO and personal branding. If you spend all your time building SEO for the company and forget to market yourself, you will see the result when you change firms or go independent and realize you gave everything away in exchange for a desk and a few business cards.
1,562,386
Know what a fiduciary is. Know what representing a client is all about. You are in a legal relationship when representing a client. You are their fiduciary. Do you know what that means?
187,583
Start by developing a farm area and market there every month forever. If you are consistent you will own the area before long and it will be a constant source of new and repeat business. Do your research upfront to make sure it's a good area to farm and then go to town and don't stop.
750,057
As mentioned earlier, get your own email not the company one. Keep in touch with your past sales clients they repeat plus they have friends and relatives that will need your services at some point. At holiday time send "Seasons Greetings" or Happy Holiday" cards. Unless you know their religion these are safe ideas for cards.
870,537
Prospect, prospect and prospect....the key to longevity in this business
1,107,863
It's important to identify people who are knowledgeable and willing to take the time to answers your questions and give you guidance. Active Rain provides thousands of resources!
2,194,668
1,139,819
Work at finding the best way to get business. Be consistent, answer the phone at all times, and put in the hours and work needed. Step out of your comfort zone.
135,577
Start the relationship today, collect names and numbers, use a great CRM, send thank you cards, join local business clubs, put your name out at every occassion, leave business cards with local shop keepers, read books and talk to as many agents as you can to be connected!
557,375
Annette Lawrence has a concise list of do's that IMO is so essential for an agent to succeed. All the best to your success.
293,277
Many good replies that I upvoted. You are a Marketer 1st and a Realtor 2nd.