When you first obtained your real estate license, that moment meant a lot to you. You worked hard, you took your course, you passed your exam, and you found yourself full of enthusiasm. Sometimes, that enthusiasm can turn into a nervous feeling.
Every new real estate agent feels a flutter in their tummy when they think about getting started. You want to do well and achieve the goals you set for yourself the moment you decided to become a real estate agent.
You’re still learning, and you know how many new experiences and adventures are to come. These real estate agent tips for beginners will help new agents get off to a great start. They may also help agents struggling to find their footing see things from a new perspective.
1. Find the Right Firm To Work For
New real estate agents begin their careers at a real estate firm. They’ll work under an experienced and licensed broker responsible for assuring that deals are completed properly and real estate agents understand the nuances and ethics of the industry.
This firm is the first place you’ll gain hands-on experience working in the industry. Although you may feel eager enough to work for any firm that will have you, consider the long-term implications your first firm will have. It will set the tone for the best practices.
You’ll get the most essential guidance there. You may spend several years at that firm before eventually getting a real estate broker license and going into business completely for yourself.
Your firm should offer you resources, guidance, and mentorship. You should feel comfortable with the team you’ll be working with. The vibe of your firm matters a lot, and finding team members you can bond with will elevate your workplace.
Go in, ask questions, meet everyone, and understand how you’ll function in that working environment. Only hang your license there if you realistically expect to thrive.
2. Feel Confident in Yourself
Charisma and confidence are vital in the real estate industry. You’ll be working directly with people most of the time, and you need those people to believe in you and respect your authority. If you don’t feel confident in yourself, you’re not going to project the right message to potential sellers or buyers.
Celebrate obtaining your real estate license by purchasing yourself a few new outfits and a decent pair of shoes. Get a great briefcase. Dress and accessorize in a way that appears professional but also showcases your personality.
If you like brightly colored ties, color-blocked blazers, or large ornate necklaces, wear them. If you feel like your outfit is your superhero costume, you’re dressed the right way.
The second part of your confidence comes from the way you speak. You may want to practice explaining common real estate concepts and ideas. Buy your friends or family members a drink or order takeout and ask if they’ll be your practice clients. Let them ask you questions until everyone is tired of talking about real estate.
The more you explain things aloud, the more comfortable you’ll be conveying them to a potential lead.
3. Make Yourself Known to the World
Before you became a real estate agent, you likely noticed all the bus benches, billboards, and business cards your local competition uses to promote themselves. Now, it’s your turn to do the same thing.
A drive around town will give you a clear idea of what you’re up against. How do you make yourself stand out more than your competition?
A picture and a phone number are standard, but they don’t actually convey much about what makes a real estate agent special. You need to consider how you’re going to brand yourself memorably. Choose colors, a design, and a slogan that stand out in a meaningful way. Consider the things that matter most to you about real estate and how you’d like your clients to feel when they reach their end goal.
This will become your brand. You’ll use that brand for the advertisement of your services, as well as for your online presence. The key is to keep it consistent across all platforms. Your consistency will help people relate to you and thereby also trust you.
4. Start Close to Home
Generating leads is your primary responsibility. Without experience to lend to your word-of-mouth reputation, you’ll need to think outside the box to obtain your first clients.
Many real estate agents find it easiest to start close to home. They put feelers out with their friends, family, and former coworkers in hopes that they’ll stumble upon a potential lead in the wild and hand out a business card or two.
Don’t forget about the relevant business relationships you’ve already cultivated. If you’re happy with the person who provides your landscaping, pool service, electrical work, plumbing, or home repairs, they’re a valuable way to reach out to the community.
Exchange business cards with these professionals. They’ll likely encounter someone who is contemplating selling their home. You may encounter homeowners who want to spruce up their property with the services these professionals provide. You can recommend them, and they can recommend you. Everyone wins, and your network of potential leads will constantly expand.
5. Create a Schedule That Works for You
Real estate agents get to make their own schedules, and there is no sole “right way” to go about doing this. As long as your priorities are in the right order, you can work whatever hours you please. You may change your hours and schedule depending upon the needs of a client you’re working with, mirroring your availability in order to facilitate communication.
Talking to potential clients is always the most important thing you have to do. Even if it’s all you do for an entire day, you’re on the right track. You need to establish a rapport with leads before they turn to another agent, which they will most certainly do if they find you’re difficult to get a hold of.
Everything else revolves around the way you like to do things. Once you understand the full scope of your daily responsibilities, create an itinerary you can follow most of the time. This will ensure that you stay up to date and productive at all times.
6. Automate Everything You Can
You’ll have a lot of plates spinning at any given time. It’s hard to carve out daily time to send out email newsletters or make social media posts. Writing and scheduling your posts and weekly mailings will make your life easier. You won’t need to worry about coming up with something new to share every day. Just pick one night a week to knock it all out at once.
Everything will post or send itself. All you need to do is be available to respond to comments, phone calls, or emails that come in as a result of your posts.
7. Become a Better Communicator
The secret to succeeding in nearly any industry is communication. Knowing when to talk and when to listen is the key to becoming a master communicator.
You may have buyers or sellers that aren’t sure what they want. Keep asking them questions until you have a realistic idea of the end goal they have in mind. When you have all the information necessary, tell them what’s possible.
Every time your phone rings, treat it as an emergency. People want a real estate agent who is available to answer all of their questions and keep them up to date on their situation. They have big plans and a lot of money involved in the sale or purchase of a property, and they want to see that their agent treats the situation as seriously as they do.
You’ll encounter many situations where a complex problem or contract needs to be explained to someone with no prior experience or knowledge of the situation. A great communicator can break down complicated concepts into simple, bite-sized pieces that a newcomer can easily digest. This is something you’ll need to practice and refine as you go.
8. Never Stop Learning
While experience and mentorship can do wonders for your career, they aren’t a replacement for a commitment to learning. If you want to become the most knowledgeable real estate expert in your community, consider real estate coaching.
Harris Real Estate University is a comprehensive way to train your brain in the art and science of real estate. Agents are paired with Harris-certified real estate coaches who help them identify their strengths and weaknesses while holding them accountable for reaching their personal goals.
Try a free coaching call to see how continued learning will help you reach your full potential as a real estate agent.
Sources:
Forming Stronger Bonds with People at Work | Harvard Business Review
Dress, body, and self: research in the social psychology of dress | Fashion and Textiles | Full Text
How To Brand Yourself Authentically In Six Simple Steps | Forbes
