It’s no doubt that real estate has become a lucrative career for most entrepreneurs and salespeople. With high earning potential and flexible hours, being a real estate agent can be massively rewarding and very freeing.
Unfortunately, most agents never get past the five-year mark because they didn’t plan for success from the get-go. Success in real estate will largely depend on your drive. If you are interested in becoming an agent, here are the top tips for being successful.
Will You Be A Solo Agent or Join A Team?
The first thing you need to do is decide whether you will join a team or stay a solo gent. Both have their benefits and downsides; you have to carefully consider your decision. Real estate teams are agents who work together and share the commission. Most teams build their business based on internet leads and referrals; that’s why they expand quickly.
On the other hand, most agents are accustomed to working alone. Being a solo agent is mostly suited for new agents with passion and a solid business plan, and it also suits established agents. Using your plan, you can call your own shots and build a healthy client base.
Pros of Joining a Team
- A hands-on learning experience for new agents
- Faster growth and expansion
- More credibility in the local market
Pros of Being a Solo Agent
- You can pursue your ideas and goals
- Keep more commission
- It’s an opportunity for better personal branding
1. Establish a Marketing Strategy Early
Having a marketing plan before you begin will save you money and time in the long run. Use old-school marketing strategies and new technology to achieve your goals. If you can set up a successful marketing campaign as a new agent, you will be way ahead of the game. A marketing plan is the only chance of sustaining a business in these competitive times.
Consider real estate farming from the start. Farming is a marketing strategy that involves planting, cultivating, and nurturing leads that grow into a business. You should farm near your home because that’s where your connection to the community is the strongest. There is no excuse for not building customer relationships once you are in the real estate industry.
Ensure you get your client’s contact so that you can reach out later on. Once the deal is over, don’t turn your back on the customers. Your past customers can refer you to future clients, so keep in touch. Find ways to keep them engaged. Farming and nurturing customer relationships are the best way to spend time as a real estate agent.
Postcard marketing is one way of real estate farming. You can reach a targeted audience with direct mail and inform them of any special offers and other announcements.
Door-knocking is also effective because you get to know potential clients personally. Ensure you leave your contact information on every door you knock.
Host neighborhood events like block parties and use the occasion to market yourself. People are more likely to trust you with a massive purchase like a house after interacting with you.
2. Website/Blogging
Even if you rely on social media posts and referrals to get prospects, you still need a functional website. A website is great for branding and marketing. The site is where clients learn more about you and the services you offer. You’ve probably noticed how active property buyers are online. They start looking for houses and other information online before they call you.
You have to find a way of keeping your name at the tip of everyone’s tongue, and blogging is one way to do it. Talk about the most pressing, current, and trending real estate issues in your blog. They should always have helpful information. Blogging requires time and consistency. If you are too busy to do it yourself, hire someone to write content for your website.
That’s how you establish yourself as a credible source and an authority in the industry. Your search ranking will improve, and there will be a lot of traffic on the website. But that only happens when you have fresh, relevant content. Traditional marketing efforts might be expensive, but blogging is arguably one of the cheapest and most effective forms of marketing. Blogs are also the best way to brand your business.
The blogs on your website help you stay relevant. Every time someone wants to buy a house, they can find helpful tips on your page. Try to learn what clients need so that you can provide answers and solutions through your blogs. Real estate market trends change all the time; ensure you keep up with what’s happening at the moment.
3. Focus On Improving Constantly
Never get comfortable; always look for ways to be better for your clients and more desirable than your competitors. As you know, the industry is constantly changing, and it’s up to you to find new ways of converting leads. The art of real estate involves enticing new customers without sounding manipulative or greedy. Learn how to stay above the curve.
Read books or listen to audiobooks.
Real estate books can help you improve where you are lacking. Great books will help you refine your skillset, learn new strategies, and build better habits that help increase sales. Here are great examples.
- Real Estate Success In 5 Minutes A Day by Karen Briscoe
- Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller
- Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount
Invest in real estate coaching
Consider getting a mentor to keep you on your toes and accountable. If one-on-one coaching is not an option, consider online courses. Your couch can add you more tips on how to be a successful real estate agent and compete with the big shots in the industry.
Network with top-producing agents
Don’t be afraid to learn from your competitors. Successful agents have things they do differently that make them stand out from the crowd. They might not give you the secret sauce, but they can drop a few valuable hints. Learn from them and try to do better.
Final Thoughts
Focus on becoming a successful agent right off the bat. Starting a career will be exciting, but it’s not going to be easy. Real estate has a high-paying potential, which means there are thousands of agents struggling to get paid like you. You have to do things differently and stick to your plan to achieve success.
