It’s a misconception that selling real estate is easy – that being a rockstar real estate agent means all you have to do is get your license, print some business cards, and Poof! You are earning big bucks instantly. All you have to do is list properties, sit back and enjoy the cash. Easy isn’t it? Except when real life gets in the way.
New real estate agents seem to be falling into two distinct camps. Either they’re overconfident, sure they’ll make six figures in their first year, or they’re nervous, positive no leads will ever come through. Neither is true—because the real secret is simple. If you want to be an agent, be prepared to put in the work.
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No, getting your real estate license is not that difficult. It simply means that almost anyone can do it. But getting licensed doesn’t automatically make you a successful real estate agent — or make any money. So, how do you get that coveted rockstar status? Here are several real estate agent tips—plus some tips from clients—to boost your real estate career into the stratosphere.
While a real estate license is not required by all investors, some consider it an essential part of their investment strategy. But getting your license can be a lengthy process, involving coursework, exams and background checks — and of course, you’ll need to find a broker. Learn more about what separates the average agent from the great one and get all the details on how to get your license with our in-depth guide: How to Become a Real Estate Agent – An Investor’s Guide.
1. Answer the phone (or risk missing out on real estate leads)
I am licensed in Colorado. I’m an investor, and I’ve been buying homes since before shit was invented. I have made my share of phone calls to real estate agents… yet each time, my call goes straight to voicemail.
Yes, there are times when you are unable to answer your phone. I get that, and it’s okay to leave a message if you’re really busy. but almost without fail, I get a Immediately Called back—and about 99 percent of the time, the agent didn’t hear my voicemail.
Rockstar real estate agents answer their phones. Having a quick-response record means that past clients will refer you to their friends, who may become new clients – and those referrals are the lifeblood of successful agenting.
2. Return Email
Because the not answering phone thing is so prevalent, I’ve since turned to email. I wake up very early, and don’t want to wake anyone up Other Above. Every morning, while I’m sipping my coffee I sit down and do email. I hit send, then crickets.
Nothing. No reaction – rarely. More often than not, my email gets ignored. What if I were a potential home buyer? Those agents just lost a lead, especially since so many of today’s buyers and sellers are looking to do business with digital natives.
My neglected email prompts a phone call, voicemail, and (surprise, surprise) an immediate callback, where the email recipient claims they never received the note. breath.
Set up an agent-specific email address—nothing looks less professional than it does [email protected]-And review your inbox every day. Answer everything every day.
3. Build a Killer Business Plan
“To become a rockstar agent, you need a strong business and marketing plan. Don’t be afraid to think out-of-the-box and actively promote yourself through networking, social media and target marketing,” Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, says Chris Dixon, a real estate manager at The Preferred Realty.
Great advice, Chris. I would add: while every property is different, there are a lot of similarities. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel with every new listing. Come up with a killer marketing plan. This should include social media and more traditional methods, such as newspapers, direct mail and open houses. Not everyone is online, and you want to reach as many people as possible—especially if your competition only targets online markets.
4. Have an Online Presence
It comes along with your killer marketing plan. John Lyons Real Estate’s John R. Lyons says, “Master social media and leverage your videos across all social platforms. The more exposure and good content you produce, the better the market’s perception of your business.
Ryan Fitzgerald of Raleigh Realty attributes their success to their “…commitment to technology and online marketing strategies”. “While other companies are wasting time with paper ads and TV commercials, I am on every Facebook newsfeed between six and nine in the evening, when people are most likely to be searching for homes for sale. We use Facebook ads to capture traffic and retarget traffic capturers with branding through the retargeting pixel so that they continually see my brand.
He continues, “Today we are driving about five new leads a day from our website, with a 20 percent increase in traffic almost every month! If you want to be a superstar real estate agent, you must have an incredible work ethic and master a lead generation strategy that works for you! For me, that was online marketing.
Pay attention to Google as well. Write SEO-relevant blog posts and update your Google search listing to stay top of mind for local searchers.
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5. Listen to the needs of your customers
“My most important advice would be to listen to your customers’ needs and work towards helping them achieve those goals. Many agents are more concerned with their own financial gain or success. They take the time to listen to their customers with the understanding that coming from a place of helping and educating them to accomplish their goals with compassion, honesty and ethics will bring you the success you seek Are. recommends Peter Boskas, broker and principal owner of Red Cedar Real Estate.
6. Build Your Customer Relationship
Christopher Levitt of Douglas Elliman Real Estate says his focus on client relationships is what makes him a superstar real estate broker. Even with his busy schedule, he always takes out the necessary time to talk to his clients. One of the ways to do this is to never rush your customers when it happens to them. He also takes every opportunity to learn. It doesn’t matter if it’s a $5 million house or a $50 million house – Chris never skimps when his prospects require him to. Chris checks in with his customers regularly and believes in the philosophy of one customer, one customer always.
7. Know Your Local Market
Ben Bakal of Rodeo Realty says, “You have to be knowledgeable about the areas you work in. answer. Don’t focus on dozens of neighborhoods. Conquer one, two, then move on to the next. It takes years, not months, to build an empire. Have patience and endurance.
Colin Bray of Century 21 Cityside wholeheartedly agrees. He suggests, “Preview the property. Knowledge is power. Know your specific market. Who are the other top agents, developers and buildings with amenities? What new restaurants are coming up in the area? Public transportation and the school system?” “
Knowing your market doesn’t just mean knowing the housing market. You must understand the entire real estate industry, including everything that affects the housing market.
8. Establish an Amazing Work Ethic
“If you want to be a superstar agent, you have to work harder than any other agent. If you’re not dreaming about the deals and clients you work for, whether it’s a nightmare or a fantasy , you’re not working hard enough,” says Bakal.
Bray agrees, saying, “A superstar is defined as a high-profile and hugely successful performer or athlete. Perfect! How does an athlete become a professional?” whyEar Practice and discipline. This is why very few agents are successful; That’s why it’s so difficult to be a professional athlete.”
9. Treat Your Business Like a Business
“You are a real business, which means you have to promote yourself and your brand, your name, your expertise, and your success and accolades everyday, and when you stop doing that, the business stops. Money It costs you money like any other business to build. If you want to be an agent only by referral, you don’t have a real day-to-day business full of escrow and moving deals,” recommends Bakal.
This is actually the most important—and the least followed. Many new agents don’t understand that being a real estate agent is not the same as running your own business. This Is Owning Your Own Business: A Real Estate Business. You are a business owner. (Congratulations!) Yes, you hang your license under your employing broker. Perhaps you also have quotas to stay at the agency that you need to meet. They may even provide you with leads. But this is your business, and you are 100 percent responsible for your success.
Work at it part time, and you’ll get part time results. Work on it full time, and treat it as a business to get the best and most profitable results.
Connected: Newbie Agent 101: How to Choose a Real Estate Brokerage
Bonus: 10 Quick Tips from a Client
But what are your customers looking for? Jordan Wiersz, CEO of Savant Investment Partners, shares everything he looks for in an agent. Key points of his advice:
- Don’t pre-judge your customers or potential customers.
- Spend time with them in person.
- Even if you are a kick-butt agent with a lot going on, never have an “entitled” and “boastful” attitude that you have all the good deals – and if an investor wants good deals If so, they need to peck at you.
- Don’t “sell” them on deals. You may think that your job is sales, but it is not. Your job is to be trustworthy, smart and transparent.
- Always, always, always communicate promptly and very well.
- Do more than “your job”. go the extra mile. Help find and coordinate contractors, do your best to find those who do good work at a fair price, and show the investor that even though your commission is earned, you are their “partner” and care about them Just doing as you do yourself. This is called integrity.
- Until you become an investor (if you are not already one), you will never really understand how difficult it is to make a good return on your money. There’s an old saying, “Take care of the money, and the dollar will take care of itself.”
- Do not give yourself or any other investor a preference.
- Express gratitude for the business and relationship.
- Know that not every “big investor” relationship is a match made in heaven. Over time, you will get to know that investor, develop a relationship with them, and sometimes, unfortunately, you will discover that their expectations and treatment of you are not right for you.
Any agent can list a property on the MLS. Any agent can write an offer. But just having “someone” agent isn’t going to get you referrals and repeat business which is the difference between a license and a rockstar reputation.
Connected: Real Estate Investors: Should You Become A Real Estate Agent?
Are You A Rockstar Real Estate Agent? What do you do that sets you apart from your competitors?
Let me know with a comment!
Note by BiggerPockets: These are the views expressed by the author and do not necessarily represent the views of BigPockets.
