When the market is good, more people become real estate agents. When the market isn’t good, we lose agents to the Monday through Friday workplace. The agents that stay in the business through the tougher times understand what it is like to generate business.
However, when you’re new to the business or coming back to the business, the hard question is, “Where will your business come from?” If you’re a social media watcher, many agents make our industry look easy. And there are agents that you never see in social media that also make this business look easy.
In 2001, non of us were thinking we’d have our own personas online. Today, I can show you my business and how I work. I can hire photographer, take awesome photos and give the idea that I’m successful. Maybe it’s true or maybe, I’m “Faking it until I make it.” Don’t fake it. Share your journey on social media and provide awesome information!
For those of us that watch social media, you miss out on the behind the scenes of a REALTOR. For those agents that have a huge social following and are successful, many times you don’t see the late hours of paperwork catch up, email catch up, marketing work, follow up, showing homes, creating market reports and putting out fires. In addition to getting new business.
So, where will your business come from?
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The people you already know. Make a list with name, phone number, address, email address and social media accounts.
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If you’re new to the business you need to practice the business. Create a market analysis for your neighbor and practice the presentation. More than one neighbor. The benefit of doing this is when the time comes to list a home you’ll already have some level of comfort when presenting to someone you don’t know.
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Go on broker open house tours. Learn the inventory available and practice using the lock boxes.
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Show homes to your friends. Don’t inconvenience sellers. Show vacant homes. This is not HGTV folks. Practice scheduling and using the lock box app or key.
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Walk your neighborhood and put doorknob bags on each door with community information, market updates and things to do in the area and ask for real estate business
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Have an event in your neighborhood. Not sure what to do? How about having the “Cup Cake” food truck at your house or the “Ice Cream”Truck. Give out free ice cream or Cupcakes. Become the neighborhood go to person. It took me 7 months to become the household name in 2001 when I started selling homes. Consistency works!
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Sit other agents open houses from your office. A great way to practice talking the “Real Estate Talk” and gaining new buyers.
- This is a relationship business. Keep building relationships.
Here is the key! You have to start somewhere. The hustle, working hard and networking is real. You must work if you want to be successful in this business. Don’t expect your company to give you business. You are in the entrepreneur business, so let’s get to work and build our real estate businesses.
Keep coming back for new agent tips! Follow me on Instagram for live shows on real estate. CarrieJolittle
