Do you want a career that provides you with a great salary, plenty of flexibility, and tons of room for growth?
If so, then you may want to consider becoming a real estate agent.
Real estate agents often are able to set their own hours and scale the number of clients they talk on to suit their lifestyle and income needs. As a real estate agent, you also get to enjoy the satisfaction that comes with helping clients find their dream home!
Read on to learn everything you need to know about becoming a real estate agent and achieving real estate success.
What Does a Real Estate Agent Do?
In order to be a great real estate agent, you first need to have a good grasp on the key components of a real estate agent’s career.
In a nutshell, real estate agents work with clients to help them sell their home and purchase a new one.
Sounds pretty simple, right?
There’s actually a lot that goes into this process.
Real estate agents handle the majority of the heavy lifting that comes with moving. This includes:
- Meeting with sellers and buyers
- Listing houses
- Searching listings for homes that meet specific requirements
- Planning showings and setting up appointments
- Showing properties and explaining property details
- Negotiating the price of homes
- Making offers on purchases
Real estate agents have to do a lot of research to stay up to date on the latest market trends, too.
Many agents also run their own business and have to handle all the responsibilities that come with this ownership, including managing a budget, handling marketing and advertising, managing employees, and networking.
How to Become a Real Estate Agent
The process of becoming a real estate agent is pretty straightforward.
First, you need to be at least 18 or 19 years old (this varies depending on your state). You also must be a legal U.S. resident.
Each state requires a different level of pre-license education. Once you complete this education, you can take a real estate license examination. If you pass the test, you’ll be ready to start selling houses.
Eight Tips for Gaining Real Estate Success
Now that you know how to become a real estate agent, it’s important to know what you need to do to become a successful one.
These eight real estate success tips will help you set yourself apart from the pack and become a force to be reckoned with.
1. Work with Other Agents
There’s no rule that says you have to be a lone wolf to be a successful real estate agent. In fact, partnering with other, successful agents is a great way to make more sales.
This is especially true when you’re first starting out. Partnering with another agent can help you learn the ropes and avoid losing clients to more established agents.
Remember, it’s worth splitting a commission if you get a chance to make a sale and gain exposure to potential new clients.
2. Respond Quickly
The better you are at responding to phone calls, emails, and text messages, the more likely you are to gain and retain new clients.
People have short attention spans these days. If you don’t respond as soon as possible, they’re going to move on to someone else.
Utilize a variety of communication channels, including video options like Skype or Facetime, and let your clients know that you’re always available to respond to questions or concerns.
3. Host Lots of Open Houses
Hosting open houses allows you to make contacts with potential buyers and sellers. You also get to familiarize yourself with specific neighborhoods and the people who live in them.
There’s also no investment required when it comes to hosting an open house. This is great for people who are just getting started and aren’t working with a very large budget.
4. Never Turn Down a Buyer or Seller
When you’re first starting out in the real estate world, there’s no such thing as a bad client. Even if you’re not going to get a very large commission, accept anyone who wants to utilize your services.
You might not make a lot of money from that particular sale, but those clients might end up sending lots of future clients your way. And, if they’re happy with your work, they’re more likely to reach out to you again when they want to buy another home in the future.
5. Stay in Touch with Past Clients
Be sure to stay in contact with your past clients, too. They’ll be more likely to turn to you when they need help in the future, and they’ll be more inclined to send their friends and family to you.
Social media is a great tool to help you stay in touch. You can also send birthday and holiday cards to make sure past clients keep you in mind.
6. Use the Right Tools
There are a ton of tools out there designed to make life easier for real estate agents.
Tools like Mailchimp, Agentbox, DocuSign, and Slack are all great to ones to utilize that help with lead generation, website management, and communication.
Make sure you have a great data plan, too, so that you’re never left without a connection.
7. Hire a Coach
Sometimes, it’s worth it to hire a real estate coach to help you get a leg up in the business.
Coaches can help you see a greater return on your investment and teach you the skills you need to gain new clients and earn better commissions.
There are lots of coaching options out there, from online coaching groups to in-person workshops.
8. Establish an Online Presence
Finally, make sure you’ve established an active online presence. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn are your friends.
In addition to having an active profile, you can also use these sites to join groups and get in touch with other professionals in your field.
Need Help Starting Your Real Estate Business?
If you keep these tips in mind, your chances of achieving real estate success will skyrocket.
Do you want to learn more about running a successful real estate business? If so, be sure to visit the business section of our site.
We’ve got all the information you need, from setting up your office to building an effective website. Check it out today!
