Every time I speak to someone about my business and career, it always comes up that “they’ve thought about getting into real estate” or know anyone who has. With so many people thinking about getting into property, and getting into property – why aren’t there more successful Realtors on the globe? Well, there’s only so much business to bypass, so there can only just be so many REALTORS in the world. Personally i think, however, that the inherent nature of the business enterprise, and how different it is from traditional careers, makes it difficult for the average person to successfully make the transition into the Real Estate Business. As a Broker, I see many new agents make their way into my office – for an interview, and sometimes to begin with their careers. New REALTORS bring plenty of great qualities to the table – plenty of energy and ambition – however they also make a large amount of common mistakes. Here are the 7 top mistakes rookie REALTORS Make.
1) No Business Plan or Business Strategy
So many new agents put almost all their emphasis on which PROPERTY Brokerage they will join when their shiny new license comes in the mail. Why? Because most new Real Estate Agents have never been in business for themselves – they’ve only worked as employees. They, mistakenly, believe that getting into the Real Estate business is “getting a new job.” What they’re missing is that they are about to get into business for themselves. If you have ever opened the doors to ANY business, you know that one of many key ingredients can be your business plan. Your business plan can help you define where you’re going, how you’re getting there, and what it does take for you to make your real estate industry a success. Here are Stop foreclosure in Connecticut of worthwhile business plan:
A) Goals – What would you like? Make sure they are clear, concise, measurable, and achievable.
B) Services You Provide – you do not desire to be the “jack of all trades & master of none” – choose residential or commercial, buyers/sellers/renters, and what area(s) you want to specialize in. New residential real estate agents tend to have probably the most success with buyers/renters and then move ahead to listing homes after they’ve completed a few transactions.
C) Market – who are you marketing yourself to?
D) Budget – consider yourself “new real estate agent, inc.” and write down EVERY expense you have – gas, groceries, cell phone, etc… Then write down the new expenses you’re dealing with – board dues, increased gas, increased cell usage, marketing (essential), etc…
E) Funding – how will you pay for your allowance w/ no income for the initial (at least) 60 days? With the goals you’ve set for yourself, when will you break even?
F) Marketing Plan – how will you get the word out about your services? The MOST effective way to market yourself is to your own sphere of influence (people you understand). Make sure you achieve this effectively and systematically.
2) Not Using the Best Possible Closing Team
They say the best businesspeople surround themselves with people who are smarter than themselves. It requires a fairly big team to close a transaction – Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Lender, INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL, Title Officer, Inspector, Appraiser, and sometimes more! As a Real Estate Agent, you are in the position to refer your client to whoever you select, and you should ensure that anyone you refer in will undoubtedly be a secured asset to the transaction, not a person who provides you more headache. And the closing team you refer in, or “put your name to,” are there to make you shine! If they perform well, you get to take part of the credit as you referred them into the transaction.
The deadliest duo on the market is the New Real Estate Agent & New Mortgage Broker. They gather and decide that, through their combined marketing efforts, they are able to take over the planet! They’re both focusing on the proper section of their business – marketing – but they’re doing each other no favors by choosing to give each other business. If you refer in a bad insurance agent, it might cause a minor hiccup in the transaction – you create a simple phone call and a new agent can bind the property in less than an hour. However, because it typically takes at least fourteen days to close a loan, if you are using an inexperienced lender, the result can be disastrous! You may find yourself ready of “begging for a contract extension,” or worse, being denied a contract extension.
A good closing team will typically learn than their role in the transaction. Because of this, you can turn in their mind with questions, and they’ll step in (quietly) when they visit a potential mistake – since they want to assist you to, and in exchange receive more of your business. Using good, experienced players for your closing team will help you infinitely in conducting business worth MORE business…and on top of that, it’s free!
3) Not Arming Themselves with the Necessary Tools
Getting started as an agent is expensive. In Texas, the license alone can be an investment that may cost between $700 and $900 (not considering the amount of time you’ll invest.) However, you’ll run into even more expenses when you go to arm yourself with the necessary tools of the trade. And do not fool yourself – they’re necessary – because your competition are definitely using every tool to help THEM.
A) MLS Access is probably the most expensive necessity you are going to run into. Joining your neighborhood (and state & national, by default) Board of Realtors will allow you to purchase MLS access, and in Austin, Texas, will run around $1000. However, don’t skimp of this type. Getting MLS access is among the most important actions you can take. It’s what differentiates us from your own average salesman – we don’t sell homes, we present the homes that we have available. With MLS Access, you should have 99% of the virginia homes in your area open to present to your clients.
B) CELLULAR PHONE w/ a Beefy Plan – These days, everyone has a cellular phone. But not everyone includes a plan that will facilitate the level of use that Real Estate Agents need. Plan on getting at the very least 2000 minutes per month. You want, and need, to be accessible to your clients 24/7 – not just nights and weekends.
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