Your first week as a licensed real estate agent will be busy! Your second week as a licensed real estate agent will be busy! So will your third and fourth weeks. Then it will get crazy. Hopefully for many years to come.
Seriously, you need to be crazy-busy right away to get you focused, build your momentum, and strengthen your organizational skills. When you’re self-employed, especially if you’ve never been self-employed before, it’s easy to procrastinate. If you’re an introverted detail-fanatic, you’ll be all over the organizational assignments, but balk when it comes to time to actually talk to people about real estate. If you’re not-so-shy, you’re probably dying to pick up the phone, but you’re a wee bit less enthusiastic about the detail work.
First Things a New Real Estate Agent Should Do - Daily Checklist
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1.
Monday
1. Build Your Sphere of Influence (SOI)
Begin by making a list of everyone you know, off the top of your head. Don't pre-edit the list–start writing down names. Every name you can think of. It's okay if you don't know or can't remember last names; the goal is to open your mind.
2. Get an Email Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number
Sometimes the difference between a $7,000 paycheck and, well, no $7,000 paycheck can be as simple as an answered (or unanswered) phone call. It would be best if you had a dedicated business phone with voicemail (your cell phone is fine) as well as a dedicated fax line and email address.
3. Order Your First Business Cards
The office manager at your firm will probably coordinate this for you. Just get some generic cards with your name and contact information on them. Nothing fancy for now. You can always improve them later.
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2.
Tuesday
4. Organize Your SOI with a Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Begin by making a list of everyone you know, off the top of your head. Don't pre-edit the list–start writing down names. Every name you can think of. It's okay if you don't know or can't remember last names; the goal is to open your mind.
5. Get a Photo Taken for Your Business Card
The truth is that you really do need to have your photo on your card. It doesn't have to be stuffy, though–feel free to include your dog, cat, or family if that suits your personality. A professionally-designed caricature can be very useful. You can have your photos professionally done, or you can have a friend take them with a high-quality digital camera.
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3.
Wednesday
6. Research Your Market
It may take years for you to become the expert on every neighborhood in your city, if ever, but you have to start somewhere. Ask your broker if he or she will take you out for an hour. For your very first previewing trip, we highly recommend that you accompany someone else to see how it’s done in your market.
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4.
Thursday
7. Learn Your MLS System(s)
The first system you must learn is your online MLS. You need to understand the MLS inside and out, starting now.
Accessing your local market's MLS for the first time will require the assistance of your office manager. Some MLS's require that you check out software from the local Board of REALTORS®; some require you to purchase the software, some provide a free download link, others are accessed online with a login ID and password.
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5.
Friday
8. Preview Homes on Your Own
When setting your first previews, ask your broker or office manager for help. You’ll need to know several things (it’s not as simple as it looks), such as which phone number on the listing sheet to call, your office ID (if applicable), the typical showing windows, and advance notice required in your area, e.g., from 2 pm -3 pm today), lockbox/key pick-up protocol, etc.
9. Get the Word Out!
- Send out an e-mail offering your friends some promotional items or services.
- If it’s holiday time, send out holiday cards with your business card enclosed. Write a “personal” note in each.
- Send out a “Happy New Year” (any time of year) family newsletter with all the happenings in your life, including your venture into real estate.
- Put together a mini-newsletter with a description of special services you offer, as a local real estate professional.
- Send thank you cards every day to anyone who helped you out that day.
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6.
The Weekend
10. Relax!
You need a break from all this hard work! Go visit some open houses to check out the competition. Observe how other agents handle their open houses. Is their signage appropriately placed? Do they have balloons or flags in the front yard? Do they make you sign in? Do they talk too much or too little? Do they appear interested in selling the home, or are they just hungrily looking for buyer prospects? Did the agent make you feel comfortable or uncomfortable? How would you do things differently?
Get more tips on how to get started as a real estate agent in the course, Getting Started and Staying on Track.
Written by Jennifer Allan, Author of Sell with Soul
Published by: VanEd
