Kickstarting a career in real estate is an exciting and sometimes daunting process. One of the most challenging parts can be landing your first client.
Luckily, there's no magic trick to getting your first client; it just involves a lot of hustle. Below, you'll learn a few of the most fruitful ways to generate prospective leads. Be relentless and consistent, and your first client will appear.
Tap Your Social Network
You know people. And the people you know also know people.
Take advantage of your existing relationships by advertising your new career and asking them to keep you in mind. Ask them to spread the word as well, when appropriate, and provide marketing collateral like business cards or flyers to pass along.
Think broadly. Don't just have this conversation with your family and immediate friends. Talk to your former coworkers, your partner's coworkers, your kids' friends' parents, and anyone you know through your hobbies or community activities.
Consider touching base with these people multiple times in several ways. For example, get in touch personally by phone, text, or email, and add them to a periodic reminder email blast, and post a flyer at your old place of business (if appropriate).
Seize Opportunities From Your Brokerage
Your sponsoring broker knows you're new to the business, and your success is in their best interest. As a result, most brokers will offer opportunities for new real estate agents to start accumulating leads.
After all, these opportunities are often free or cost very little.
One common method for sponsoring brokers to help you with lead generation is "floor time," where you become the first point of contact for any questions about listings. Take these opportunities when your broker offers them, and then make the most of your resulting conversations. Learn the best questions to ask new prospects and be sure you have the answers to any potential questions they might have.
Create a Strong Online Profile
The first thing any potential prospect will do after hearing about you is google you. You want to be sure that this initial search creates a positive and professional impression.
Focus your online profile on how you can help first-time buyers and sellers accomplish their goals. Provide a little taste of your personality without giving away too much information. Definitely don't mention that you're brand new to the profession. You want to create the impression that you know what you're doing but avoid deceiving anyone about your experience.
Build a Professional Network
Relying on your existing network and sponsoring broker will only go so far. You want to build a self-sustaining leads-generating machine, and that means creating a larger professional network that consists of solid relationships.
There are many ways to build your network, and you should actively work a few different angles in your early career. Build relationships with related professionals like lenders, renovators, real estate photographers, stagers, and the like. Look for opportunities to do them a favor.
When your networking pays off, be sure to show your thanks, or it might be the last referral you see. Writing personalized thank-you cards can be a great touch in this digital, bulk-processed world.
Get the Most Out of Your Real Estate Education
No matter which state you're in, earning a real estate license requires extensive mandatory pre-license education. Some states also require post-license education to be completed in your first year or two.
To be successful in real estate, you should avoid thinking of these courses as obstacles to clear or items on your to-do list. Instead, think of them as opportunities to build a solid foundation from which to launch your career.
This means a few things. First, if your state allows you to make choices about what topics to study, pick the ones that will be the most useful at the beginning of your career. Knowledge related to long-term success can wait.
Second, take your mandatory courses in the most efficient way possible. Online training like ours is the most cost-effective way to earn your credits, and it allows you the flexibility to study at the most convenient and distraction-free time.
Finally, don't put off your mandatory education until right before the deadline. Head to our website and start today!
Written and Published by: VanEd
