Every time I talk to someone about my business and career, it always arises that “they’ve thought about getting into property” or know anyone who has. With so many people considering getting into property, and getting into property – why aren’t there more lucrative Realtors in the world? 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, and how different it is from traditional careers, helps it be difficult for the average person to successfully make the transition into the Real Estate Business. As a brokerage, I see many new agents make their way into my office – for an interview, and sometimes to begin their careers. New REALTORS bring many great qualities to the table – plenty of energy and ambition – however they also make a lot of common mistakes. Listed below are the 7 top mistakes rookie Real Estate Agents Make.
1) No Business Plan or Business Strategy
So many new agents put all their emphasis on which Real Estate Brokerage they’ll join when their shiny new license will come in the mail. Why? Because most new Real Estate Agents have never experienced business for themselves – they’ve only worked as employees. They, mistakenly, think that getting into the Real Estate business is “obtaining a new job.” What they’re missing is that they’re about to get into business for themselves. If you’ve ever opened the doors to ANY business, you know that among the key ingredients can be your business plan. Your organization plan helps you define where you’re going, how you are getting there, and what it does take for you to make your real estate business a success. Here are the requirements of worthwhile business plan:
A) Goals – What would you like? Make sure they are clear, concise, measurable, and achievable.
B) Services You Provide – you don’t wish to be the “jack of most trades & master of none” – choose residential or commercial, buyers/sellers/renters, and what area(s) you want to specialize in. New residential realtors 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 agent, inc.” and jot down EVERY expense you have – gas, groceries, cellular phone, etc… Then write down imobiliária piracicaba taking on – board dues, increased gas, increased cell usage, marketing (very important), etc…
E) Funding – how will you pay for your budget w/ no income for the first (at least) 60 days? With the goals you’ve set for yourself, when will you break even?
F) Marketing Plan – how are you going to obtain the word out about your services? The simplest way to market yourself would be to your own sphere of influence (people you know). Make sure you do so effectively and systematically.
2) Not Using the Best Possible Closing Team
They say the greatest businesspeople surround themselves with people that are smarter than themselves. It requires a pretty big team to close a transaction – Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Lender, Insurance Agent, Title Officer, Inspector, Appraiser, and sometimes more! As an agent, you are in the positioning to refer your client to whoever you select, and you should be sure that anyone you refer in will undoubtedly be a secured asset to the transaction, not somebody 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 because you referred them in to the transaction.
The deadliest duo on the market is the New 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 part of their business – marketing – but they’re doing each other no favors by choosing to give each other business. In the event that you refer in a bad insurance agent, it might cause a minor hiccup in the transaction – you create a simple phone call and a fresh agent can bind the house in less than an hour. However, because it normally takes at least fourteen days to close a loan, if you are using an inexperienced lender, the effect can be disastrous! You may find yourself ready of “begging for a contract extension,” or worse, being denied a contract extension.
An excellent closing team will typically learn than their role in the transaction. For this reason, you can turn to them with questions, and they will step in (quietly) when they see a potential mistake – because they want to help you, and in return receive more of your business. Using good, experienced players for the closing team can help you infinitely in conducting business worth MORE business…and best of all, 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 will cost between $700 and $900 (not considering the number of time you’ll invest.) However, you’ll come across 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 competitors are definitely using every tool to help THEM.
A) MLS Access is probably the most expensive necessity you’re going to run into. Joining your local (and state & national, by default) Board of Realtors will allow you to pay for MLS access, and in Austin, Texas, will run around $1000. However, don’t skimp of this type. Getting MLS access is one of the most important things you can do. It’s what differentiates us from your average salesman – we don’t sell homes, we present any of the homes that we supply. With MLS Access, you should have 99% of the homes for sale in your area available to present to your clients.
B) Mobile Phone w/ a Beefy Plan – Nowadays, everyone has a cell phone. But not everyone includes a plan that will facilitate the amount of use that Real Estate Agents need. Plan on getting at the very least 2000 minutes per month. You want, and need, to be available to your clients 24/7 – not just nights and weekends.