Every time I talk to someone about my business and career, it always comes up 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 successful Realtors on the planet? Well, there’s only so much business to bypass, so there can only Best Properties for Rent and Sale in Detroit just be so many REALTORS in the world. I feel, however, that the inherent nature of the business enterprise, and how different it is from traditional careers, helps it be difficult for the average indivdual 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 their careers. New REALTORS bring lots 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 Real Estate Agents Make.
1) No Business Plan or Business Strategy
So many new agents put almost all their emphasis on which Real Estate 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, think that getting into the true Estate business is “getting a new job.” What they’re missing is that they are about to get into business for themselves. If you’ve ever opened the doors to ANY business, you understand that one of the key ingredients is your business plan. Your organization plan helps you define where you’re going, how you’re getting there, and what it does take for you yourself to make your real estate industry a success. Here are the requirements of any good business plan:
A) Goals – What do you want? Make them clear, concise, measurable, and achievable.
B) Services You Provide – you do not 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 the most success with buyers/renters and move on to listing homes after they’ve completed several 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, cellular phone, etc… Then write down the brand 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 the very least) 60 days? With the goals you’ve set for yourself, when do you want to break even?
F) Marketing Plan – how are you going to get the word out about your services? The MOST effective way to market yourself is to your personal sphere of influence (people you understand). Make sure you do so effectively and systematically.
2) Not Using the GREATEST 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 a Real Estate Agent, you are in the position to refer your client to whoever you select, and you should make sure that anyone you refer in will be a secured asset to the transaction, not a person who will bring you more headache. And the closing team you refer in, or “put your name to,” are there to make you shine! When they perform well, you get to take part of the credit as you referred them in to the transaction.
The deadliest duo on the market is the New AGENT & New LARGE FINANCIAL COMPANY. They get together and decide that, through their combined marketing efforts, they are able to take over the world! They’re both focusing on the proper section of their business – marketing – but they’re doing one another no favors by choosing to provide each other business. If you refer in a bad insurance agent, it might result in a minor hiccup in the transaction – you create a simple phone call and a new agent can bind the property in less than one hour. However, because it normally takes at least fourteen days to close a loan, if you use an inexperienced lender, the effect can be disastrous! You might find yourself in a position 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. Because of this, you can turn in their mind with questions, and they will step in (quietly) when they visit a potential mistake – since they want to assist you to, and in return receive more of one’s business. Using good, experienced players for your closing team will assist you to infinitely in conducting business worthy of MORE business…and best of all, it’s free!
3) Not Arming Themselves with the required Tools
Getting started as an agent is expensive. In Texas, the license alone is an investment which will cost between $700 and $900 (not taking into account the number of time you’ll invest.) However, you’ll run into even more expenses when you attend arm yourself with the necessary tools of the trade. And don’t fool yourself – they are necessary – because your competitors are using every tool to help THEM.
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