Becoming a real estate agent is not just about getting the license. If you are considering a career in real estate, here are some tips on how to become a successful real estate agent.
We can fairly say that not all real estate agents make it in the market. According to studies, 20% of real estate agents handle 80% of all real estate deals, and 87% of agents fail within the first 5 years. A successful real estate agent is a combination of character, strong personality, planning, and hard working.
Many people crash down in the real estate business because they think it’s all about earning loads of cash without spending any. Or they might even think that putting all their effort and focusing on passing the state’s exams is what becoming a successful real estate agent is all about. They only focus on getting their license and often forget about all the other factors that build a successful real estate agent.
So, what would it really take to become a successful real estate agent?
Related: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Become a Real Estate Agent
To answer this question, we have a few tips for on how to become a successful real estate agent in the real estate market:
How to become a successful real estate agent: Know yourself and work on your strong points
What are your personality traits? People often think that a “people’s person” makes a good salesman, when it is really not the case. It is important, but not as important as other traits. Clients mostly look for traits like pleasant nature, trustworthy, good judgment, and honesty. Moreover, a good real estate agent listens to his/her clients and pays attention to their needs. Moreover, here are some of the professional traits that every successful real estate agent needs to have:
- The ability to solve problems: It is important for a real estate agent to be creative with finding solutions to problems or any situations that he/she might face throughout his/her career. Getting into the real estate market might be challenging, therefore, a real estate agent is exposed to many obstacles that might get in his/her way. So, in order for a real estate agent to succeed, it is crucial to have a mindset of a problem-solver.
- The ability to sell yourself to others: Being a successful real estate agent is not all about selling properties; it is also about selling yourself. It is crucial for a real estate agent to demonstrate the professional side of himself/herself. This can build trust which will make clients want to work with you. After all, you’re providing a service, and service providers must be able to sell themselves in order to build a client base.
- Building connections: A successful real estate agent focuses on building connections. Clients, appraisers, other real estate agents, and brokers, amongst many others, must be on you contact list. After all, a real estate career is all about having the right connections.
How to become a successful real estate agent: Know your market
Nowadays, with all the information and ads that anybody can reach with just a click of a button on the internet, a real estate agent can no longer succeed with just giving information about the real estate property. Clients can find that on their own. With just one click, they can watch HD videos and take 3D tours in houses without the need to actually be there or listen to you. This forms a challenge to you as a real estate agent to give more than that. You have to actually always be updated on the real estate market, keep up with all the trends, give useful advice to your customers, and put it all together for them. Go in-depth inside your area and community, walk in your neighborhood, and talk to people around you. Know what’s going on in the housing market including who bought and sold recently and know exactly what your neighborhood’s general status is. Most importantly, come up with a unique way of providing your service that would make clients turn to you.
Related: Real Estate Market Trends that Every Investor Should Understand
How to become a successful real estate agent: Plan and do everything according to the plan
Just like starting any new career can be exciting, keep that energy but don’t let it drive your decisions. Start by setting your goals and creating an action plan that fulfills your goals. Don’t just list your goals, but write down details about how you are going to reach these goals. Make sure your aims are realistic, and don’t cut corners to reach them. Of course, things do not always work according to your plan, but it’s OK to make a mistake every once in a while, just make sure you try new methods instead.
How to become a successful real estate agent: Get equipped and keep up with technology
In a world driven by high tech, it’s almost impossible to make it in the market. Even the most old-fashioned real estate agents came to this realization. Using the right real estate tools can save you time and money. It can also help you get in touch with the clients easier and faster. A good real estate agent always gets back to his/her clients and immediately makes a contact. This way the customer will feel important. This is where the role of technology becomes so useful. It allows you to always stay in contact with your clients. Technology also makes it easier for you to stay up to date with the latest news and trends in the real estate market. So, just make sure you use technology.
How to become a successful real estate agent: Find a mentor in an experienced broker
Learning from others is a great way for you to gain experience and get familiar with the real estate market. Find a mentor in the real estate market. Just make sure this person is trustworthy and has proper experience in the field. This step will benefit you greatly further in your career as a real estate agent.
Related: What Is a Real Estate Broker and Does a Real Estate Investor Need One?
How to become a successful real estate agent: Don’t stop educating yourself
Even if you have your degree in a related field, don’t just stop there. Keep up with the real estate business trends and problems that might affect the real estate market. If you want to know how to become a successful real estate agent, attend seminars and training sessions. This way you will always be a step ahead of the competition with extra knowledge and experience.
How to become a successful real estate agent: Take your time and be painstaking
Just like any other aspect of real estate, being a successful real estate agent is risky and challenging. You can follow all the steps correctly and do everything right and still mess up! It’s OK, this doesn’t mean you should give up. Keep following up with what is going on in the housing market. In such type of work, you might face a lot of rejection and closed doors. Don’t quit, knock on ten different doors and learn how to get back on your feet after each failure.
If you wonder how to become a successful real estate agent, another thing to consider is working hours. You should be prepared to work whenever! There’s no certain time. Work can come at any moment, and a successful real estate agent knows that he/she has to always be available for his/her clients.
Finally, don’t let doubts about your sales abilities slow you down or stop you from going after a career as a real estate agent. Remember, doubt is the key to failure! Whenever you start doubting yourself, remember the great opportunities you still have ahead of you. A career in real estate might be very rewarding only if you have got what it takes. If you follow our tips on how to become a successful real estate agent, you will be ready to go in no time.
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