Be knowledgeable about the types of real estate contracts prevalent in your area: exclusive listings, open listings, net listings, among others. Familiarize yourself with real estate terminology. —There are many terms specific to real estate negotiations. Read widely about the buying and selling process, to integrate the terms into your psyche. Understand tax laws and tax implications associated with real estate. Be familiar with fiduciary relationships and disclosure obligations.
Consider the coverage area for each brokerage firm of potential interest to you. Find out if the brokerage specializes in buying or selling. Research the benefits the brokerage provides to its agents.
Use customer management software to keep up with your list of contacts so that no one is forgotten. Ask clients for referrals. Sponsor local events.
Make social media pages dedicated to your real estate business. Tweet listings and real estate tips as you come across them. Monitor what others are saying/doing on social media to promote any opportunities for new business. Post your listings and ways to search other listings (such as MLS links) on your website. Keep your bio and closing history up to date on your website.
Get comfortable discussing contract terms with people who are not familiar with the real estate market. Engage with new people in the community to forge new connections. Listen to your clients and tend to their needs.
Attend local festivals. Sponsor local schools and sports teams. Introduce yourself to neighbors.
Create 3D virtual tours of homes you list. Post walkthrough video tours of listings. Include pictures on every post of a listing.
Send a welcome home basket after closing. Call clients 1-2 months after closing to follow up and make sure they’re satisfied. Send a yearly newsletter to all your past clients; referrals may come several years after you first connected with a client.
Join local and national Realtor associations. Connect with a mentor to ask questions and compare ideas. Use client feedback to adjust your approach.
Keep a database of recent closing in the area to know comparable prices. Track home values and trends in specific neighborhoods. Monitor school rankings and test scores to share with clients.
