How to network as new agent

Question

I’m a new agent and I am only 18 years old. I just got my license and don’t know how to network. I am scared people won’t take an 18 year old serious. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get a home sold or bought. If you have any tips on how to meet people, gain their trust, seem like you know what you’re doing, generate leads through social media, or anything else please let me know!

Hamp Lee III · Answer

Welcome to BP!

Congrats on getting your license!

One of the most important things is to find your niche. Because of your age, you might want to focus on a specific group, like first-time home buyers out of college or under 30. Stay with what comes easy to you, often using the "social media tools" you already have. Just be yourself. Work to become knowledgable and show how you can be a value to potential clients, like @David Ramirez says, provide value.

So when you think about it, many people in your niche (if you choose that one), are online. There will come a time to meet them in person, but be yourself.

Immerse yourself in books and your brokerage training. Take the DiSC assessment as well. Some coaches will give you marketing strategies based on your assessment. I'm an introvert, so I was given several.

Don't worry about your age. The worse anyone can tell you is "no." You can only gain.

I'm active duty military and passionate about helping people build a financial legacy through real estate.

This is one of the reasons I'm on BP. I provide value and receive lead opportunities. People reach out to me because they see my posting and have questions, want to buy a house, or receive a referral. It's not much right now, but I'm generating "steam." But this is one way I'm operating in my niche.

Lastly, check out Graham Stephan on YouTube. He was 18 when he started. Now, he's a multimillionaire.

I wish you all the best!

Shawn Mcenteer · Answer

Provide value, there are alway people a step behind you looking to gain the knowledge you have.

Brett Deas · Answer

Hey man, I'm 18 and I get where you are at. A few things I recommend;

1) Know what you are doing, first and foremost. The more you know what you are doing the less insecure you will feel about your age.

2) Show others that you know your stuff, and if you have some success highlight the fact that you are young and have already done so much.

In my most recent transaction, I met this family at an investors meetup and they wanted to buy their own SFR. I met with them and we saw a few houses and got under contract with one. After this we met for coffee to explain what all comes next in the contract and clear up any questions they might have. At the end of this meeting they asked how old I was and I told them. At first the wife didn't believe me but once they got around to it I would say they actually trusted me more because they were more impressed with me.

I have also gotten "No way I will buy a house from an 18 year old" many times. But in my experience, not only is it best to move on to people who don't care, but they also are a pain in the a** to work with.

David Ramirez · Answer

I know that feeling and my advice would be to always be ready to provide value. Consume a lot of real estate content and stay active in forums to learn and absorb as much knowledge as possible.

Patricia Steiner · Answer

The best advice I can give you is this:  Build your knowledge BEFORE you start networking.  If you want to overcome your lack of both life and real estate ownership/investment, you need to prove yourself to have the skills and knowledge to assist them. Decide you will be your preferred client...maybe first time homebuyers - and learn everything about financing and assistance programs for that population.  EVERYTHING. WIth that, you can target your marketing to renters and young professionals advising how to easily and quickly buy their first home.  You need to KNOW before you can do.  Go in reverse and you'll ruin your reputation.

There are a lot of realtors and the exam/license doesn't prepare you for anything - it just gets you legally into the game. Most new realtors don't make it a year so invest in yourself and target your prospective clients and learn/know what is needed to not only attract and secure those clients - but CLOSE the business.   It's a tough business...everyone thinks they're an expert - HGTV was their teacher and/or they read a book/watched a podcast - and the truth is you don't know what you don't know.  Take the time to learn the business first. Networking with nothing to offer is called loitering...

Colin Higgins · Answer

In the words of Rogan "be undeniable". The public will weed out what realtors they want and don't. IF it's not your age, it your hair, style of shirt, skin color, gender, facial hair, choice of car, tone of voice, ect... you cant appease everyone nor should you try. Become a subject matter expert in your lane and your knowledge will speak for itself. BE YOURSELF, they're going to find out what your are really like one way or another, save yourself and them the time. This is a personality matching business and learn the power of no, YOU do not have to service every client, find the good fit. Bring them value and set expectations, your age is irrelevant. You can out preform people who have been in the business for years. All the advice listed above is good; finding groups, who you want to target, ect but this is some food for thought as well. This was advice given to me from a top producer.

Kim Tucker · Answer

KCRAR has  young professionals group and the MAREI is the local REIA, we have a lot of old folks like me, but a lot of young people are there as well.  Plus a lot of meetups… the youngest group out there seems to be the REI on tap hosted by the new western crowd.

Kate Barry · Answer

Are you a solo agent, or are you on a team? Network with the agents in your area - offer to run their open houses, or show houses for them - build trust with experienced agents who may need some help with their business and would love someone with time and energy to take some things off their plate.  The biggest asset you have right now is your time, so yes you may be new and young but you can give 100% of your attention to your first few clients

Dana Yost · Answer

First things first- I wouldn't worry too much about your age. Since your main question seemed to be about networking, there are multitudes of ways to network. I would start at whatever brokerage you work at (presuming that's the licensing structure where you are).

When they hold events and trainings, actually show up and meet people. If you haven't already, try to find a mentor(s) to help you get started. In addition to taking advantage of whatever your company offers, also try to attend the meetings of your local Realtor association. Also look for online groups and meetups in whatever your area of interest is for your locality.

I know even Facebook has lots of RE groups by specific location. In my experience, even the smallest of areas generally have at least 1-2 local RE groups/assocs. These groups can be awesome for networking. There's also the long tried and true method of sitting open houses for other agents/brokers in your office. It can be a great way to not only network, and get hands on experience talking to people, but also a source of potential clients. Good luck!

Bruce Lynn · Answer

FInd a young professionals group.  If there isn't one, start one.  Go back to NAR or your state association and see if they have a 30 under 30 list for the past 10 years.  Reach out to all those people and ask them the best place to network.

Do you have REIA groups in your area?   I would say all of the groups I attend have plenty of younger people in them.   If you don't have a REIA group in your area or they're all old guys, start one for the young guns.   If you're comfortable in brew pubs or someplace like that start a happy hour investing club.   Start a house hack club.   You can also do things that are unusual....like lunch club....I went to a multifamily networking group the other day at lunch on a Thursday...and 100-150 people were there....so to me that's amazing.

Use your brokerage as leverage.  If you don't have listings borrow (with permission) the listings in your brokerage.  You can print flyers with all the info on them with your picture and contact details.   Your brokerage is your team right?.....Use words like we  and my team if you have to, until you build your own book of business.   We sell more homes in Missouri than any other brokerage.....My team sells more homes in this neighborhood than any other brokerage....

I'm not a fan of the tv shows, but you see a lot of young agents on them.....so maybe model some of them.

You be You, but if dressing professionally is you and respected in your community....then do that, every day, every where....all the time....be the guy who shows up in suit and tie every single time.....probably a reason certain professions wear certain clothes.....doctor in lab coat or scrubs.....banker wearing suit and tie.

Study everything you can...know your market, know your inventory, know your neighborhoods, talk to everyone, know your prices.....you do all that and you'll be running circles around everyone else.  Do all the things other agents don't want to do.....for example hold a house open every Sat and Sun or maybe even 4 a weekend...every weekend for the next year.....advertise those with 30 signs...door knock 200 doors around those 4 listings each week, send 50 hand written initiations to neighbors, circle prospect another 200 people around each of those.   End of 365 days, someone in your area will know who you are...and respect your hustle.