For 1st-time RE Agents, where did your home sales come from?

[Raeshelle C.]

When you first started, did your leads come mostly from the broker? If you're brand new, how did you market yourself and get home sales?

[Karen Margrave]

It's been many years since I was new to real estate, but I'll give you my .02 anyway.  I started working as an executive assistant in an office of 30 agents in 1980.  I scheduled all the floor time, and wrote all the ads. I also tracked all the escrows, listings, etc. 

I learned a lot watching all the agents everyday. Many of them sat around waiting for the phones to ring, and complaining they weren't making money. The successful ones were involved in community activities, sports, and business gatherings. The internet wasn't around back then. They took advantage of every opportunity. It all comes down to networking and making connections. 

Don't underestimate BP for your business. Set your keywords. Get on here and answer questions about your area when one comes up, or real estate, etc. 

You might want to find an agent that is very successful and doesn't do Open Houses, and offer to do Open Houses for them. Make sure you discuss if someone comes in and wants to look at other homes and you sell them something else, what the commission split will be, etc. 

Also, it's important that you get to KNOW your local market. Go to Open Houses and check out the size of the house, size of the lot, finishes (cabinets, countertops, appliances, etc.) What are you getting for your money as compared to other homes in that price point?