All Forum Posts by: Genevie Reyes

HI Genevie!

Congratulations on getting your license!

Some tips that have helped me are...

1. Engage on Bigger Pockets often. I've met a lot of my investor clients on this platform.

2. Use social media as a marketing tool. Post at least 1-2 times a week. People don't know what you're doing if you don't put it out there constantly. 

3. Follow Up. Make sure you are following up with any potential leads you might have. This is a game changer and believe it or not agents are not great at this. 

Good Luck!

-Lexey 

@Genevie Reyes

You may wonder how to decode the keys to real estate with so many new things on your plate, but don’t be intimidated. Learning how to be an excellent agent is straightforward. Pay attention to how others navigate the field, market yourself and build personal connections with buyers. Here are 10 aspects of real estate to consider as you step into your new duties.

#1: Listing Photos - Hire a professional photographer to take listing photos. These pictures are the first things people see. The typical client doesn’t want to encounter low-quality, outdated images. Unprofessional photos affect their perception of your business and the home, which costs you leads. Though it’s tempting to take pictures on your device — smartphone cameras are becoming undeniably sharp — use a professional camera or hire a professional.

#2: Soft Skills - If your soft skills could use improvement, start working those muscles now. Real estate is akin to customer service in how much you’ll interact with clients. You’ll need to know how to communicate, listen, provide suggestions and decipher the information people provide. After all, you’re selling someone a home — likely the biggest purchase of their life. The art of real estate lies in enticing them without sounding greedy or manipulative.

#3: Mentors - Take on a mentor when you start your career. Shadowing someone else and learning from their transactions helps you determine how yours should go. Educate yourself on the essential terms and basic knowledge of home-selling. Ask your mentor what steps they take to find success with clients, including time management and marketing strategies. Their experience offers a world of help whenever you’re in a jam.

#4: Home Inspections - Attend every home inspection when performing a transaction. Many agents mistakenly skip this part, but your job here is to negotiate for the client. What the inspector finds on the property will affect the closing terms, whether the damage is significant or small. Put these damages into perspective, so buyers know what’s normal for a home and what’s not. Wear and tear on the roof is reasonable, but puddles of water and corroded pipes aren’t — this signals major issues with the plumbing.

#5: Contracts - Real estate contracts contain a ton of jargon you may not recognize. It’s OK not to know everything right away, but avoid leaving your clients with more questions than answers. Educate yourself on the specifics of typical real estate contracts and what they include — timelines, financial terms, inspection details and more. Your buyers should trust putting their home-owning futures in your hands.

#6: Open Houses - Open houses attract leads and give you a chance to show your real estate knowledge. Scout for home sellers by advertising your services and surveying homes. Once you have a place secured, spread the word, and prepare the abode for incoming visitors. Experiment with methods such as virtual staging, live streaming and Instagram Story promotion to get more people in the door.

#7: Focused Marketing - Be wise about how you execute marketing. Advertise on multiple platforms for maximum engagement, but don’t overwhelm yourself with a bunch of unfamiliar techniques. Thoroughly study each medium and learn how it works — plus how you can make it successful — before tackling the next one. Rushed and ineffective advertising methods won’t land you many leads. Nail it the first time around to avoid wasting time on continuously rehauling your marketing campaign.

#8: Prequalifying clients - Prequalify your clients before showing them homes. Doing this will save you time and energy if they reveal they aren’t ready to buy or sell. You’ll spin in circles from not knowing the client’s financial situation or what amenities they want in the homes you display. The lender usually handles the prequalifying process, but ask your buyers questions to get a feel for what they expect and can afford.

#9: Niche Sectors - Many agents claim to know everything about the industry and offer to tackle all selling and buying needs. This diversity works for some, but consider targeting a niche market. Niche markets reduce the competition in a saturated industry, and they allow you to hone your skills in one area rather than dabble in several. These markets focus on distinct buyer demographics or geographical regions. Some examples of specific sectors include resorts, luxury homes and condos.

#10: Networking - Networking as a real estate professional is of the utmost importance. You’ll work with many different people while selling homes, including investors, vendors and inspectors. Keep their information, because you don’t know when you could need someone to provide sage realty advice. Most agents gain buyers from referrals, which demonstrates the importance of establishing rapport with colleagues. Contact buyers after their purchases to check how they’ve settled in — they’ll appreciate your consideration.

You’ll soon impress clients by sharpening your skills and excelling in your training. A great agent always takes opportunities to listen and learn, no matter how experienced they are. A willingness to lead and assist shows your clients how dedicated you are to the field.

All the best!

Hi @Genevie Reyes, I am not an agent but when I was a new loan officer, I was hit with some harsh realities. We share half of the same clientele so hopefully, this is somewhat helpful.

1. Finding clients is not as easy as I thought it would be.

2. Do not count your paycheck before the deal is closed. Not all leads become deals and not all deals close. A bad inspection, a low appraisal, or cold feet all can cause a late-game backout.

3. Niche down. Focus on one client base and be the absolute expert in it. Investors want to work with investor-friendly realtors. Even if their mom is a realtor, they will still choose you because you are more helpful to them in that capacity.

3. Focus on marketing.

4. Focus on marketing.

5. Focus on marketing.

I know those are really vague so if you want some more tactical advice, feel free to ask.

Hope this helps! Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

That's a great market center and a great market.

Plug in...get in the office and network like crazy....plug into the training....there are great stats that the people who show up and plug into in person in office training are the most successful agents.....especially as a new agent.

Good luck and best wishes.

Curious....what is the reason you're with KW Brevard if you're an Orlando agent? Also, be aware that the realtor assocation(s) in Orlando use a different MLS than Space Coast Assoc. of Realtors, which covers Brevard only.

That said, one must is that you take advantage of what KW has to offer. Ie, BOLD, etc. Do go to the weekly, monthly, quarterly meetings and be a sponge. Learn as much as you can.