PAULA'S SOUTHAMPTON BLOG

NEW AGENT? TOP 5 THINGS TO DO NOW--PART 1

If you have just begun this wonderful journey into real estate and you have no idea where to begin or what to do as you start this new career, you are not alone!

It may seem you are very much alone! There is nothing worse than to study like crazy, pass your exam--get your license and even interview for a desk with a leading brokerage firm and then find out you are on your own---totally on your own. There is no one to help you, except for the rare available agent who will tell you where things are and what you need to do to get answers. And unless you are with a firm like the one that sponsors me, there will not be a class to help you to assimilate to the everyday things that you must do just to stay in business. 

Until you have clients and customers to call you need to seek out those who you may be able to get information from with very little fuss. Get to know those who may be willing to help you out.

IF YOUR COMPANY OFFERS CLASSES FOR NEW AGENTS---SIGN UP FOR ALL OF THEM!

Here are the five things you need to do with haste:

1. Introduce yourself to every agent in your office---I always made an action plan--a hand written sheet of things to do everyday until it becomes like brushing your teeth. Keep that list like a diary and let the established agents know that you may need help. 
2. Be friendly and warm, never needy or cranky! Get to know them as much as you can by asking the following:   How long have you been in the business? Do you have any listings that I can look at? Do you mind if I ask you questions if I have any--"I don't want to be a bother but I am new and may need some help in the beginning." This will open the door and you will know who is willing to be helpful to a Newbie and who will not. Try not to take too much of their time and just walk away from an agent who seems too busy or preoccupied with other things.
3. Learn quickly how to find open houses in your area and go to all of them. Get a list of open houses and go to as many as you can everyday there are open houses. Go to as many as you can. This will get you into the habit of going to view properties. Gather information about them and review at night until you know the house inside and out. Commit to doing this because this is the beginning of your career and you need to become an expert on as many properties as you can. You must also become proficient at opening houses, turning alarms off and on, turning on lights and turning them off when done. keep control of keys no matter where they come from and always return them as per instructions. Never, ever be careless with these key activities or the owner of the houses will be all over you and may not trust you to show their property when you do have a buyer or a tenant.
4. Practice your searches for a property--Pick one area or neighborhood--For practice purposes search for a 3-4 bedroom house with a pool....check out all available properties and even go to see some if you can. Do another search on a 5-6 bedroom property, etc...keep practicing until you are comfortable enough to go drive by them---good way to get your "sea-legs" with the different areas.
5. Get a customer by your company's up-board. That is a devise that is in your office and it has all the agents names on it--An AA is in charge of the board and names go to the bottom once they get a call. This means you MUST spend a great deal of time in the office, at least as a new agent. Get there as often as you can--never miss a day until you get your first up-call. It is critical that you get your self organized; perhaps better than you have ever been since you are now dealing with the homes of people you barely know. Never disregard this responsibility--it will make or break your reputation and nothing is more important now than your reputation.

Because this business of real estate is one that deals with the place where a person lives (usually) it has a degree of sensitivity that must be in the front of your mind at all times.

Never, ever make light of a home situation like a run-down home, or a person who may have a problem with saving too much stuff. Simply state to the owner that there are things that help to make a house sell faster...and then tell them what they need to do to make that happen. Tell them the basics in a friendly tone:

A Good First Impression is crucial. Clutter NEEDS to go.  Clean, Clean, Clean and Clean some more!

Sensibilities can be lacking in many agents; try not to be one of them! People remember friendly and nice behavior.

Always make yourself available to answer questions--It is your job to inform and to aid both buyers and sellers in their processes. Answering their many questions and informing them of an area they like or want to buy in will give you a value that you can't get any other way.

Watch for Part 11 in this series for New Agents!! Please ask any questions you may have in the comments below and the members here on AR and I will make every effort to answer them for you.

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEW CAREER!!