Let me preface this by saying: if you are buying or selling a home, you should absolutely hire a Realtor to help you. You will save money in the long run, not to mention a huge amount of stress- they will make sure the transaction goes smoothly. However, that is all dependent on your agent being good at what they do. While almost all agents are great at their job and will communicate effectively, there are some that will exhibit warning signs that you should watch out for. Check out this article by Lisa at Mama Real Estate. If this sounds like your agent, it might be time to hire a new one:
-They don’t call or respond in a timely manner- if it takes them days or weeks to get back to you, they are not taking you seriously.
-They refuse to negotiate on your behalf.
-They tell others your confidential information without your express consent.
-They are extremely disorganized- Are they always late? Losing or forgetting important documents? Do they seem scatterbrained and all over the place? This type of irresponsible person is probably not the one you want handling a transaction worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
My mom used to be a Realtor, and she got most of her business through referrals from friends and past clients. She was excellent at networking, meeting people, and following up with them. This is pretty consistent with how almost any business works. I’m much more likely to go to stores I’ve been to many times, rather than try out a new one every day. So, are you trying to get more referrals in your real estate business? Check out this post by 
Real estate is a competitive field. You need drive, ambition, connections, intelligence, people skills, and a little bit of luck to make a full time income from it. That being said, there is a learning curve for beginners (like all jobs), and things that you’ll need to avoid doing in order to be successful. Check out this post by 
It’s common for curious, prospective home buyers to begin their search online. I’ve done it, I admit; it’s pretty fun to look at virtual home tours and imagine myself in various houses. But, what should you do if you’re actually serious about purchasing that dream home you found online? Call the agent who listed it?
Being a real estate agent is all about connections: you have to connect with buyers, with sellers, with other agents, with your online audience, with mortgage lenders- the list goes on and on. If you don’t know how to network, you will probably not be a hugely successful agent. However, there is one group of people that even agents tend to overlook: businesses. Specifically, home improvement businesses. But, when you have a seller that needs to make some repairs, they certainly come in handy. They can also point you to leads for people that may be moving soon. Check out 
I’ve read in several places that open houses are slowly becoming obsolete, due to the age of the Internet. Now, buyers can search for homes on their own and are able to instantly schedule private showings with Realtors with phones and email. However, some agents are still finding success with open houses. Check out this post by 
Most home buyers these days begin their home search online. That’s where many of them begin looking at listings, and begin looking for Realtors. As an agent, you want to be found online. The world is changing (it has already changed, in fact) and agents who don’t keep with the technology will soon be left in the dust. It’s crucial to manage your social media accounts- Twitter, Facebook, even Instagram and Pinterest are all (FREE) ways to put yourself out there. Does your online persona need a facelift? If so, check out 
I’m an introvert by nature. I like staying at home, reading books, writing, and maybe hanging out with my close friends once a week or so. I make a living by doing what I love, writing, and I’m honestly happier than I’ve ever been. That being said, there are certain professions that I don’t think I’d be great at- being a real estate agent is one of them. Realtors have to be accessible, able to communicate quickly, and must be able to make connections instantly with clients they meet.
Real estate agents’ entire careers depend upon their ability to network and make connections with other people. Since their income is 100% commission based, they have to constantly be on the lookout for new leads… which translates to new clients. The trouble is, it can be hard to think of new ways to reach new people. That’s where this post by 
For a Realtor, your phone is your lifeline. The number one responsibility of an agent is to remain in constant contact with your clients, and keep them updated on any updates to their home purchase. It’s essential for instant communication, like calling, texting, and emailing. However, smart phones are also a blessing to the modern agent. There are tons of helpful apps out there for Realtors as well; check out this post by