Photo from Riccardo Haiat
Friday Fun Video: AMAZING Treehouse!
My dream home from when I was nine years old…. and now, haha.
Less Stressful Moving
Preparing in advance is the best way to remove stress from any huge event. If you’ve taken the time to think of every detail, there won’t be any nasty surprises. When moving (especially a big move, like across state lines), this planning and research is even more crucial. Not only do you have to anticipate the moving process, but you have to learn about your new area. For tips on making the transition way less stressful, check out this post by Kyle Hiscock at the Rochester Real Estate Blog:
-Research the local economy and job market!
-Research local things to do
-Research the local real estate market- find out home prices, and cost of living expenses.
-Look at local neighborhoods
-Check out the school systems
Wordless Wednesday: Adorable Tiny House
Scripts for Realtors: How To Talk With Potential Leads
Some new agents (or more introverted veteran agents) may struggle with phone calls and figuring out exactly what to say to clients. It can be daunting to call someone up, and ask them if they need your business. However, there’s some good news! Texting people is a wonderful alternative for those who dread phone calls, and gives you more time to choose your words. Just make sure to send them promptly, and never leave a question unanswered. Check out this post by Paula Bauman at Easy Agent Pro for a list of handy, pre-written texts to send to clients in a variety of situations, like:
-If they were reading your blog
-If they were checking out a community page
-If they were looking at a specific property
For Realtors: How To Step Up Your Referral Game
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 Debbie at Floor it into High Gear for some great tips:
-Create a database of past customers with phone numbers and email addresses, use it to market to them!
-Send out an email newsletter, or call them up! When you call, make sure you are genuine and personal. Don’t simply ask, “do you know anyone who is selling a home?”
-Connect on social media- add past clients on Facebook and LinkedIn
-Create a website or blog
-Always provide excellent customer service- it’s a guarantee that people will recommend you to others if you are the best at what you do.
Friday Fun Video: Watch This Before Buying A Home
These are some great points about common myths surrounding the home buying process.
For Realtors: How To Stay Safe
Now, it’s not like Realtors are police officers. They don’t go out every day with a gun and face down criminals. They don’t fight fires, and they aren’t in the military. However, every career comes with its own set of dangers. When I worked at a movie theater, we had to receive special training on how to deal with robberies, bomb threats, and active shooter situations after several mass shootings had taken place. Thankfully, I never had to deal with anything scarier than a counterfeit $20 bill or teenagers sneaking into R-rated movies.
Real estate is no different- agents need to be aware of the dangers that could occur. It’s especially important, since you are often showing clients around alone, or meeting with sellers on your own. I’m not saying to constantly be paranoid and afraid, but it’s best to be prepared and aware. Check out these Realtor safety tips from the Househunt blog:
-Be careful with your personal info- don’t put your home address on business cards/online. Consider having a separate cell phone for work.
-Enlist a coworker- whenever possible, have someone from your office join you for private showings.
-Verify client info- require ID and phone number before showing a home.
-Announce showings- if someone can’t go with you, let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back.
Wordless Wednesday: An Entire Boat As A Chandelier
Successful Realtors Do Not….
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 Xavier de Buck at Immoafrica for what you should never do as a new agent:
-Never avoid confrontation- accept that it will be a part of your daily life, learn how to negotiate smoothly.
-Never assume perfect circumstances- each client you deal with will be completely unique.
-Never stop educating yourself on the newest developments in the market.
-Never skimp on marketing!