Sure, real estate is one of the most lucrative industries to be involved in – but it’s also one of the most competitive. You’re constantly on the lookout for the next client and better ways of reaching them, and as a beginner, it can be difficult to know what to prioritize.
At its core, becoming successful is all about understanding the best strategies for ensuring a client chooses you over the competition – just as much as it is about selling property. Those two go hand in hand, of course, but there are some distinct differences.
In this article, you’ll learn about five strategies to significantly improve your chances of getting hired.
1. Building Your Online Presence
As is the case with the majority of today’s modern businesses, you won’t get very far without a robust online presence. The internet is everything, and it’s likely where you’ll find most of your clients.
Many different aspects go into increasing your appeal online. Firstly, there’s your website: you’ll want to make sure it’s well-thought-out, uncluttered, and designed to work properly on mobile devices. You should also investigate how to make your site as SEO (Search Engine Optimization) friendly as possible, as this is key for your visibility in Google searches.
Then there’s the world of social media: leveraging the power of sites like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, can drastically increase your recognition across the board, and help you tap into a younger demographic.
2. The Importance of Your Personal Brand
Your personal brand is a crucial element to your success. While you’re running a business that comprises many moving parts, the main thing people are looking at when they’re hiring a real estate agent is you and your qualities.
Work to discover your unique selling proposition (USP) and what sets you apart from other real estate agents in your area. Are you particularly good at negations? Maybe your personability goes down particularly well? Whatever it is, double down and hone it.
Of course, above all else, always strive to be authentic – there’s nothing worse in many people’s eyes than a person pretending to be someone they’re not, and your potential clients will see right through a facade.
3. Invest in Professional Photo Editing
Snapping and presenting great pictures of the properties you’re trying to sell is a lot more important to your success than you might think. Usually, a picture is the very first thing a client will see about a potential property, and as is the case in all aspects of life, first impressions are everything.
Usually, it’s best to outsource your photo editing needs to a professional: make sure you hire someone who really knows what they’re doing to touch up your listing images, as trying to do so yourself can end up having the opposite effect.
4. Prioritize Impeccable Customer Service
As a real estate agent, your reviews are everything. When browsing your website or social media, the first thing people will do is look to your review section to hear from previous customers.
Always striving to go the extra mile, being on time, offering valuable and unique insight, and adding small gestures such as housewarming gifts, can go a long way, and even if you don’t end up making the sale, you’ll be sure to be recommended to someone else. Networking is key in real estate, just as it is in any industry, so be sure to work on your people-pleasing skills if you’ve neglected to so far!
5. Utilize Modern Technology
There is a broad selection of new software packages that can help make your life a lot easier in this field. For example, programs like Matterport enable clients to explore digital reconstructions of a property they’re interested in.
Helpful tools also extend to those that improve your efficiency. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems allow you to track leads, organize your time, and foster a strong working relationship with your customers, all from one connected hub. There are also packages like Redfin, which uses innovations in AI (artificial intelligence) to provide information on market trends.
Wrapping Up
As a beginner in real estate, it can feel pretty overwhelming. There are a lot of plates to spin as you work out how to secure clients, create sellable properties, and manage your time efficiently. Take things one step at a time, though, and you’ll get there soon enough. A natural drive to help people will put you in a great position from the get-go, and the points in the strategies covered above will help you do that. Good luck!