Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
According to Stephen Garner, a professional who has been in the real estate industry for 12 years, the days of old school real estate are over. What used to make a good real estate agent no longer holds true. If you want to be a rock star in the business, you've got to make sure you are doing everything right.
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Here's how to be a stand out in your region:
The relationship between a real estate agent and a client is akin to that between a doctor and a patient. You've got to be personable and social. You won't be a rock star if you blend in to the background. You don't have to like everyone that you meet, but they've got to believe you do. The realtor who is friendly and outgoing will get the listing every time.
The days of listing in newspapers has come and gone. Real estate agents today have got to be tech savvy. You should have a strong website, a presence on social media and, if you have the time, a great blog. You should also know your way around the Internet. 98 percent of home buyers start their search online. Make sure that your clients don't know how to work a computer better than you.
The real estate industry is wrought with paperwork. Holding a license doesn't mean that you understand the ins and outs of every document you deal with. You should never find cause to tell a client you'll get back to them when they have a question about the fine print. Make sure that you know your documents backwards and forwards, and know exactly what the fine print is detailing.
Selling or buying a house is a stressful time for most people. In fact, many will say that it is the most stressful thing that they have ever gone through. Ask each client how they prefer to communicate and respect their choice. Whether your client wants a phone call or a text, be sure that you communicate regularly. Keep your clients in the loop even when there is nothing to report.
Sell homes and represent buyers within your region. This allows you to concentrate on learning the market conditions in a small area and becoming an expert in the field. You cannot hope to be of service to a client if you have no idea what the current market trends are. Part of your work day should be dedicated to researching these conditions so that your information is always up to date.
Are your clients insisting on setting the price too high? Maybe there are major repairs that need to be made before a home has a chance of selling. Be truthful with your clients, even if the truth isn't what they want to hear. At the end of the day, your clients will appreciate your guidance when it helps them get their house off of the market.
You may think that you have to be ridiculously creative to be a rock star in the real estate business. The truth is, you only have to have old-fashioned values in a world where they are sorely lacking. Your clients want to be treated how you want to be treated; it's just that simple.
About the author: Sheila Madison is an avid blogger. Trying to sell your house? Check out more tips at agentharvest.com.
