Real estate agents and brokers, we salute you. You have weathered the most tumultuous market shifts the industry has ever seen, and you’re still standing. You deserve a toast…and likely a vacation!
As we all look toward the start of a new year, wondering what unexpected twists and turns we’ll find there, Trustworthy Title has collected some tips from the most successful agents that will help you not only weather whatever 2024 holds, but will take your business to the next level of growth and success.
1. Increase Your Skill Set
You are your company’s brand image. Polishing up your skill set will help you grow personally and enhance your business.
Coursework: The National Association of Realtors (NAR) offers a wide variety of continuing education courses designed to help you improve your skills and provide specialized services your clients may need, from serving military families to helping real estate investors expand their portfolios.
Technology: With almost all homebuyers looking online for their next residence, knowing how to strategically use digital photography and videography, web design, graphics, social media, and more will give your business the professional polish you need to engage new audiences and drive conversion.
Self-improvement: No doubt you are more aware of your professional weaknesses than anyone else could be. Choose one, be it time management, active listening, money management, or any one of a variety of professional skills, and commit to working on self-improvement in that area this year. Read books and articles, watch instructional videos, and seek out mentorship from those who excel in the area you lack.
2. Challenge Yourself with Next Level Goals
The new year is a perfect time to create new goals. Begin by looking ahead to next year’s end. Ask yourself some reflective questions.
- Where do you want to be personally and professionally?
- What will the numbers indicate about your growth?
- How many transactions do you hope to close?
- How many clients do you hope to serve?
- What do you want your customers to say about your business?
Goal setting is only effective when it is specific, measurable, and attainable. In the hectic pace of day-to-day operations, noble aspirations dreamed up in a moment of reflection can be easily forgotten. To improve your chances of achieving the goals you’ve set for your business, make them visible, communicate them to your staff, and review your progress frequently. Let these goals be the proverbial “carrot” dangling before you that helps you maintain your forward momentum.
3. Look for Underserved Areas and Populations
Where are the real estate needs in your area? Who is falling through the cracks? Of course, everyone wants to cater to the pay-in-cash luxury clients, but this is a very select niche, and plenty of people are already vying for space in it. Find your unique place in local real estate by seeking out those who are underrepresented, whether that be first-time home buyers, retirees, young professionals, internationals, or others. Learn all you can about their unique needs and offer practical solutions, expert care, and education.
4. Get Involved in the Community
Your clients look to you as the local expert, not only in housing, but in all facets of community life. How are the schools? Is the community safe? How desirable is the neighborhood? Is a good grocery store conveniently located? How is the morning commute? When you can provide insider knowledge on the community in which you work, your credibility as an agent and your relatability as a human will attract clients.
If you aren’t already involved in the community, make a commitment to get out there. Patronize local businesses and restaurants. Volunteer in a nonprofit. Get to know a variety of service professionals from plumbers to landscapers, from painters to roofers. Attend community events and mingle with local leaders, educators, and public servants.
Real estate is a highly networked profession. Joining local professional and service organizations and contributing meaningfully will show your investment in the community you represent and help you build a powerful referral base.
5. Strengthen Your Online Presence
Have you looked lately at the engagement stats for your website? Are people reading your blogs, watching your videos, and interacting with your content? Are you gaining social media followers who engage with and share your posts? Use the data to learn the best times and frequency to share content in order to maximize your reach. If you’re missing an online presence (or if your engagement is inconsistent), make a commitment to post content regularly and interact with the content of others in your professional network.
6. Improve Efficiency
No matter how we try to stretch it, we can’t get more than 24 hours out of a day. Since we’re all constrained by that limit, the best we can do is maximize what time we do have. Take your efficiency to the next level by first recognizing where you are inefficient. Are you a slow starter in the morning? Do lunch breaks extend far into the afternoon? Are you trying to operate out of multiple calendars and record-keeping systems?
Once you realize where valuable time is being lost, take steps to address the issue. Whether you need to streamline your processes, delegate tasks that are burdensome to you, or practice more self-discipline, keep your eyes on those goals you’ve set to motivate you to make needed changes.
7. Make it Personal
“It’s not personal…it’s just business.” WRONG! In the real estate industry, it’s always personal. You’re intimately involved in peoples’ finances, life stories, and helping them realize their dreams. What a privilege!
The most successful realtors are those who provide outstanding, relationship-driven service to clients that results in repeat transactions over the years. Get to know your clients on a personal level. Take a proactive approach to communication in each stage of the real estate process. Then, maintain the relationship beyond the closing table. These little things make a difference.
Additionally, satisfied clients are glad to make referrals of your services to friends and family members, the very people who would trust these recommendations explicitly. Don’t be afraid to ask for those referrals either, both by word of mouth and in statements you can add to your website.
Let’s Network
At Trustworthy Title, we love connecting with real estate professionals. In the real estate world, we need each other, and a great symbiotic relationship can grow as a result. We’re your local service provider for all your clients’ title needs, and we look forward to doing business with you.