6 Real Estate Tips for New Agents Ready to Grow Their Career

Become an Expert in Your Local Market

Do you know how they say "location, location, location" in real estate? Well, they might as well say "local knowledge, local knowledge, local knowledge." Seriously, knowing your turf like the back of your hand can make all the difference.

Get out there and learn everything you can about your local market—house prices, neighborhoods, schools, community events, the works. The National Association of Realtors publishes local market reports with the data you need to fully understand your local housing market. You can also check local news journals for county or city market reports. Subscribing to these journals can give you a deeper insight into your local market as well.

Build a Comprehensive Network

Okay, let's talk networking. It's not just for corporate types in fancy suits. As a real estate agent, your network is your lifeline. But where do you start?

Connecting with other real estate professionals like brokers, home inspectors, and loan officers can help you build out your professional network. The great part about connecting with other real estate professionals is they want to network with you as much as you want to network with them. You can build mutually beneficial relationships with your peers where both of you refer clients to each other.

Local events are another great way to network within your community. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce — they often host events where you can meet business owners and professionals. Also, keep an eye on Eventbrite or Meetup for real estate-related gatherings in your area.

Streamline Your Processes with Technology

From file and client management to virtual tours, technology can help you streamline your processes and work more efficiently. Here's a rundown of tech tools that can make your life considerably easier.

Consider investing in good CRM software like Zillow Premier Agent or Salesforce. These tools are your virtual command center for managing client relationships and tracking leads. They'll keep you organized, remind you to follow up and help you close more deals.

Virtual tour software, such as Kuula, has become indispensable. By allowing potential buyers to explore a property from the comfort of their own home, you'll not only make your listings more appealing but also save time on in-person showings.

And let's not forget DriveUploader. This nifty platform lets you collect photos, videos, and documents from sellers, photographers, or your team. It's like having a personal assistant that organizes your files, speeds up communication, and even assists with auction sales.

Leverage Social Media

Social media gives you the perfect platform to showcase your listings and build your recognition. But, how can you make the most of this free resource?

First, choose one or two platforms to focus your efforts on. Facebook can help you reach an older demographic and Instagram can help you reach a younger crowd. LinkedIn, on the other hand, can connect you with professionals if you specialize in commercial real estate.

When creating social media posts, always use high-quality images and take the time to craft engaging descriptions for your property listings. Remember, your goal is to make people stop scrolling and take a closer look.

To manage your social media presence efficiently, you can use a social media management tool like Hootsuite or Buffer. These platforms allow you to schedule posts, monitor your performance, and engage with your audience across multiple networks from one dashboard allowing you to easily increase your reach.

Prioritize Continuous Education

With constant changes and developments in the real estate industry, you need to keep up to stay ahead in this highly competitive industry.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) offers a range of articles that provide updates on market trends and legislative issues. "Inman News" is another excellent resource that covers the latest industry news and strategies.

Websites like Realtor.com and Zillow offer educational webinars on a variety of topics. You can also look for workshops and seminars in your local area—these are often hosted by real estate agencies or professional organizations.

Create Communication Templates

Writing emails and messages from scratch every time takes up too much time and makes it difficult to improve your communications. That's where communication templates come in. They're a great way to ensure you're delivering a consistent message you can track the effectiveness of to constantly improve.

Here are a few types of communications you should consider creating templates for:

• Initial inquiry response: This is your first contact with a potential client, so make it count. A good template will acknowledge their inquiry, provide some initial information, and propose the next steps.
• Follow-up emails: These are crucial for keeping the conversation going. Create templates for different scenarios—for example, after a property viewing, after sending a proposal, or if you haven't heard from a client in a while.
• Property information: When a client is interested in a property, you'll need to send them all the details. Make a template that includes all the key information and ensures nothing gets overlooked.
• Closing emails: Once a deal is finalized, it's important to send a closing email to wrap things up. This should thank the client for their business, provide any final details, and encourage them to reach out if they have any questions or need further assistance.

Are You Ready for Real Estate?

Entering the world of real estate can seem daunting, but with the right techniques, tools, and mindset, anyone can find success in this rewarding industry. It's not just about having a knack for sales or a comprehensive contact list—although those can certainly help. To succeed, you need a forward-thinking mindset and the initiative to constantly improve. With the six real estate tips for new agents in this article, you can point your career toward success.