Securing Your First Clients As A New Real Estate Agent
You have gone through the real estate pre-licensing course and completed all the formalities to become a real estate agent. However, what you need to kickstart your career is the first client. So, here comes the question, how does a new real estate agent get clients?
Most new agents face this problem at the start of their careers. They do not know where or how to get their first real estate client. But there is no cause to panic if you go through long periods without a client at the start of your career. It is normal and that is why the first year is considered the hardest to navigate.
Your first client is a massive achievement as it sparks off your entire career and gives you the confidence to move forward. But this satisfaction can be had only if you follow the fundamental methods of getting your first client. It is not a shooting-in-the-dark process, there are proven actions to take to get your first client.
This article takes you through the various aspects of getting your first client and how to be on your way to a lucrative career.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the Challenges of New Real Estate Agents
- The Initial Hurdles in Building a Clientele
- Importance of First Impressions in the Real Estate World
- Proven Strategies to Get Clients as a New Real Estate Agent
- The Power of Networking in Real Estate
- Utilizing Digital Marketing and social media
- Landing Your First Client in Real Estate
- Setting the Groundwork Research, Preparation, and Personal Branding
- Effective Communication and Follow-up Techniques
- Specific Tips for New Realtors Seeking Their First Client
- Harnessing Referrals and Testimonials
- Hosting Open Houses and Participating in Community Events
- Continuous Learning and Improvement
- Seeking Mentorship and Guidance from Experienced Agents
- Staying Updated with Market Trends and Client Preferences
Understanding the Challenges of New Real Estate Agents
The Initial Hurdles of Building Clientele
Building a clientele is not easy in the real estate industry in the initial stages of your career. It is hard work and there are several hurdles that you will face along the way. Let us check a few of them and how you can overcome the challenges.
- Not focusing on selling properties only: The real estate business goes beyond selling properties only, you will have to sell yourself too. The second is the harder of the two and you must master the process if you have to get your first clients. You have to make your presence felt in the local markets and the residents to make people reach out to you. They will be among your first clients.
- Not being tech savvy: The world is in the 21st century and so should your actions be. Getting clients is tough if you do not market your business online. Create and optimize your website for search engine traffic and buy ads on social media to promote yourself. People should find you on top of search engine rankings when they look for real estate agents to buy or sell property.
- Not managing your time well: Yours will not be a typical 9 to 5 job. Your schedule will be random, from mid-morning meetings to late evening showings, to working over the weekend. Set timings and routines to what your client requires and not the other way around. Not doing so will not get you answers on how to get your first client in real estate.
Importance of First Impressions in the Real Estate World
Research has shown that non-verbal cues deliver messages four times better than verbal cues. Hence, how to get clients as a new real estate agent through first impressions?
- Bearing and attitude: Stand straight and tall and make eye contact with potential clients. It shows that you have the confidence to deliver results. Do not be confrontational and understand the clients’ views. This is what matters in the real estate sector.
- Smile: Smiling signals that you are friendly and approachable and clients can discuss any problems with you without any hesitation. You feel good when you smile so why not pass it on? It will be great for your business, not only to get your first client but also in the long run.
- Shake hands: This exercise is the fastest way to build rapport with clients. Your handshake should be firm and authoritative, traits that reflect your personality and that you can be relied upon to deliver results.
Train yourself in these areas as they can often make the difference between success and failure of a deal.
Proven Strategies to Get Clients as A New Real Estate Agent
The Power of Networking in Real Estate
For any industry, networking is about building relationships that pave the way for success. The real estate sector is no exception to this principle, more so because it is a client-centric business. Having a strong network of contacts will open doors to great opportunities in the future.
Build meaningful relationships with people who matter in the industry like potential clients, investors, industry influencers, and fellow professionals. It will help you stay updated with the current market trends and developments which is vital for success in this industry.
Utilizing Digital Marketing and Social Media
Most home buyers today use the Internet to search for properties of their choice. You will be missing out on opportunities if your business does not pop up in these searches. Therefore, it is necessary to run a strong digital marketing campaign and have an active presence on various social media platforms.
Digital marketing helps you to build brand awareness online and follow targeted advertising. You can reach out to specific audiences based on interests and demographics. This helps to promote listing, services, or events to precisely the people you want.
Through social media, you can provide real-time updates about your business’s new listings, open houses, and any other related news. It will enable you to stay on top of the game and generate more leads.
Landing Your First Client in Real Estate
Setting the Groundwork Research, Preparation, and Personal Branding
The question that newbies frequently ask is how to get your first client in real estate.
The first step is to do groundwork research on current market trends, the price movement of listings, the average sales price of houses in the neighborhood, and more. You will get respect from the first client who contacts you if you have all this information at your fingertips.
Next is to establish a credible online presence. When prospective clients search online for top agents in their locality, they should find your business on top of ranking pages of search engines.
Be active on social media to increase brand awareness. Post high-quality photos of your listings on Facebook and Instagram for lead generation and draw in your first clients.
Effective Communication and Follow-up Techniques
Effective communication is the answer to your question of how to get your first client as a realtor. The best place to get your first client is people who know you well such as friends, family, and colleagues. They all fall within your sphere of influence and hence easier to convert them into clients.
Communicate with them personally to let them know you are in the real estate business. Ask them if they know anybody buying or selling property in the area and then reach out to that person with market information. Follow up after a few days to know if help is required. With good service, you have a potential client for life.
Specific Tips for New Realtors Seeking Their First Client
Harnessing Referrals and Testimonials
When you are starting as a new real estate agent, getting your first client will not be easy. It is because you do not have a proven track record to start with. To get around this issue, fall back on people you know and who are within your area of influence. They may be colleagues, family, friends, and even their friends.
A referral is always its weight in gold because you emerge as a person who can be trusted. You might have been proficient in another profession before and colleagues there will not only refer you but give glowing testimonials about you. Referrals and testimonials are a key to getting your first client in the real estate industry.
Hosting Open Houses and Participating in Community Events
Open houses in real estate are showings when potential buyers are taken to view a house or dwelling they intend to buy. Owners or renters typically vacate the house when real estate agents or brokers hold these open houses.
These open houses are one of the ways how to get your first client as a realtor. Your persuasive skills, transparency in pointing out the highlights and the downsides, and convincing a buyer that it is a fair deal will get your first client.
Further, hold community events in your locality. Invite members of your targeted audience and discuss market trends and the housing situation in the area. It need not be a direct sales pitch, rather make it a show of confidence that you are in business. People who intend to buy or sell property in the neighborhood will remember your business and contact you before arriving at any decision.
Continuous Learning and Improvement
Seeking Mentorship and Guidance from Experienced Agents
New real estate agents must pick up the ropes and get into the groove of operational techniques before getting the first client. There is no better person to handhold you through this phase than the broker whose firm you will be working for.
As experienced people in this industry, one of the main roles of brokers is to provide the required infrastructure and support to new agents. You will learn very well how a new real estate agent gets clients.
Staying Updated with Market Trends and Client Preferences
The key to having a successful real estate agent career is to have an ear to the ground. You must research the market trends and price movements, and match them with client preferences. Once, you align the two, your transactions will go up.
All this and more are in the pre-licensing coursework offered by RealEstateU. Our courses are among the most affordable in the market and are designed by top professionals in the industry. Contact us today to know more.