If you are pursuing a career in real estate, you know that it can be a very lucrative decision. However, this career field also requires a lot of work, time, and determination to find leads and finalize deals. If you need some extra insight and tips on how to make the dream work for you, continue reading.
Always show the property in the best light.
If you are a seller’s agent, you want to move that home and get the best possible deal for both you and your client. Doing that takes a lot of savvy and drive. The best way to begin is to hire a professional real estate photographer to take high-end photographs of the home. You want to show it in the best light possible so prospective buyers become interested immediately.
Good photographs make a big difference for buyers. Many people have difficulty seeing the possibilities in a potential home, especially if the pictures are low-quality. They want HGTV-quality results right away. Your listing photographs can serve to maximize that visual interest and pull them in. This is especially important in a market that is saturated with an abundance of homes. You need your clients’ homes to stand out, and great photos can do just that.
Focus on transparency and honesty.
Of course, you are going to be honest with your clients, but taking an extra step to inform and guide them with transparency will help serve their interests, and yours. For example, if you are showing a home to a young couple with elementary-aged children, and there is a school within walking distance, you want to be open about any challenges their kids may face on the way to school, such as dangerous intersections. While this may cost you a quick sale, it will help the family find a better home and neighborhood while keeping their kids safe.
When someone is moving to a new area, they can and should research everything they can about it. However, if you have previous knowledge and can help inform their decisions, you are doing the right thing, and they will trust you throughout the home-buying process because they know you have their best interests in mind.
Nourish your clients.
Househunting is an all-hours endeavor. People are busy and have conflicting schedules, so you already know that being a real estate agent is not a nine-to-five career field. You are on all the time, but so are your clients. If you meet them in the evening after they have just completed a busy day of work, they will likely be tired and hungry. You can avoid problems or a lackadaisical attitude on their part by keeping them hydrated and fed.
Stock your vehicle with a cooler filled with drinks and snack options. If you are near a coffee drive-thru, offer to spring for a quick pick-me-up beverage. Those little things will make a big difference in how your clients feel and in their perception of you.
Some ideas to inspire your food selections include:
- Bottled Water
- Chips
- Crackers
- Granola Bars
- Energy Bars
- Candy
Always remember to have an accessible trash bin, recycling bin, and napkins or wipes handy for your clients.
Maintain contact with former clients.
When the final signature is on the last piece of paper, your job is not done. In fact, your relationship with your clients should be ongoing, regardless of whether or not they need a realtor now or even in a few years. It is important to maintain a positive connection with all of your clients throughout the years.
You have a lot of options to maintain ties. You can include them in weekly email blasts that provide them with helpful home maintenance tips throughout the changing seasons. Another idea includes a listing of new homes each week. Send them a magnetic fridge calendar with your picture, business name, and contact information each year. Alternatively, you can send them a small but thoughtful holiday present every December. Gifts of food are always a good idea. The point is to find the sweet spot between not being too pushy or flooding their inbox and helping them remember you, just in case they are in the market to sell or buy, to nudge them to refer you to family and friends.
Selling homes is a hustle. Full stop. You have to market yourself and your business. Create a trustworthy reputation in real estate by always working for your clients’ interests and by keeping their needs in mind at every turn. Highlight their homes with beautiful professional photography to close the deal quickly.
