New real estate agent? Generate leads and build your business

Whether you’re a new real estate agent or a seasoned veteran, take the 60-day challenge to jumpstart your business!

Your first 60 days

Your first 60 days are the most critical. Whether you’re a new agent or an experienced agent looking for a “fresh start,” these simple ideas may be just what you need to start 2010 off on the right foot so you can start generating leads and growing your business.

Begin to understand the intricacies of real estate, absorb training, seek hands-on experience, make financial adjustments, invest in yourself, meet your fellow associates, office routines, the psychology of trading and selling, learning your market, trying to understand financing – and ultimately managing both successes and small setbacks are essential to making your business work.

These are just some of the adjustments you will need to make and adhere to over the next 60 days. Sound overwhelming? It certainly is, but the challenge is very exciting and will help generate wires!

Below is a list of items that need to be addressed during this time period. Being organized and scheduling your activities will help you stay on track and ensure success in a short amount of time. Prioritize these items.

Your “to do” list

• Establish a routine of being in the office every day for a specified period of time and be prepared to prospect to generate leads.

• As soon as possible, make an appointment with your Manager and Administrative Manager to complete the necessary procedures, forms and applications that your company requires. Completing the paperwork sets all the wheels in motion to start furthering your career and getting acquainted with your office.

• Have a professional photographer take your picture right away. Besides your business cards, there are many other reasons you’ll need your photo: marketing pieces, web pages, blog sites, etc. It may be your first impression for many consumers, so make sure it looks good.

• Attend an orientation session with your local board of realtors. This class will introduce you to the whiteboard, Multiple Listing Service, listing forms, services, etc.

• Prepare your briefcase, your car and your home office. Keep some homebuyer packets and homeowner packets with you at all times. You may wish to have some additional Consumer Guide on Agency Relationship Brochures and Buyer Agreements. Always carry a yellow notepad, sample forms, highlighters, pens, etc. with you.

• Take some time to familiarize yourself with your company’s Buyer and Seller packages. The material included in them should be very well organized, and you will need to learn what the materials mean in order to explain the forms to buyers and sellers.

• Get your car ready for business. Keep it clean and in good repair. Useful items to have available are flashlights, tissues, maps, notepads, mileage/expense book, etc. Remember, you will be spending a lot of time in your car.

• Practice using the MLS system. Sign up for classes at your local board to improve your knowledge and master MLS and the various online tools it offers. Learn about new computer hardware, palm devices, laptops, etc., that can interface with MLS outside of the office. These are all great devices to help you out. generate wires.

• Find builders and models in your market areas. Familiarize yourself with the different builders and introduce yourself to them. They will be happy to help you and explain the benefits of their products. Start collecting floor plans and model location maps. Explore areas outside of your market. Developing good relationships with these builders will improve your sales skills and knowledge.

• Get an appointment book and start using it. You can try to plan a week in advance, knowing that schedule changes can always be made. Set aside time each week for office and area meetings, special events, continuing education, prospecting, planning sessions with your managers, and open houses (at least 2 per month), but don’t forget personal time.

• Determine what support tools work for you. Cell phones, mortgage calculators, laptop or desktop computers, electronic organizers, are just a few of the tool options that can help you be efficient in your business. Most cell phones are “smart” these days and can do almost all of these activities with just one device. Set up a contact management system to keep track of your leads.

• Familiarize yourself with the inventory of available housing for your office and for your area. Attend all office and area tours. Schedule previews before showing to buyers. Inventory knowledge will give you strength and credibility when dealing with leads and customers. Stay up-to-date on what’s available, what’s booked, and what’s sold. Run a daily MLS update. Your confidence level will increase and you will be more prepared to handle phone calls or inquiries from the public.

• Write your own personal profile and enter the information on your company website. If you’re not sure what to write about because you’re new, follow this idea: Find an agent in two or three random cities you’d like to visit. Choose Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, or Seattle, for example, and find an agent you’d like to work with. Then ask yourself why you chose them. Was it because they were a fellow mom or maybe they went to the same college as you? Maybe they are running mates or stamp collectors? Remember, people want to do business with people like them, so don’t try to create a profile of who you want to be, write about who you are. do these things for generate wires.

• Explore your company’s website and intranet/virtual office. Make sure you know what the public can do or see. It will make you much more empathetic with their questions.

• Begin developing your quote presentation and marketing plan. Practice them daily until the words become yours.

• Develop your prospecting plan so you can generate leads to build your business. It’s something that needs to be done on a daily basis for the rest of your career. There are many methods, but they all involve seeing people and talking to people. Write personal notes every day. Get involved in your community. Network with people as much as possible. Create a business and prospecting plan and share it as soon as you can with your Manager. So stick with it!

• Define your goals and match them to your business plan. A defined “road map” will help you focus on what you need to do to realize your vision. Specific written goals that boil down to daily activities will give you direction for the future. He plans to invest some money in personal marketing.

• Explore cost-effective ways to be visible in your community. Become a member of the board of directors of a non-profit organization or volunteer in a community program. Request a press release about your involvement in the community.

• To generate leads, send at least 3 marketing pieces that contain information of value to your sphere of influence. This can be a newsletter, an area market update, a calendar of local events, etc.

• Practice everything: your presentations, open houses and phone conversations, and forms. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You will find a great deal of support from the sales associates in your office. Your manager is there to help you every step of the way.

• Arrange to attend any post-licensing courses that may be required by your state Division of Real Estate. It’s usually easier to attend these classes before you’re busy. You may also consider waiting until the next “slow season” in your market, as you may have more experience to contribute during the session.

Follow these articles and you will definitely generate leads from buyers and sellers.