This means that green agents who enter the field without a deep understanding of the industry are likely to get squashed by the agents who are already well-established in the community if they don’t do everything they can to avoid it.

Learning How to Identify Mistakes

So how do newbies get a fair shot? You can read every article online and nail your real estate courses, but if you don’t keep your finger on the pulse of the industry, you’ll barely be able to get your foot in the door. Make sure that you’re listening to the members of your market and regularly scouring online reviews to see where other agents are coming up short.

For any professional to be successful in this era, they must be focused on edging out the competition by making up where others lack. Here are some known mistakes to avoid to help you launch your real estate career like you’re already a pro with years of experience.

1. Not Understanding the Market—Know one thing before you go into your first sale: most homeowners are looking at you as if you’re a real estate expert, and you are! But also understand that homeowners have a lot to lose or gain when they list their home for sale, and they absolutely will seek second opinions and double-check your facts. Always make sure that you’re up on the latest facts and figures in your specific market and know that a market can vary wildly from one area—including a neighborhood, school district and even street—to the next.
2. Improperly Pricing a House—To piggyback off of the above: You have an incredibly delicate job as a selling agent to come up with a sale price that’s easy to promote but that’s also appealing to the homeowner. Set asking prices not based on hunches, gut feelings or the desires of the homeowner, but on cold, hard facts. Look at the comparables and spend time making calculations. Present your potential asking price like you would present a home to a buyer—sell it.
3. Not Allocating Enough to Marketing—The goal for any savvy agent is, of course, to maximize commission, and marketing efforts can quickly eat into that. But spending a little bit of money to market open houses and get the word out about your property is well worth the investment. But before you shell out for the marketing materials, make sure that you get to know your target market and how they prefer to buy. Real estate is a unique industry in that it still heavily relies on face-to-face marketing, with 71 percent of all real estate seller transactions coming from either face-to-face contact or trusted sources. Thus, it helps if you put a fair chunk of your marketing money into networking efforts and open houses.
4. Not Going Digital—According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 51 percent of buyers found the home they purchased on the Internet. Obviously, you won’t get very far in any industry these days if you’re not easy to find online. The very first thing new agents should do is create an online presence by building a website, social media pages and paid ad campaigns. Many agents also have success by advertising on Zillow, Redfin, Trulia and other real estate sites.
5. Going Entirely Digital—With the above stat in mind, it’s clear that successful modern agents cannot afford to go totally old school on the marketing. But it might surprise you to learn that the same study from the NAR found that the third most-cited place buyers found the home they purchased was through real estate signage, specifically real estate yard signs and open house signs. This means that the most successful agents are the ones who are combining digital and printed advertising materials into a single multichannel marketing strategy.
6. Not Listening to Sellers’ Pain Points—New agents should follow this rule while getting their foot in the proverbial real estate door: Do more listening than talking. This is generally a good rule in any advisement-heavy, consumer-facing role, but especially in real estate where the profit potential is high and emotions can run haywire. If you are entering a selling agreement where the homeowner has previously worked with other agents without success, make sure that you understand why your client decided to switch agents at some point during the process. Be sure you do not make the same mistakes.
7. Not Being Honest with Sellers—Last but not least, make sure that you aren’t the type of real estate agent who says what your clients want to hear simply for the sake of being a temporary hero. This will only return to haunt you when your premonitions don’t come true, which means angry clients, zero referrals and bad reviews. A good rule of thumb is to be as conservative as possible when making suggestions about profit, the sales timeline and other facets that might get your seller’s hopes up.

Making Adjustments as You Go

Don’t let the statistics scare you. If you’re committed to forging a long-term career in real estate, you already have what you need to succeed. The best agents are the ones who possess tenacity and the drive to be better every day. They’re also the ones who have the distinct ability to identify their shortcomings and rapidly make changes to improve. As long as you have all of these key qualities, you can be sure you’ll have a rewarding career in real estate.

image credit: Pixabay

Nevertheless, the goal is to establish a continuous flow of clients to ensure the regular stream of income. But how does an agent pull it off? Here are some valuable tips.

Make yourself known –

One of the first things you should do as a Seattle real estate agent is to let everyone know that you are one. This means telling people that you are in the real estate industry and that you are an agent. But only do so in a natural way, like after striking a conversation. Moreover, don’t forget to give them your business card especially if your conversation ran quite well.

 The broker leads matter –

Another useful tip that will help you find new clients on a consistent basis is taking advantage of the broker leads. What you can do is you can offer to assist them every time they pay your office a visit. Just be mindful, however, of not stealing away a client of another agent.

Point your clients to trusted professionals that you know –

Another practice that can help bring in new clients is by referring your existing clients to some of the most trusted professionals that you know of. These connections that include lawyers, appraisers, and contractors, among others, also get compensated in a similar way that real estate agents do. Because you helped them with your referral, there is a chance that they will return the favor and refer some of their clients to you.

Harness social media –

With the power and influence of social media, you as a real estate agent should be one of the first to use them to your advantage. You can use your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts to reach out to more people not only within your circle but also those who are outside. There are different real estate-related groups that you can join where you can increase your presence. Being seen by more people will also help build your reputation as a trusted agent in your local community.

Create your own website –

Lastly, you should also consider building your own personal website. This will help establish you as a reputable agent and you will be able to showcase your output, your previous clients, and the testimonials you have received in a professional way.

The year 2017 is expected to provide a number of new conditions that will draw first-time homebuyers to the market, as well as encourage older homeowners to consider the move to downsizing their housing. You will have a varied inventory on hand to serve a range of demographic groups. Here are some things you should know for real estate work this year.

Suburban Locations with Urban Amenities

One new trend that is grabbing the attention of both realtors and prospective buyers is suburban communities that offer a number of amenities associated with urban living. Tagged as “suburban” living, these towns provide city centers so people can walk to work, shop, dine and enjoy parks and entertainment outside of the central city limits and close to their own homes.

A number of these communities already exist around the country, and more are expected to arise as local communities recognize the value of attracting employment and entertainment venues, both as a tax base and as a draw for new residents. For homebuyers who want a slower pace and less congestion than the city, but still want to enjoy many of the amenities available there, the suburban community offers the perfect option. You may find yourself managing a number of bidding wars for desirable properties in these communities.

Young Couples Purchasing Larger Homes

Another trend that will loom larger in 2017 is the desire for millennials to buy their larger home instead of first purchasing a “starter” house. These young people have delayed their purchase for a number of years and have accumulated larger down payments to put toward their homes. They are likely to see the advantage of buying the larger property at today’s low interest rates, rather than wait for a later time when a trade-up is more pressing, but interest rates are higher.

Rising Interest Rates Causing Greater Demand

Mortgage rates remained low during the late 2000s, but were offset by low wages, a struggling job market and tight credit. In late 2016, the Federal Reserve Board made the decision to raise interest rates, and this action may signal a period of continued interest hikes that will affect homebuyers. If buyers have been waiting for a better time, they may feel that now is the time to take action before the rising interest rates make a home mortgage unaffordable. You will have to work hard to keep up with the demand for inventory. You might look into real estate training programs like Success Path to learn more about this.

Looser Credit

The years from 2008 to 2012 saw tightening of the requirements for a home mortgage. In many cases, couples were unable to get the loan they needed for their first homes. Loosening credit requirements will allow you to make more sales than you have in past years.

More New Construction

Keeping up with housing for a growing population has been a problem in recent years. New construction has been an on-again, off-again affair after the problems of mortgage crisis and recession. Lagging wages and an uncertain economy have put a hold on developers’ plans to build in areas of the country that are seeing population growth.

However, rising employment numbers, wage growth and easier credit is expected to fuel many new construction projects. Young buyers will be out in full force looking for housing in which to start families. But you should also keep a good supply of condominiums and townhomes for the retirees looking to downsize.

Homebuyers could see a number of opportunities in the coming year, and sellers could profit from the general improvement in the American economy, along with a more favorable lending climate. These conditions will keep realtors busy in the months ahead, and they should be ready for a fast-paced season of buying as soon as the weather warms.

1. Utilize Technology

Successful realtors always remain up to date on the latest technology. Studies have shown that higher-earning realtors will invest in upgraded phones and devices. Meanwhile, lower-earning realtors tend to use older technology such as flip-phones and laptops, disconnecting them from the times and potentially their clients. Owning modern technology is effective because it enables you to do "anything from anywhere," increasing your accessibility and marketability. If you’re not up to date, time for a technological makeover!

2. Develop a Strong Support Network

Good realtors constantly look to expand their professional network. Having a strong network enables you to stay up to date while pinpointing where others have made success. Networking also allows you to keep up on your current clients while opening doors to potential new customers. Social media including Facebook and Twitter allow you to find leads at any time of day from anywhere. Meanwhile, websites such as LinkedIn can help you build your professional network by linking to fellow realtors. Consider attending realtor seminars to meet other professionals in person to increase your visibility as well.

3. Engage in Effective Time Management

Another important habit for realtors to develop is to ensure their time management always remains on point. This is especially important when considering your client’s needs. Allow a span of free time each day that a client can reach you outside of your office hours. This increases your accessibility and lets you be there in times when clients have questions or concerns outside the office. Effective time management also means keeping a routine that encourages on and off time. Allow yourself to have free time in order to prevent burnout and recharge at your leisure. During that time, develop positive habits such as daily exercise and reading on subjects that increase your knowledge.

4. Get to Know Your Neighbors

Be sure to get to know the neighborhood you’re selling in intimately. Take some time to get familiar with the areas you’re engaging in. Realtors should know the communities and the amenities they provide. This includes but is not limited to schools, local attractions, parks, hot spots, and traffic patterns throughout the day. Clients make big investments when they move to a new area and they want to be certain their time and money will be worth it. Clients appreciate an informative realtor who takes the time to do some extra homework. Those positive qualities shown can lead to those glowing reviews and referrals.

5. Develop Leadership Qualities

Having potent leadership qualities is a hallmark of an effective realtor. You should always be striving to improve yourself each day. During your off time, be sure to invest time and energy into practicing self-improvement. Some examples would be reading or working out at the gym. Invest in your job by subscribing to realtor magazines, attending conferences, and looking into training programs like Success Path Education. Any opportunity to develop your craft should be met with earnest passion if you wish to succeed in the industry.

The real estate industry is a very competitive field that can provide great profit and success with the right amount of drive and passion. Whether it’s expanding your network or developing those leadership qualities, you should always be striving on advancement and improvement if you want your realtor wings to soar. Follow these habits diligently and you can turn that dream into a reality.

Does the agent specialize in the type of property you are looking at?

You want to hire a real estate agent who has experience working with buyers of the type of property you are looking to buy. For example, if you want to buy a condo, you don’t want an agent who specializes in single-family homes. If you want to buy a brand new home, you want an agent who sells those types of homes, not one who only sells existing homes.

Does the agent know the areas where you are looking?

If you live in a large city, it makes sense to hire a real estate agent who has experience buying and selling homes in the areas you are targeting. An agent with experience in a certain area will know the pricing trends and also will have contacts that can put a house on his or her radar before it officially goes on the market.

Does the agent have enough time for you?

A bust agent usually means a successful agent, but at the same time, you want to make sure your real estate agent has adequate time to devote to your search for a home. Make sure you have someone who responds to phone calls and emails promptly and always makes himself or herself available to you.

Is the agent technologically savvy?

In this day and age, real estate listings are all online, and so your agent needs to be comfortable in that space. If your agent brings you paper listings rather than emailing them to you, he or she might not be the agent you want to work with. And you definitely want someone who has his or her own website?

Is your agent well-liked and trustworthy?

Before signing on with a real estate agent, you should do a thorough background check. Run the person’s name through Google to see if any negative feedback pops up. And be sure to investigate whether the person’s license is current and what if any complaints he or she has faced.

Choosing the right real estate agent is important, and these tips can help you find a good one. The Red Bank real estate agents at Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate can help you find your perfect home.

While in today’s scenario, the majority of the property searches start on the internet. Especially, those who are highly active in the online real estate market know how to make money including the location and history of the place. A number of real estate websites help you in spotting property of your interest along with other necessary details. This way, you can easily have a detailed research on all the necessary options available fulfilling your desired needs.

But as you proceed towards finalizing your property, especially from online real estate agents, you need to be aware of some of the necessary things. So in order to help you out, the real estate agent in Woodbridge is listing some of the crucial factors that you should be aware of. Let us have a quick glance at those factors:

• Research local pricing:
  If you are really interested in buying property through real estate agents, it is recommended to research and have knowledge of the current pricing trends. Besides that, check if the average home price is more than the neighbouring areas and the type of properties available for satiating your own needs.
• Research the surrounding locality:
  When you look for finalizing the property, one main thing you must consider is the upcoming desirable future of the new infrastructure and surroundings. Look if there are certain types of development in the surroundings of the schools being built, development of new shopping centres, and other main things. In addition to that, have a look at the beginning of the construction in and around the major roadways.
• Explore the low-tax alternatives:
  If there are a number of residential options having varying property taxes then the one with the lower taxes would be in demand. The real estate agents would offer you options for the areas having best as well as worst tax structures. Besides these things, look if the reassessment is setting to take place in the near future. The reassessment means that the property taxes are likely to go up in the near future. One piece of advice that stays away from the localities that are becoming overcrowded.
• Check-out school rankings:
  This is another important factor to look on before you choose online rental properties. Those areas where the students in each district are moving up with better results are most often desirable to the parents. The access to the quality education is most probably a big selling point to the new home buyers.
• Watch the outskirts:
  If the property rates in the major city are overpriced then the areas at the outer fringes are more likely to be soon in demand. The close proximity areas from the bus or rail transportation are more desirable. As one would prefer the areas that have better surrounding commuting options, the real estate agents will offer you the best options from these areas.

Thus, if you are planning to buy a property through real estate agencies, you need to check out whether your real estate agent is accomplishing your desired needs. You need to keep in mind that your real estate agent is fulfilling the above-mentioned points and offering you best rental property options.

Author’s Bio: Daniel Clark is associated with one of the real estate agencies and shares his write-ups with readers about the real estate agent in Woodbridge. With this post, he is sharing some of the important factors about real estate agents.

It would be a difficult task to find a trustworthy realtor from a group of realtors. Especially if you’ve never hired a realtor before, or if you’ve ever had one whom you couldn’t trust, choosing a good realtor may be extremely difficult, if next to impossible, to accomplish. I am able to convey this, as I faced the same when I was finding a realtor in Woodbridge VA. It was extremely difficult initially, but soon through following mentioned steps, I was able to find a worthy realtor.  

Conduct Interviews

You feel selecting a realtor from options available on Yellow pages is enough? Well no, you should go to realtor’s office, but at times it’s impossible to do this. You can always conduct an interview on phone, so prepare a list of questions to ask, and expect frank and honest answers.

Ask for References

A good realtor will always be ready to give names of satisfied customers, in order to back up how trustworthy they will be for you. You can have a word with their happy customers and get the best information about the realtor.

Put Across Your Needs

No one is a mind reader, that the realtor would judge all your needs . Ensure your realtor is aware about your exact needs. If you are not sure about your needs, ask question to yourself. And while you cannot expect your realtor to read your mind, a good, trustworthy realtor can still anticipate your needs.

Above and Beyond Services

Not every realtor is the BEST. Mostly all realtors will just perform the minimum task in just sake of his service. A BEST trustworthy realtor will always go above and beyond the minimal duties.

Do you need help finding a loan officer? Will your realtor locate one for you? Will your realtor be present at closing time in case you have any last minute questions? Will your realtor hand-deliver the title to the court on the same day you close? Will your realtor investigate any issues you may have with the home you want to purchase, like will real-estate taxes be included in your price, or will the appliances be included in the home purchase, or is the seller going to provide a home warranty?

It’s a realtor’s duty that they investigate any upcoming or possible issues that may come up during the deal.
So, from the above discussion, it’s clear that to find a trustworthy realtor is to ask questions, no matter how silly they might for you. They should be familiar with school districts, utility company policies, which to you, Cable Company is available and other things that are not necessarily part of your home purchase, however these are little things that makes a realtor amazing. 

Author Bio: Daniel Clark is a writer and now a part time real estate broker. Here he describes his learning, on how to find a realtor as he faced trouble while finding a realtor in Woodbridge VA and thus learnt from that experience.

A well maintained and functioning office, house or flat, means not only clean and appealing first impression of it. Your customers will need to be sure the water supplying system is functioning, the rooms are decorated stylishly and are clean enough. You can ensure this with the help of the services of a cleaning company, decorators,  plumbers and firms which offer renovation services. There is no chance your customer will be interested in bad looking apartment without functioning plumbing system and a desperate need of thorough cleaning.  The successful real estate agent should have a list with the most successful cleaning companies, plumbers and firms, which offer professional renovation and decorating services in the area he works.

If you want to build a good reputation as a real estate agent you need to keep in touch with other successful real estate agents, brokers and potential customer. You can’t afford to disappoint your customers with unattractive rooms and places, which need renovation or repairs. Your customers have to think of you as  a reliable real estate agent. That’s why your best friends should be the most professional working  maids, plumbers, decorators, handymen and technicians. Once you build a reputation of a trustworthy real estate agent, you name will work for you. However before this happen you have to work for your name to become a successful real estate agent.

A well maintained and clean property can sell itself. You don’t have to advertise or convince your client too much how worthy of its price it is. They can see for themselves. On the other hand a neglected and not maintained estate can repel your potential customers and they won’t be willing to use your services the next time they need a place to rent or buy. Having the list with trustworthy companies, who offer professional cleaning, reconditioning, repair, plumbing and decorating services is of great importance. Besides knowing the most successful maids, plumbers, decorators and technicians, it’s good to have friends among other prosperous real estate agents. They can teach you some of the subtleties of their successful work. Although no one want to reveal his secrets, you can learn a lot of things from people working in the same sphere as yourself.

A profitable deal for you as a real estate agent is selling or assisting for a property to be rented, which is more pricey. Expensive estates are these, which are in a nice condition, without any problems in water and energy supplying, decorated appealing and kept clean. Knowing the best maids, plumbers, decorators, interior designers and technicians in the area you work, will ensure you a successful working day. Keeping a database with all your contacts with different companies, potential customers, friends and colleagues, can help you do your work successfully and easier. The more people you know, the better. The profession of the real estate agent requires a communicative personality. The more social and easy going you are the more success you will have.

The article is written on behalf of PromptCleaners