Volunteering is obviously a great way to give back to your community or to a cause you believe in. It can make you feel good, and it can help improve the lives of others within your community. It can also present you with challenges to overcome, giving you a sense of pride, and it’s definitely satisfying knowing that you’ve made a difference in the lives of others.
But aside from the good that volunteering can do for you and others, it is an often overlooked opportunity to expand your real estate network. Not only is it a place where you can meet new people that possess the same passion for causes that you care about, but it can also have a major impact on your professional reputation.
Making Better Connections with New People
If you’re relying only on social media or networking events to get out there, you’re doing it wrong! Volunteering is an easy way to make new connections. It will feel less forced, and it’s a completely less awkward way to meet people. You’re likely to make more meaningful connections with people this way than you ever will on social media.
Volunteering provides a friendly environment where you can have genuine and engaging conversations with new people who share your same interests. There are no expectations like with a networking event, so it’s low-pressure, less awkward, and more comfortable. And because you’re there for a particular cause that you believe in, there’s already plenty of conversation starters built in.
Helping Your Reputation
Real estate agents don’t really have resumes to build, but we do still have a professional reputation to uphold. When most of your business comes directly from networking and referrals, it’s obvious how important it is to work on your reputation.
It sounds kind of selfish, but volunteering is going to make you look good. Having a reputation as the real estate agent who is helpful, community-minded, and conscientious? I can’t imagine that would do anything except help you grow your business.
Don’t get me wrong, here. Volunteering is a noble thing to do on its own, and is the best way to get involved and make a difference. But it’s important to remember that it can also be a fantastic place to grow your network and hopefully gain more leads. So get off the couch, get out there, and start volunteering!
