Any career change can be difficult. But starting a career as a real estate agent offers unique challenges. If you’ve recently entered the industry – or are just thinking about a career switch, here are 5 tips to help you succeed during your first year in real estate!
Find a Good Mentor
No matter how much you’ve studied and prepared, it’s still vital to have someone more established in the real estate business to show you the ropes. An agent or broker with several years of experience can be an invaluable resource.
Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and guidance! It’s better to admit you don’t know the answer than to bluff through it. No one expects a newbie agent to be an expert in every aspect of the real estate industry, so use every opportunity to learn.
If a client or vendor asks you a question you can’t answer, say “I’m not sure, but I will find out and get back to you immediately.” It’s as easy as that.
Budget for a Tight Year
Your first year in real estate will almost certainly be slow financially. It’s advisable to have at least six months of living expenses saved up before you make the career switch.
If it’s not feasible to save that much in advance, then consider becoming a real estate agent part-time while continuing to work another job.
Stay in Touch
As a new agent, one of your primary goals should be creating a network and building trust in your community. One of the fastest ways to do that is through communication. Respond promptly, follow up, and keep your word. That’ll go farther than any flashy business cards or slick presentations.
Work Hard, Then Work Harder
In Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s book Through the Looking Glass, the Red Queen tells Alice: “[I]t takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”
He might have been writing about real estate agents. You’re going to work harder than you have at any other job. Although it’s vital to take time out to recharge, you’ll still put in long hours and a surprising amount of mental, emotional, and physical labor. When you feel exhausted or discouraged, remember that this isn’t just a job–it’s a career.
