Every time I talk to someone about my business and career, it always comes up that “they’ve thought about engaging in property” or know someone who has. . With so many people considering getting into property, and getting into real estate – why aren’t there more lucrative Realtors in the world? Well, there’s only so much business to bypass, so there can only just be so many REALTORS in the world. I feel, however, that the inherent nature of the business enterprise, and how different it is from traditional careers, makes it difficult for the average person to successfully make the transition in to the Real Estate Business. As a Broker, I see many new agents make their way into my office – for an interview, and sometimes to begin with their careers. New Real Estate Agents bring lots of great qualities to the table – plenty of energy and ambition – however they also make a large amount of common mistakes. Here are the 7 top mistakes rookie Real Estate Agents Make blossoms by the park.

1) No Business Plan or Business Strategy

So many new agents put all their emphasis on which PROPERTY Brokerage they’ll join when their shiny new license will come in the mail. Why? Because most new REALTORS have never been in business for themselves – they’ve only worked as employees. They, mistakenly, think that getting into the true Estate business is “getting a new job.” What they’re missing is that they’re about to go into business for themselves. If you have ever opened the doors to ANY business, you know that among the key ingredients can be your business plan. Your business plan helps you define where you’re going, how you are getting there, and what it does take for you to make your real estate business a success. Here are the essentials of any good business plan:

A) Goals – What would you like? Make them clear, concise, measurable, and achievable.

B) Services You Provide – you don’t desire to be the “jack of all trades & master of none” – choose residential or commercial, buyers/sellers/renters, and what area(s) you intend to specialize in. New residential realtors tend to have the most success with buyers/renters and move ahead to listing homes after they’ve completed a few transactions.

C) Market – that are you marketing yourself to?

D) Budget – consider yourself “new agent, inc.” and write down EVERY expense that you have – gas, groceries, cellular phone, etc… Then write down the new expenses you’re taking on – board dues, increased gas, increased cell usage, marketing (very important), etc…

E) Funding – how will you pay for your budget w/ no income for the first (at the very least) 60 days? With the goals you’ve set for yourself, when do you want to break even?

F) Marketing Plan – how will you obtain the word out about your services? The MOST effective way to market yourself would be to your own sphere of influence (people you understand). Make sure you achieve this effectively and systematically.

2) Not Using the GREATEST Closing Team

They say the greatest businesspeople surround themselves with people that are smarter than themselves. It requires a fairly big team to close a transaction – Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Lender, INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL, Title Officer, Inspector, Appraiser, and sometimes more! As an agent, you are in the positioning to refer your client to whoever you select, and you should be sure that anyone you refer in will be a secured asset to the transaction, not somebody who will bring you more headache. And the closing team you refer in, or “put your name to,” is there to make you shine! When they perform well, you get to take part of the credit as you referred them in to the transaction.

The deadliest duo on the market is the New AGENT & New LARGE FINANCIAL COMPANY. They get together and decide that, through their combined marketing efforts, they can take over the world! They’re both focusing on the proper section of their business – marketing – but they’re doing each other no favors by choosing to provide each other business. In the event that you refer in a bad insurance agent, it might result in a minor hiccup in the transaction – you make a simple phone call and a fresh agent can bind the house in less than an hour. However, because it normally takes at least fourteen days to close a loan, if you are using an inexperienced lender, the effect can be disastrous! You may find yourself in a position of “begging for a contract extension,” or worse, being denied a contract extension.

A good closing team will typically know more than their role in the transaction. Because of this, you can turn in their mind with questions, and they’ll step in (quietly) when they visit a potential mistake – because they want to help you, and in exchange receive more of one’s business. Using good, experienced players for the closing team will let you infinitely in conducting business worth MORE business…and on top of that, it’s free!

3) Not Arming Themselves with the Necessary Tools

Getting started as an agent is expensive. In Texas, the license alone is an investment that may cost between $700 and $900 (not considering the volume of time you’ll invest.) However, you’ll come across even more expenses when you go to arm yourself with the necessary tools of the trade. And do not fool yourself – they’re necessary – because your competition are using every tool to help THEM.

LewisBurtle