Considering a career in real estate?

So you have decided you want to be a real estate agent. What do you do next?

1 -

Identify where you want to work, and who you want to work with. What do your surrounding

agencies offer in terms of training?

For example: Century 21 offers both local training and online learning. It is instructor lead and

self-paced. There are classes that can help everyone, from the new agent to the most

experienced broker. The Century 21 Learning System covers the full-spectrum of roles in the real

estate industry, from reception and administration through to franchise ownership and everything

in between - giving offices and agents the skills necessary to match the performance of world-

leading real estate practitioners.

You need to put yourself in a position to be learning from the best, associate with success.

2 -

Network with other agents.

This is something you can do even before you have landed a job within an agency. Approach an

agent at an open home and ask a few questions, go into a local office and ask a few questions.

The vast majority of real estate agents are on social media, you can connect with them there.

Identify what they are doing to be successful. Things like:

- Do they utilise social media? Someone who is engaging people on multiple platforms will be

successful and creating good awareness not only for themselves as an agent, but for their brand

too. Can you do the same?

- Do they offer value? This could be something as simple as sharing an informational video on a

topic like "auction tips" or "preparing your home for selling". General information can go a long

way, even if it doesn't convert any clients. If they are putting themselves out there and offering

value, then it is likely their name and brand will be remembered.

3 -

Presentation of self and property.

In the real estate industry, presentation is very important, of yourself and of the property you are

listing. Making a good first impression can go a long way in convincing prospective clients of your

professionalism and commitment as an agent.

You want to be creating a good image for yourself. If you have neat, professional presentations,

then those are the things you will be associated with. People take notice of how you handle

clients. You may impress someone unintentionally, which is perfect for referrals.

Lets say, there is a couple walking through an open home you are listing, they themselves plan

on selling their home. If you create a memorable presentation, then when they are searching for

a real estate agents, they might think: "Hey, who was that agent at the open home we visited on

the weekend, he seemed great".

Remember, you never know who your next client may be!

4 -

Stay educated and up to date.

This is especially important in today's world where many keen property investors can keep

themselves educated about the industry through the media. With such vast availability of

information, the average buyer may know a lot more than expected. You need to be able to keep

up with changing market trends in order to stay on top of your game and answer questions that

may be thrown at you.

Remember property is a huge financial and emotional commitment. Customers will always want

to know the ins and outs, and you may find yourself under the pump. It is not only important to be

an expert on your local area, but also on market trends nationally.

People are heavily swayed by what the media portrays. If the news on TV had a story on "falling

house prices in Australia", it is very likely that someone looking to buy or sell will have seen it.

Now, does this mean that house prices are done in your state, or even just your area? Maybe

not. Having facts to reassure clients is very valuable.

5 -

Know your property.

This makes a great first impression. It shows that you have invested time and energy into the

property and that you are genuinely interested in finding a suitable tenant or buyer.

Understanding local trends in property can also give you the option to offer advice on

renovations. If buyers have recently been jumping at homes with new kitchens, or little things like

built in wardrobes, then tell your clients.

It is nice as someone selling their home, to know what aspects are going to drive the sale. This

will give them an upper hand to focus on presentation of specific areas. It may mean that they

just modernise their kitchen area with new paint and lighting. Little things can have a big impact,

be mindful.