Background & Reputation

Start by examining their background. Do they have experience in interior design? Are they former real estate agents? Finding out what they bring to the table can help you determine if they have what it takes to make your listings look their absolute best.

Naturally, you will also want to review the company’s reputation. Asking for references from other real estate agents and home sellers is a step that can help you narrow down your search. It’s not a step you want to skip.

Stylistic Flexibility

Homes come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. The home staging services you partner with should have experience working with the types of homes that make up the majority of your listings. Whether you are selling Craftsman’s, Art Deco’s, or Georgian Colonial’s. be sure that your partner knows how to use the architectural elements to make these properties look their best so that they match the expectations of prospective buyers of those types of properties.

When considering home staging services, ask to see examples of the scenes they have designed. Look for their use of colors, the way they maximize lighting, how they position furniture to create a strong sense of space, and all the little details they tend to. Visual examples give you a good idea of their thought process and their effectiveness at creating scenes that resonate with prospective buyers. The stronger their knowledge of design principles and possibilities, the more appealing your listings will be in the eyes of prospective home buyers.

Work Ethic & Work Style

Everyone has their own way of getting the job done. You will want to choose a partner who has a work ethic and work style that you can work with. This can help minimize conflict and reduce stress as you wait for them to complete the job. The closer their work ethic and work style matches your own, the more efficient and effective the partnership will be. This translates to increased sales and greater profits for everyone.

Most importantly, you will want to make sure that the home staging service has the ability to complete the volume of work you expect to send their way. This is crucial as you don’t want to end up in a situation where the service is so backed up that you can’t get your listings out there on your schedule.

The Brass Tacks

Home staging services can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars all the way up to thousands of dollars depending on the services required and the size of the home. You will want to drill deep into the pricing of their services and what you can expect to pay for the services you typically need. Many real estate agents are able to negotiate a lower rate for these services due to the volume of business they are able to generate for the home staging service itself.

Premier Commission can help you get the most from your real estate business. We invite you to contact us to learn more about the services we offer that can help you increase your overall sales and maximize the profits from your efforts.

1. Video Marketing

According to research, approximately 3/4 of all brands see better returns on their investments when using video marketing. The reason this is the case is because people who are looking for real estate love visuals. Though you might have dynamic infographics or even slide shows on your site, adding the video element can greatly increase leads for your business.

2. Social Media

If you aren’t already, you must start using social media if you want to generate leads. Facebook, for instance, has more than a billion users. Though you won’t be focusing your marketing efforts on all of these people, you will have a target audience that you want to approach, and these people are almost certain to use social media. The trick is, however, to make sure your posts are targeted correctly.

3. Paid Google Advertising

Another option to generate real estate leads is to use different types of Google advertising. Google offers a number of options to small business owners, contractors, and others who are not in the same league as the mega corporations that dot the internet landscape. Google Adwords, for instance, is an excellent option for real estate agents, and it is fairly easy to use thanks to the multiple guides available online.

4. Referrals from Other Agents

It might be surprising, especially if you are new to the industry, that you can get a lot of leads by getting referrals from other agents. This can certainly work well, but you can’t expect referrals from just any agent. These work best when you are getting referrals from agents who do not live in the same area that you do. Networking is extremely important to the success of a real estate career, so make sure to attend regional and national conferences when possible. Most real estate agents come across many people each year that are relocating, and you want them to recommend you when people move to your area.

These are just a few new creative lead generation tactics that you might not have thought about for your real estate endeavor. These tactics are especially important if you are a new agent. For even more information on how to access cash to implement your lead generation, contact Premier Commission.

1. Adjust Your Pricing Accordingly

You need to stay afloat, and that means you need to consider pricing more towards the median range of comparable properties. You may even go lower and price around the lower end of the average. This will draw attention to the property and possibly bring in some interested parties.

2. Upkeep the Property and Work On Curb Appeal

Even when things are slow, aesthetics can make all the difference. Make sure to keep the property clean and maintained, inside and out. Additionally, you can try to add a little curb appeal with a few inexpensive upgrades.

• Paint the door or trim
• Put in a new or unique mailbox
• Plant a tree, flowers, or other foliage
• Keep the yard manicured
• Consider adding path lights
• Keep the windows clean
• Keep the driveway free of debris

Small things can make a big difference to someone on the fence about which home in the neighborhood will work best.

3. Embrace Flexibility in All Things

If you want to close when the market is slow, you need to show some flexibility. This isn’t just about pricing. Although, being flexible with the terms of sale can help a great deal.

If a potential buyer says they want something a certain way before they buy, then do what you can to make it happen. If you cannot, then come up with alternatives.

Offer deals, and go out of your way to see what’s possible and what isn’t. You may have to put in a little more legwork than you’re used to, but it will pay off for you in the end.

4. Keep Working On Your Business

Keep going to the office and working on your business. Take some time to do research, stay up with changes. See if you can find other paths to selling or earning funds.

The internet is your friend when things are slow. See what others are doing. You’re not the only one in a slump; another in your field may have some real relevant insight for you. If the slump took you by surprise, educating yourself a little can help you come up with a plan for the current one and future slumps to come.

5. Actively Seek Out Buyers

No matter what’s going on with the slow real estate market in your area, there are always potential buyers. If you typically sell residential homes to families, then consider other types of buyers.

For example, there are people who want places suitable to rent out, or people who make their money doing renovations and flips. Stay alert for the possibility of a sale outside of your normal circle of influence.

6. Consider a Commission Advancement

A commission advancement can give you access to cash before you close. These types of advances can make all the difference between keeping your business afloat when it’s slow, and you having to fold. A commission advance is not a loan, but rather a way to receive your cash early.

A commission advance can come in quite handy while you work on other aspects of your business during a slow buyer’s market. If you want to know more about how commission advances can work for you and your business, contact Premier Commission LLC today.

1) Location, Location, Location

The “location, location, location” trope doesn’t only apply to property value, but also how you handle your career. If you’re determined to find success in a particular city or neighborhood and are less than fussy about your specialty, assess the demographics in that location. Fortunately, the realty sector makes this effortless for you. The National Association of Realtors publishes state-by-state reports of markets, traffic, and trends. Your location-driven real estate niche needn’t be defined by suburbs. Sometimes realtors choose smaller niches like university or school districts and active adult communities.

2) The Housing Sector

Home sales are a popular real estate niche because of how rewarding this sector is, but markets are often flooded for that reason. Some realtors enjoy travelling or selling online, specializing in historical eras or architecture styles instead of locations. Specialized knowledge of Victorians, brownstones, or luxury property gives you the freedom to learn enough about your sector to make your services more valuable than that offered by others. If you prefer commercial property, you might deal in shopping malls, or schools.

3) Clients

If you’re a people person, you might find your passion and profits in client categories. This lets you work with niche investments, too, so if you enjoy combing through analytics, you might choose to work solely with exclusive sellers. There’s plenty of success to be found in segments like second home buyers, growing families, and young couples.

4) Networking

Network outreach is one of the most frustrating parts of a career in realty, particularly if it’s not a skill you excel at. It takes years to develop a profitable network, so the smartest way to handle it is to dig into an existing network. If you belong to a soccer club, school, or similar community, the people you know there may be one of your most valuable assets. It allows you to develop your real estate niche with ease. Some realtors even specialize in selling to hobbyist groups and the like.

5) Modernize

If you were to reinvent the real estate market for today’s needs, you’d probably move it online. When real estate brokers first emerged, the internet didn’t exist, but today, there are a number of realtors tapping online demographics. If you’re tech-savvy enough to start your own e-commerce brokerage, it might be the ideal niche for you. Considering the sheer number of private sellers cutting out the realtor entirely, it’s critical that the industry disrupt this by offering better digital services.

6) Designations

Few realtors reach the peak of their triumph by resting easy. Your skills and knowledge need to be honed. Every niche can benefit from its own collection of designations and qualifications. Examples of these include:

• Representing buyers (ABR)
• Seniors’ home buying and selling needs (SRES)
• Resorts and second homes (RSPS)
• Negotiation expert (CNE)

If you’re considering developing your own niche and need upfront funds to boost the process, contact us today.

Learn about what types of properties exist in your local market

You know that one of the most important factors that affects the value of a property is the building that sits on it. The more rooms, square feet, amenities, etc. that a building has, the more valuable the real estate itself will be.

Relatively subtle shifts in building design can cause significant changes in a property’s value (in certain markets, an extra bathroom can make a home worth tens of thousands of dollars more than an otherwise identical home). That’s why in order to become a local real estate expert, you’ve got to learn about what types of buildings stand on every street.

Accept the fact that you don’t know everything

The biggest key to becoming a real estate expert in your local area is to never assume that you know everything. This is because the market conditions in your neighborhood can change significantly thanks to a single property transaction.

This means that you’re going to have to constantly watch the market very closely. Pay attention to trends in asking prices. Also keep an eye out for purchase anomalies, because these can impact the market value for every piece of property in the neighborhood.

Become a part oxymetholone profile of the community

Understanding your local real estate market will require you to constantly have your ear to the ground. This is because a real estate market can be whimsical; if you want to turn yourself into a true expert of your market, you must understand where it is headed in real time.

When you’re engaged with the local community, you’ll have an opportunity to hear about the latest trends and sentiments in the local real estate market.

Build business relationships

Your local real estate market has two components: residential and commercial. You’ll gain an edge in both by having connections to local businesses. This is for a couple of reasons.

First of all, local businesses make commercial real estate moves all of the time. If you’ve built connections with these businesses, who do you think they’re going to call to discuss their real estate options first?

Second, local businesses are run by real people. People are most likely to work with those who they trust — especially for a decision as big as buying a new home. This means that you’ll likely be privy to lots of info before any other ears in the market hear about it.

Don’t ignore your competition

Although real estate is a competitive industry, you can’t afford to completely separate yourself from every other real estate agent in the market. Other agents will often throw you tips if they aren’t able to take on an opportunity. Also, some of your biggest opportunities will come by way of other agents, since many buyers and sellers rely on agents to find that perfect deal.

Are you a local real estate expert?

Remember that no matter how much you know about your local real estate market today, it won’t matter next week. In order to be a true expert of your market, you’ve got to constantly keep yourself ahead of the curve. The only way to do this is to build connections and keep learning as much as you can about your community.

Looking to stand out from the crowd when it comes to your local real estate marketing? Premier Commission offers commission advances so you can get the cash you need to keep your business running smoothly and market yourself as a knowledgeable agent. Contact us today to learn more!

To-Do Lists

Probably the single best way to keep track of your tasks and goals is to create to-do lists. Many agents recommend creating multiple lists for both short and long-term goals. First, create a one or five year plan that has all of the major goals you are working toward in a general sense. Frame it, put it up on the wall or just keep it somewhere where you can see it and be reminded of where you area headed. Next, create a to-do list for weekly tasks, things you need to check up on and errands you’ve been putting off. Lastly, create a daily to-do list that really nails down the tasks you need to take care of right now, today. When all of your daily tasks have been marked off, turn to your weekly list and see what you can get knocked out in your free time. Don’t forget to include family time and vacations on your to-do lists too!

Disconnect

For the sake of your sanity and mental health, take some time each day to disconnect from your phone, email and social media. Use a productivity app that rewards you for not wasting time, and set a timer for yourself. Whether it’s an hour or just thirty minutes, use this time to really focus on the most complicated tasks without any distractions and get as much done as possible. Staying organized on a day to day basis will ensure that you don’t waste this time tracking down information or trying to decide what needs to get done first.

Create Partnerships

You can’t be everywhere at once. Building a team of other agents and assistants in your area can help relieve the stress on you. Find partners with offset schedules, different availability, and located in different parts of town. Then when you have a client in need, you can refer them to your partners instead of having to make a long commute or cancelling family plans to make time for them. Splitting commissions with your partners is not such a bad deal if they are able to throw some business your way that falls within your normal work hours and gives you more flexibility throughout the week.

The key to maintaining a solid real estate agent work life balance is knowing what parts of your life are most important and how much time you want to spend on each one. By prioritizing your family alongside your work in your long term planning, you have the ability to check in on yourself and see how you are doing as you move down your to-do list each day. Working with other agents in the area will not only improve your real estate agent work life balance, but will also help them do the same. This mutually beneficial work relationship can help you reach a larger customer base and actually improve your income while reducing your work hours.

Premier Commission offers commission advances for agents who want to build their businesses. For more information about this useful cash flow tool, visit our website or call us today to speak to an agent.