1. Not Blogging
   Helpful, relevant blog posts can help you build relationships with clients and potential clients as you will be able to position yourself as an authority. You can also use your blog to drive traffic to your website. Many agents avoid blogging for fear of wasting their time trying to compete against the major real estate portals; these people may see blogs as obsolete for marketing purposes. However, blogging can still be effective despite the fact that blogs are no longer a novelty.
2. Not Exhausting the Potential of Social Media
   This is a problem that you may think is limited to older, technophobic real estate agents but you would be wrong. A rookie real estate agent may also fall prey to this error. Not taking advantage of social media is a major mistake as it is very effective for showing homes to clients who would never have come across the location otherwise. As real estate agents, we are already heavily dependent smartphones, tablets and laptops for work so there is no reason that we should not take full advantage of the benefits provided by social media. For starters, work on making it easy for visitors to share your content and to follow you.
3. Not Focusing on Function Over Form When It Comes to Your Website
   Your goal should always be on the quality of your content. Of course, this does not mean that you should neglect style; instead, you should try to have both. Provide visitors with information like home price comparisons in the neighborhood as well comparisons with national average home prices. Statistics, graphs and infographics can be used to simplify large amounts of complex data and enable easier comprehension.
4. Having a Forgettable Website
   The idea is to have a website that your visitor will find so useful that they keep returning to it. As a rookie real estate agent, you can make a name for yourself by providing quality content in a niche area. Your website should be easy to use and provide high-resolution photos and videos as well as well-crafted descriptions.

5. Not Posting Frequently Enough
   The key to building a strong following is to post quality content regularly. Have a posting routine so that you have fresh content up on at least a weekly basis. This will help your audience to remember you and will keep them subscribed to your site.

Note that even experienced real estate agents can be prone to the errors above. If you are presently making one or more of them, the key is to learn and move on. Mistakes are unavoidable for those new to the industry; there will be no limit to your potential for success once you know how to avoid the more serious ones.

To learn more about the rookie real estate agent mistakes you can be avoiding, contact us at Premier Commission today!

Accessibility

The first step to making good use of your real estate open house sign in sheet is to make it readily available to anyone who is entering the property. By placing it on a counter or table in a very prominent part of the home, and making sure that you greet each customer and direct them toward the sign in sheet, you will have a better chance of collecting their contact information. Even better than a physical sign in sheet is to use one of the popular sign in apps now available on smart phones. This allows users to check in on their phones and share their information in a way that you can later access from anywhere with an internet connection. This is easy and convenient for both parties.

Be Respectful

Now that people have spent nearly a decade being bombarded with all kinds of spam and advertising over the phone and online, many are weary of giving out personal information to someone who is trying to sell a house. By showing visitors that you are going to respect their privacy and their space by not sending them unwanted ads and constant emails. You are more likely to get their information. Give them an option to turn down newsletters ahead of time so that they are only receiving the communications that they really want.

Examine The Data

Contact information is useful not just because it lets you reach potential customers, but also because it helps you identify shared characteristics among those customers. By reviewing the contact information, email addresses and other information that you gather, you will be able to develop a demographic picture of who your customers are and how you should be marketing that house.

Reach Out

Ideally, your open house will attract a ton of traffic, but realistically that house will not be perfect for every person that stops by. This could be because of space, price, or other features that are beyond your control. However, even if that individual is not interested in purchasing the house you are currently showing, their information on your real estate open house sign in sheet indicates that they are interested in buying something. You now have the chance to reach out to them and identify what they are looking for and try to offer them something that better fits their needs.

A successfully implemented real estate open house sign in sheet can provide limitless value for agents. It allows you to tighten up your marketing efforts on the house you are currently selling by providing information about people who are already interested, but it also opens up your customer base to people who are looking for something else instead. You can take advantage of both groups of people by following up with them and getting more information about their exact housing needs.

If you’re looking for a great way to get your hard-earned commission today to boost your open house marketing efforts, get in touch with Premier Commission. Our convenient commission advances for real estate agents will make sure you have the cash you need to hold a successful open house!

1. Invest in a Decent CRM or Contact Management Software

At the very least you should have some type of contact management software to do most of the lifting for you. A full CRM solution may cost more than software dedicated strictly to contact management, but you definitely need on or the other.

You should not find yourself tediously typing contact information into a spreadsheet. You don’t have the time for that! One thing to remember is that there are tons of this kind of software out there. To narrow down your search for the one that’s right for you, try this:

• Look for real estate specific software
• See what software your colleagues at the brokerage use
• Do research, try out some trial software before making a purchase

There are a few other things to consider as well. You want your software available to you in forms other than just on your PC or laptop. Look for software that has a cloud aspect or mobile app so you can access your information anywhere and at any time.

2. Keep an Active Website

It’s easy to let the website page from your brokerage carry you, but you absolutely should have your own website. It’s a good idea in general, but for managing clients, it’s imperative.

These days, most people will find you online before they ever think to visit you or call you. This creates a good opportunity for you to gather information from people.

• Keep a mailing list, preferably one that integrates into your CRM
• Allow people to update their own information on your website
• Always leave calls to action on your website to allow potential clients to send you information

If you set these things up right, your contact management software will become dynamic. Integrating software with your website will help you to keep your contact list up to date.

3. Communicate with Your Clients

Those leads, those people you met at the party, the random person that responded to an outdated ad, these are all potential clients. If you have them in your list of contacts, then you should make sure that you periodically let them know that you’re still around.

You should communicate regularly with your active clients, but you should also make sure that you occasionally attempt to speak to your inactive clients as well.

• Keep an email list and actually use it to send newsletters or updates
• Look for missing information in your contact list and see if you can obtain it
• Make sure you periodically contact clients to ask for updates or changes in their information
Don’t do these things just for the sake of doing them. You should try to offer some value to your communications. Also, keep in mind that it’s not all about gathering info from them. You also want to keep them informed as well.

The Cost of Real Estate Client Management

Given that there are peaks and valleys in your cash flow, you may not have sufficient cash to pay for these expenses while waiting for your commission. A great option is to consider a commission advance from Premier Commission LLC, which will provide you with the needed funds to run your business. Contact us today for more information!

Advertising and Marketing Luxury Real Estate Properties

Luxury properties definitely have a target audience of affluent buyers, so expanding your advertising and marketing to several different areas is key in order to reach this small pool of potential buyers.  Advertising online, in print formats, and in other venues will greatly increase the number of people seeing the advertisement and therefore talking about it, sharing it, and spreading the word about the property.  A potential buyer may not be living in the immediate areas surrounding the property, so utilizing online advertising can help reach buyers that may live in other areas of the country or even the world.  The target audience for this type of property is going to be high-end buyers, so networking with people and companies that can help you reach this kind of audience can help you find a buyer more quickly.

Helping the Seller Set Realistic Goals for Selling Luxury Real Estate

It is your job to help your client set realistic goals when it comes to the selling price of their property and when the property is likely to sell.  An overpriced property is sure to stay on the market, and a client that is pushing to sell the property as quickly as possible may overlook important details that are crucial in the process of selling.  Because of this, agents need to be up-front with their clients and help them set realistic expectations for selling their home.  A sense of urgency can be off-putting to potential buyers who may want to take their time considering the property and it can certainly cause unnecessary tension between you and your client, ultimately drawing out the selling process.  Rushing can also make it difficult to ensure the property is enhanced for showing to potential buyers.  If the landscaping is messy or the arrangement of the house is not optimal, potential buyers will likely overlook the property and move on.

Helping the Client Explore Their Options

If a potential buyer is on the fence about purchasing the property, adding extra incentives can help “seal the deal” and move the selling process along more quickly.  Including appliances, furniture, or art pieces can be the incentive a potential buyer needs to make a final decision about purchasing a client’s property.  Also, a client might consider whether or not their property may be able to be sold as something other than a residential home.  Could the home be converted to a business or other type of building?  This may increase the likelihood of selling.

Whatever properties you are working to sell as a real estate agent, Premier Commission can help you manage your business and cash flow with a commission advance.  You no longer have to wait until closing to receive your commission, and Premier Commission can help you advance your business without waiting for a commission check.

You will need a sponsor, but you shouldn’t just jump into any group that presents itself to you. You need to choose the right real estate broker.

The Importance of Choosing Correctly

It is important to understand why choosing the right brokerage is essential for success. Who you choose to work for will influence your own business in several ways. Once you’re a part of a firm, their reputation, whether good or bad, will become your reputation. The culture, education and techniques used are all factors to consider when choosing a brokerage. Some brokerages are all about getting you trained and up to speed, while others may expect you to hit the ground running and offer very little support. There is also the question of how you are compensated and what benefits will be offered to you.

These things should show you that choosing a brokerage is a personal choice you need to put serious consideration into. It’s not the kind of choice that you should make haphazardly or without seriously thinking through the ramifications of the available options.

In Order to Expand, You Have to Narrow Your Focus

Before you choose a real estate brokerage, you need to narrow down your search. One of the best ways to do this is to take off your real estate agent cap for a little while, and scout areas as if you were a potential buyer. This will put you in contact with agents working for several different brokerages.

In turn, you can speak to them to get a better understanding of which brokerages have a presence in the area and what type of real estate they represent. The individual agents themselves can give you some insight into the overall nature of the brokerages that back them.

Once you know which brokerages represent the area you want to work in, then you can start doing deeper research on them. Through this process, you should be able to narrow down your choices.

What to Look For in a Real Estate Brokerage

But when you’re doing research into the brokerages, what should you look for? Of course you should look for professional memberships, accreditations, and similar associations.

Don’t neglect to look for other things such as how they advertise, if they take advantage of new technology and if they’re well known in the community you want to work in. These things can help you narrow your choices even further.

Once you have only a handful or less brokerages to look at, you can start taking a hands-on approach to research.

• Go to the offices or facilities
• Set up meetings with the owners
• Ask pointed questions
• See if they offer training, and what kind of training
• Check to see if they offer mentoring
• Talk costs and commission splits

Once you’re actually in the offices, you can take a closer look at their marketing materials. You can see if their facility offers you space to work and an environment conducive to that work.

Taking it Further

In the end, you will certainly find a brokerage that’s right for you and your business. Once you’re settled, you will also want to start think about funding. No matter how you split it with the brokerage, commission pay doesn’t always come to you regularly.

Make your life a little easier by learning about how commission advances can help you keep your business viable by contacting Premier Commission LLC.

Lay out your background – but keep some information to yourself

As potential clients read your real estate agent profile, you want them to have a good idea of your skill set and experience, but you don’t want to overwhelm them with information. Stick to your main successes and assets. Bullet points are easier to read and allow readers to quickly scan to see if you’re a match for their needs and are more likely to get results.

Get right to the point

You don’t want to include too much information, and you don’t want to make your readers work to find what they want. Don’t bury your leads! Start off with the most important information first. If you’ve won an award, that should be the first thing you mention. If you have years of experience, state that up front. Your potential clients are reading your real estate agent profile to see where you stand out. Show them right away!

Be specific

If you have years of experience, then make sure your real estate agent profile is as specific as possible. It’s not enough to simply say, “Worked on hundreds of deals.” Instead, be specific! Something like, “Successfully helped hundreds of buyers find the home of their dreams in the Fresno area” gives a lot more information than the former sentence. Give specific numbers when possible, including the specific number of sales you’ve handled, the number of clients you’ve had, or your ranking within various local organizations.

If you’re new to real estate, you can still be specific. For example, think about a sentence like, “I’m willing to go the extra mile for you!” What would a potential client learn from that? Not much – and you aren’t likely to find any agents who won’t claim to go the extra mile. Instead, give a specific example of something you’re willing to do. It may be something like, “Available for appointments after hours and on weekends.” Let your potential clients know exactly what you’ll do for them!

Resist the urge to sell

There’s no question that the purpose of your real estate agent profile is to sell your services to potential clients. However, it shouldn’t read like a sales pitch. Instead, give the pertinent information needed. Your goal at this level is to get clients to contact you. They’d rather contact an agent who seems like a relatable person, whose experience is clearly outlined, and who keeps it simple. Your profile should include:

• Contact information
• Background
• Stats if applicable
• A professional photo

If you stick to these simple tips and keep it professional from beginning to end, your potential clients will get all the information they need to choose you as their next agent!

Client Referrals Quickly Build Rapport

In sales, especially real estate, it’s imperative for your prospect to trust you. One of the best and most efficient ways to build this trust is for you to be introduced to the prospect by a mutually trusted party. A prospect is much more likely to trust and become interested in your business if they have heard about a positive experience from a trusted source. It pays significant dividends to offer incentives for referrals to encourage loyal customers to talk about your business and the benefits it has to offer. This type of word of mouth marketing creates much more interest in you as a real estate agent, and can be much more effective than other marketing efforts, including cold calling. Simply put, the word of a satisfied friend will entice more clients because it is coming from a reliable source.

Client Referrals Have Cost Benefits

Real estate agents and firms can also utilize referral programs to increase profit margins. According to Darrel Zahorsky, a business expert and consultant, referred customers are more likely to purchase services at full price because of the trusted, positive review. When it comes to real estate, this potentially means higher selling prices and higher commissions. Simply put, referred customers are commonly less sensitive to price. As a result, the majority of referrals can result in a much higher profit margin because they are pre sold based on your client’s credibility and trust.

Client Referrals Stay Longer

According to a study conducted by Goethe University published in Forbes, client referrals are 18% more likely to stay with your business than other customers. The study traced the referral program of a German Bank over three years and found this number to be consistent. While the reason client referrals have a higher level of retention may be debatable, it can more than likely due to the increased level of trust with you as an agent.

Client Referrals Increase Satisfied Customers

When you effectively utilize a client referral program for your real estate business, you will build a network of satisfied customers that will essentially do the lion’s share of your marketing.

Show Clients You Care

Word of mouth marketing or client referrals present the ideal opportunity to let you clients know you care about their opinion. It sends the message to prospective home buyers or sellers that you care about the relationship. More importantly, it shows clients that you will go above and beyond to gain their satisfaction because only satisfied clients will refer their friends and family members. In any case, as your real estate business grows and develops, it’s important to make sure you implement an effective client referral system to foster productive and profitable long-term client relationships.

Client referrals are one of the best ways to save money on advertising and grow your real estate business. You can use word of mouth marketing to create huge networks and an excellent level of customer loyalty. While simply asking for referrals is one way, it works best to offer your current customers an incentive to refer their friends and family.

At Premier Commission, we provide commission advances so you will be able to craft the right kinds of marketing campaigns to attract new clients and maintain your existing relationships.