A Real Estate Agent's Day
What a day looks like as a real estate agent is a constantly changing picture. There are hiccups in the escrow process, unexpected requests for showings or inspections, and other issues that can quickly zap an agent’s energy. But if you plan carefully, you can build your day around high-value tasks and avoid these pitfalls.
The best real estate agents spend time each day developing and nurturing their network of contacts, both past and present. This means connecting with people they know (family, friends, neighbors), discussing real estate, and following up with any leads they generate. They also meet with new prospects interested in purchasing or selling property, explaining their services and how they can help them. They may set up initial meetings with prospective buyers to educate them about the local market, explain how they will ensure their best interests are represented throughout the transaction, and accompany them on tours of homes that might interest them.
These meetings are essential for creating a lasting agency relationship and must be carefully planned and managed. They’ll take place at various stages of the transaction timeline, with the first one focused on presenting yourself and your firm as a qualified and competent agent. After establishing an agency relationship with the buyer, you will meet regularly with them to review and revise the purchase contract, negotiate terms and conditions, and ensure the transaction is on track. These meetings will occur over several months or even years, so it’s essential to have an in-depth knowledge of the market and a detailed understanding of the buyer’s situation.
In addition to focusing on these relationships, you will also attend regular office meetings to keep you informed about the latest listings and changes in price trends. These meetings are vital to bringing the right buyers and sellers together, so ensure they are on your calendar and schedule for when you’re available. You will also spend time daily marketing your and your client’s properties, including taking photos, writing a home description, posting it to the MLS, making flyers, postcards, and other promotional materials, and contacting local media. It’s a job that never ends, so you’ll always need to find ways to grow your brand and make yourself known as your area’s real estate agent.
Lastly, you will spend some time each day building your online presence and using it to showcase your services, answer questions from potential clients, and generate leads. Your website, social media accounts, and other online properties are the face of your business and will play a critical role in developing new clients.
If you’re selling your home, a great way to get feedback from past clients is to ask them for references. These reviews will help you find out how real estate agent treats their clients and what kind of experience they have with them. They’ll also let you know whether they are responsive to your requests and have helped you achieve your goals.
