Pitfalls to Avoid as a Real Estate Agent

While understanding how to be successful as a real estate agent is obviously important in having a long career in the business, being knowledgeable of the potential pitfalls of the business is equally important. As an agent, you’ll want to be sure that you understand that real estate is, like many businesses, detail oriented. In addition, you’ll want to ensure that you’re making the most of both your time and your client’s time. Lastly, don’t be surprised if the duties of your job as an agent sometimes include things outside of your normal job description—after all, every client and their needs is different.

Don’t Overlook the Details

This is sound advice for any sort of business, but especially so for real estate agents. You need to be committed to improving every detail about yourself and about your work in order to become the best agent possible. This includes things like fully committing to your personal brand, and that in itself means that you can’t cut corners in self-promotion and marketing. Having a great attention to detail stands out to your clients and improves your professional image and reputation. As a result, your clients will be more likely to tell other about the positive experience that they had with you, thus expanding your network and further improving your professional image.

Don’t Waste your Time

The old saying that time is money applies to many different types of business, and real estate is one of the many. As an agent, your daily schedule is going to full from start to finish, so maximizing your time is extremely important in being successful. In addition, your clients are taking time out of their days to be with you, so wasting your time is wasting theirs as well. As an agent, you don’t get a lot of down time, so the time that you do get should go towards maximizing your usefulness to your clients. As with paying attention to the details, your clients will appreciate you making the most of their time and will in turn be sure to share their positive experience with other prospective clients.

Don’t Ever Think that Something is Outside of your Job Description

As an agent, your primary duties will obviously be to help your clients buy or sell a home. However, there’s much more that goes into being a good and successful agent than just those things. For example, prior to showing a home to a client, you may take a quick walkthrough to ensure that nothing is out of place, that the garbage can has either been emptied or stored away, or even that the home is neat and presentable. You may feel that such duties aren’t the job of the agent, but doing all that you can and then some for your clients is the best way to leave a lasting impression. As always, the harder and smarter you work for your clients, the more likely they are to sing your praises and let others know what a great agent you are.

In all, being an agent is both difficult and rewarding, and understanding potential pitfalls can help you create the best possible experience for your clients. In turn, your clients will be more likely to refer other prospective clients to you and think of you first for their next home buying or selling experience.