Tracey's Blog

    Tips and Hints for the New Real Estate Agent:

 Disclose, Disclose, Disclose!!!!!  This is the most important part of our jobs as real estate agents.  The more you reveal, the less you are personally liable for. 

• If you do not know the answer to a question, TELL the truth.  It is much better to tell a client that you "Do not know the answer, but would be happy to find out for them".

• Be FREE to be creative!  Always look for new ways to get your name out there.  Do not limit yourself to a specific mold that someone else has made.  Find your own style and get your name out there!  Try flyers, ads in the paper, a billboard with your face on it, a magnet on your car, or something you think of.  One of the MOST important part of real estate is RECOGNITION!

• I am sorry to say, but Real Estate is a vain profession, where appearance does matter.  You yourself know that when a REALTOR has shown you a property, you automatically noticed the car they drove, the watch they were wearing, and maybe even the bag they were carrying.  This does NOT mean that you have to have the obligatory Mercedes, but you do need a nice vehicle.  Leave your plastic Garfield watch at home, shine your shoes and iron your clothes.  FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT!

• Your car.  This is very important.  Do NOT smoke in your car (or if you do smoke, do not smoke while with a client).  Keep your car washed and vacuumed, and of course it needs to smell nice.  Before you drive a client around, make sure to move all of your fast food wrappers and hide your paperwork.

• Continue your education!  There are a ton of FREE or inexpensive classes offered to help you learn more.  Attend REALTOR lunches and "coffee talks" to learn more about our industry.

• Try to figure out things on your own!  You are always welcome to ask questions, but sometimes you learn better by figuring things out on your own.  Try it one, and if you are still not clear then ask for help.

• Always be EARLY!  Being on time is one of the most important ways to KEEP a client.  Being late is one of the easiest ways to LOSE a client!  Get there a few minutes early and impress them.

• NEVER park in the driveway.  First of all, you want the client to pull into the driveway and picture this as their new home.  Secondly, you never want to get blocked in.  Safety is very important, and driving away is so much easier than running.

• SAFETY!  Our society has changed and you must always put your safety first.  Check out your surroundings before you get out of the car.  When someone calls to see a property, get their information and leave it at the office with a co-worker.  If you do not feel safe, then LEAVE!

• Do not "Pop-Tart".  In the New REALTOR training, they discuss this in detail.  "Pop-Tarting" is when someone calls and wants to see a property and you "pop" up and run out.  Get a phone number and a name.  Ask if they are working with a REALTOR.  Ask if the buyers are pre-qualified and for how much.  Do this tactfully, so as not to turn the buyer away.  If they are already working with someone, this will save you time and wasted energy.

• GO TO CLOSING!  This is a requirement of ALL real estate closings through my Real Estate company!  This seems simple, but many real estate agents do not go to closing with their client.  At 360 Realty, we feel that our obligation to the client goes beyond the closing table.  You need to be there, to show support as well as look over the HUD statement.  Getting a client is almost as important as making a sale, and going to closing will help you KEEP that client!

• When someone asks you to refer a lender to them, try to refer more than just one.  It is best to give them a few names of respected lenders, so that they can call around and ask for help.  If you only give out one number and they have a bad experience, then they are going to come looking for you.  If you gave out multiple numbers, you are not liable for what happens.  The best way to handle this is to create a "preferred vendors/lenders list" and give it to all clients.

• You never know where you will find a client.  Don't let yourself get caught up in the snooty world of Real Estate, where some think they are better than others.  Sometimes you will be surprised and the older gentleman driving the 1984 rusted out Caprice will be a millionaire who wants to purchase 3 apartment complexes.  We are different here at 360 Realty.  We want to get the word out that we treat ALL clients and customers equally.  Never let yourself assume that someone is not going to buy.  Help them to decide TO buy!

Tracey G. Shrouder

360 Realty

www.360realtygreensboro.com

Tracey Shrouder is the Broker-in-Charge for 360 Realty, located in the Heart of Downtown Greensboro.  Her background in Investment Real Estate has helped her to turn her real estate firm into one of the leading REO/Bank Owned Real Estate Firms in the Triad Area.  Tracey specializes in Investment properties, Luxury Homes, New Construction Subdivisions, and Buyer Satisfaction.  She is a Multi-Million Dollar Producer, as well as HUD certified, Wells Fargo PAS certified, and has over 8 years of experience at the age of 29!  Any opinions expressed here are just that!