Hi all! I am taking my test next week and after reading all of the negative things about how hard it is to beconme an agent, I am discouraged. Everywhere you turn theres a new agent. I am very motivated, and eager to work, and young (21). Does everyone go through this?

Well, I read about how hard it was too and determined to dig in my heels and not becaome just another newbie agent who disappears after a year or two.

I am doing everything I can to educate myself to try and be a better agent (that's why I read up on message boards like this one - I consider it part of my training.)

If you are DETERMINED, then the hurdles are just that - hurdles to jump over and leave behind you. I think it's important to know what you're up against and decide whether you want to tackle it or not.

I am very determined, just nervous. How did you overcome a lot, and I do use this site a lot! I couldn't log the other day, and they said they never had my email on file, so I had to open a new account. Enjoying the snow up there, Perky?

Well, I was enjoying the previous snow MELTING two days ago!!! It is pretty, I will say that.

Well, I haven't overcome YET - but I am determined to do so. I'm reading a lot, formulating plans - such as, trying to come up with rebuttals to objections when people ask me about our small office or about my little experience... I am getting ideas about a blog, trying to come up with some clever ideas for business cards.

I suggest that you also look into Jennifer Allen's stuff (she's a mod here, and I purchased her e-Book, which is EXCELLENT.) Her website is sellwithsoul.com and I think it will be helpful for you to take a peek. Her book is on Amazon.com too.

*note, I am not in any way shape or form receiving any benefit from the above plug*

I am a creative person, and I hope to put that to work for me. My drawback is sometimes people catch me off guard and I get a deer in the headlights look and a "duh" expression. I'm trying to find out what all those "off guard" triggers are, so I can respond professionally and sanely..with intelligence and confidence.

Oh, and Jennifer has an Active Rain group too. I joined teh other day and forgot to go back (*blush*)

http://activerain.com/groups/sellingsoulfully

I would try to focus on thing one-step-at-a-time! Its so easy to get bogged down (both physically & mentally) in all of the different activities. Just see & feel your way to what's next and focus your energy on that, nothing else. You said you have the test coming up, right? Focus on the test and passing since if you don't pass, none of this will matter anyways ;).

Just take it one-step-at-a-time

My mantra of the moment is "Know the difference between conducting business and running the business".

You can be the best agent in the world, but if your no good at getting the word out about yourself to as many people as possible you will fail. Its the skills that have NOTHING TO DO WITH REAL ESTATE that are going to determine if you at least get the chance to prove you can be a good real estate agent to someone.

R

I agree, just take it one step at a time. When I was preparing for the test, that is all I concentrated on. I am in Florida and kept hearing how hard the test was, I studied & prepared myself. I took members advice from these boards & passed it on my first try, finding it not hard at all. Then I took my time to start. I started last June, after my training. There is a lot, a lot to learn! But have a plan and focus. I have another job, so it's even harder for me. I have been discouraged myself, but keep on trying. Make sure you have the $ to start up, just as your own business. It takes some money to make money.
Good Luck.

I remember when I first started in real estate, the whole world was my market place, yet it felt like I couldnt find a single person in it to buy a home.

One of the things that helped my business most was not doing what other agents do. Thats what makes starting in real estate one of the most difficult things. Most agents that you see around the office are not people that you would want to learn from. Thats why there around the office, sitting around on floor praying for that call that will get them one sale.

I fell for it, until I realized that I got involved in real estate to write my own paycheck. I did not join real estate to waste hours and hours around the office trying to look busy. Who was I fooling anyway.

I had agents in my office that were always hairied, running around like they were so busy, they were busy, but not busy making money, they were busy looking busy, dont fall into that trap.

Once I discovered how to automate my business and make people come to me rather than me going to people, my life changed forever. Within a year I was making 6 figures, and working less than 15 hrs a week. Thats why I started real estate, to make good money and make my own hours.

Right now we are in one of the worst markets in the last 30 years, and I still am selling 3-4 homes a month without even trying, Im not even very smart. If I can do it you can to.

Success 21 don't be discourage.. remember that a Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... just do your home work and believe in yourself if you want to be really successful at the age of 21 like your screen name

I have read this sentiment so much in the recent past and it's SO true! Make sure that the activities that you choose are actually making you money, not just keeping you busy.

Just a thought on starting new....

I recently moved to a new marketplace, had to give up all my previous listings, and start from scratch in an area I knew nothing about.

That was right after Christmas.

It's been about 90 days which is an average real estate business cycle.

Here was my today:
Take computer to get repaired for overheating. Pay $100 extra to expedite repair...no laptop for entire day.
Finish up admin/Thank You notes for 3 listings taken last week.
Prep weekly mail for FSBO prospects.
93 times on the phone for follow-up, incoming calls, and prospecting.
THE IMPORTANT STUFF THAT COUNTS:
Fax offer to listing agent for buyer client.
1 Phone Conversation to confirm appt. to list $500K home.
1 Phone Conversation to discuss options for a investor that wants to put 4 homes on the market.
1 phone conversation to secure listing appt for 6 week old FSBO.
Confirm appt for showings to relocation buyers on Mon/Tue.
Prepare presentation because my broker asked me to teach listing techniques to agents at his free weekly coaching seminar tomorrow.
Several conversations to discuss job duties of new assistant.

Basically about 100 days after I started from scratch in unfamiliar territory, I'll have just shy of $2 million in listing inventory (11 listings), have 4 buyer side sales, and be bringing on an admin assistant/buyer's agent to handle showings, and incoming leads.

My point is that even as a new agent, you CAN generate as much business as you'd like. I've only been in this business a year and 1 month. If you automate your client processing system, brush up on solid sales skills, and MEET PEOPLE!, you will be successful.

Please note: Real estate is not a glamorous job. We are salespeople, and quality salesmanship is a learned skill, not a "birth trait". The agents who make the money are the ones that are willing to do what all the other agents will not....mostly prospecting. If you take the time to learn how to prospect, it's easy, fun, and you don't have to work horrendous hours. I bust my [censored], my phone battery dies around noon and 3 every day, I meet people, I go on appointments, I study sales and I list like crazy because listings equals easy money plus buyer leads.

Also, hard work makes luck. For example, I took a listing last week from a guy that saw me while I was previewing a home for my self. He was sitting on his front porch, saw me, asked if I was an agent, we talked, I was in a hurry, I got his contact, called him back, and secured the listing the following week. Totally random, but if I hadn't been previewing homes and if the Re/Max lady that farmed him would have taken the time to return her INCOMING lead calls, I wouldn't have gotten that listing. Again, hard work makes luck.

Work smart, and even though you'll work hard, you won't have to work broke!

fiveostang:

Thanks for the encouragement. I was looking for inspiration like this

How did you achieve these impressive result? What is most effective? farming an area? farming to FSBO? open houses?
Thanks for sharing

I don't farm, or at least I haven't added that to my repertoire yet. I literally drive around and find about 50 FSBOS. I just take a map book, and marke the neighborhoods I search, write down the address and phone number. I go home, look up the tax records online to get names, and then I pick up the phone.

I don't ask to list the house, just if it's available and what kind of co-op they are offering to brokers/if they are allowing agents to show it. I don't solict for their business. I preview the home, and send a thank you note (handwritten).

The success lies in the follow up. Each week they get a one page tip of usefull info for selling their home ON THEIR OWN! and every 11 days I call them to see if the house is still on the market. (Actually I tell them that I'll be calling once a week or so to check on the status..they always say it's fine).

I'll follow up that way up to 12 weeks but you should really start to see results in about 6 weeks. If you can add 5 to 10 new people to that plan every week, after 6 weeks or so you'll be getting regular "come list me" phone calls. Probably several a week.

That's the foundation of my business, but I study traditional sales skills as written by Jeffrey Gitomer, Zig Ziglar, Tom Hopkins etc. on a daily basis and PUT THOSE IDEAS TO PRACTICE. They work, and they help increase your probabilities to success.
I chose FSBOs because if I can use my skills to list them, then when the "easy" sellers come along, it's that much simpler and refreshing to sign them up!

Thats one of the reasons I want to go into it. When we first moved to GA, we talked to several realtors. The one that we went with was the one who we thought worked most efficiently.

She didn't waste our time, and she definitely didn't waste her own time. She knew how to network, and knew how to make that network work most efficiently for her.

It is because of what I saw during that one week that made me realize what a great opportunity real estate can be.

Its more than what you know. It is more who you know, and how you handle that knowledge.