I just started in this field in early September and have gotten 1 listing. I thought that I was on a roll for a while until a number of my clients, despite good credit histories, didn't have the funds when it came time to ante up. I have made no money at this - and am finding it more difficult to keep a positive attitude.
Can anyone offer me any advice? It's difficult seeing colleagues, who have been in this business longer, settling deals and constantly showing properties.

Perseverance. Perseverance. Perseverance.

If you can ride out the initial shock of this business, then you can make it. Just hang tough.

Thank you! I will!

Hang in there keep plugging away, the market is slow all over just keep trying to get your name out in the public, tell everyone you know your a Realtor, maybe get a part time job like driving a school bus it works out great with being a Realtor.
GOOD LUCK

I tell new agents that they need 9-12 months of reserves to start in this business plus the cost of signup fees for the realtor associations and MLS.

It is not unusual for new agents who don't have a large sphere of friends and relatives to take longer to start getting business.

The best way is to work with a team or experienced agent/mentor out how to sell real estateto learn the ropes as no licensing class teaches you squat about selling real estate.

Nigel

the market being slow has nothing to do with your business being slow. you need to hustle up the buyers and sellers. be frank, and only work with serious qualified buyers and sellers. people will eat your time as if you were paid a salary.

soi is irrelivant(they are not using you right now). learn to create business. spend the day knocking on the door of every expired that has not relisted. if no one is home leave them a packet of information or a resume. pm Borino if you need a plan of attack.

you must find business. odds are against you. what will you do?

Keep plugging along. Use your "not busy" time to be busy doing other things...like drumming up business as estatereal said, or spend the time learning, learning, learning. If you are with a franchise most likely they have offered some sort of training (I'm really enjoying Weichert University! It's sometimes a little dorky but I usually pick up some helpful stuff every lesson...)

If not, you can "borrow" e-books from the realtor.org website library!! Free! You download a digital edition and can "keep" it for 3 weeks, then it expires...

Use this time to put some systems in place, like spreadsheets to calculate your expenses, set up your database for your soon-to-be clients.

Keep your "dollar short" clients in your loop, send them auto emails and keep in touch with them occasionally; don't just write them off..you never know when they'll actually be in a position to buy and rather than let them pick another realtor, keep your relationship current. I'm not saying to spend a lot of energy on them; but just an occasional email or something.

Be a buyers agent for a top producer???

You learn the ropes and earn money.

Here's some thoughts from a former Part-Time Agent and relatively new to the field (me).

A slow market doesn't mean you personally have to be slow, although there is a learning curve.

1. Partnering with a expiranced agent is a GOOD THING! ALL new agents need to learn to do their job, and do a very good job at it too.

2. Accept no subsitutes for being THE BEST at your job, set your goal to be the best people person , the best at prospecting, the best at marketing, the best at presentations. When you set yourself to do this goal, you will see a exponential jump in how well you do.

3. Sit down ,and do the math (And let your manager/broker help you.) Figure out how much you want to make in real estate > figure the ammount of closed transactions it will take to get to that number > determine a closing rate for those transactions > figure out how many clients you'll need to get the transactions > then finally decide on how much prospecting you want to do.



REMEMBER - BE THE BEST! In october of last year, i went full time in to real estate. The first part of this year i had quite a few listings, but few of them closed. After time, i realized i needed quality listings, and i've started being the PROFESSIONAL. Being better at explaining why i don't take bad listings, yes I have fewer listings, but they will sell.

PROSPECT as much as humanly possible, but don't get so many irons in the fire you can't provide good service.


I'm following these rules, and next year will be a GREAT year for me ,regardless of how the market goes.

I'm in the same predicament you are, Brittany.

Hang in there, I guess sister Brittany.

Brittany,

You've only been doing it for 2 months... it is going to take longer than that to get rolling.

One thing that helped me a LOT was taking on a dog of a listing at 1% (my side). Stupid? Heck no! I made over 20K in commissions from buyers I found through that listing. And it did finally sell, and what a PITA THAT was. So, talk to your broker about whether he might have a "bad" listing or two he'd toss you... you never know.

Beyond that, I have had a lot of luck with FSBO's; it has basically saved my real estate bacon. (I've been licenced just over a year). I would be happy to share what is working for me with you, but it IS very personality-dependant... that said, anyone with the mettle to knock on doors could be sitting on a PILE of listings in a few months from FSBO's, I promise you that!

Realize that these are the slow months of the year, and that right now things are not good in real estate in general. There are numerous agents in a very desperate place, established agents no less, who you are competing with. It's not going to be easy. About 90% of licencees fail in this business. So.. put your combat boots on every morning, it's a war out there! You are fighting for your financial life with the other agents for the pool of commissions, basically. You are going to have to get an edge, get some desperation, get some mojo workin'. Being friendly and passive might have worked 5 years ago- it DID work for people I know well- but it won't work now.

PM me for FSBO details if you want- or call my number below. I'm not trying to sell you something, BTW.

-jeff

PM me for FSBO details if you want- or call my number below. I'm not trying to sell you something, BTW.

-jeff


sounds like you are selling a winning plan!!!! for free...

He's selling aggressive personal contact with FSBO's through good old fashioned door knocking. I do the same thing and it works well if you're humble, good looking and effervescent.

Jeff

I do not see a phone number to call so I PM'D you.