It’s an incredibly competitive market, one full of rivals, neat-pricing clients, and gigantic swings in the market. It’s also one of the most lucrative trades available, said Ali Safavi. Thankfully, I’m here to fill you in. My name is Ali Safavi and I’m a realtor and real-estate business consultant in California, one of the most dog-eat-dog markets in the United States. I’ve had to learn on the job. Why? There are simply some things that aren’t explained in a manual or a guidebook, things, and habits you pick up by doing. I’m here to fill you in and give you some tips on how to break into the scene, or ramp up your business, and make a killing.

How to be a successful real-estate agent — habits of a realtor

All the tips I’m about to give you boil down to one simple yet undeniable concept, one that might seem a bit overwhelming but in the long run is incredibly easy to implement — Treat yourself as a business. The business and market are constantly changing meaning it’s up to realtors to stay ahead of the competition by going that extra mile. To stay current. To stay hungry. To be dependable. Nothing facilitates that frame of mind than the idea that you are not a person but a business. One with a dependable staff, with a brand name, with a marketing department, with an accountant, and a secretary, and a great financial platform, even if you’re one single person, you have to feel like you’re a building filled with employees, each of them working tirelessly to make you vision come true, said Ali Safavi.

Here are some tips that will make that transition, from one person to a platform, that much more simpler.

Have a value system

All great businesses have a value system. What exactly is that? A value system is a network of factors – like decision making, goals, company vision, norms, etc – that serve as a blueprint for what you are and where you want to be at. It helps you and your employees understand the intangibles behind your business. It’s those sacred norms and rules that guide you.

Nothing facilitates that frame of mind than the idea that you are not a person but a business. One with a dependable staff, with a brand name, with a marketing department, with an accountant, and a secretary, and a great financial platform, even if you’re one single person, you have to feel like you’re a building filled with employees, each of them working tirelessly to make you vision come true

Branding

Branding is a loaded term. Why? That works under the premise of a unified theory of branding And what’s that? It’s a brand that’s consistent at every level of product. The culture behind your business makes sense at every conceivable stage. From the moment you dress your clients, to the way you do follow-up post-sale. Your marketing, the way your staff dresses up, your office, your business cards, your greetings, your products, everything is consistent with what you represent.

Branding is a loaded term. Why? That works under the premise of a unified theory of branding And what’s that? It’s a brand that’s consistent at every level of product. The culture behind your business makes sense at every conceivable stage. From the moment you dress your clients, to the way you do follow-up post-sale. Your marketing, the way your staff dresses up, your office, your business cards, your greetings, your products, everything is consistent with what you represent.

Branding is a loaded term. Why? That works under the premise of a unified theory of branding And what’s that? It’s a brand that’s consistent at every level of product. The culture behind your business makes sense at every conceivable stage. From the moment you dress your clients, to the way you do follow-up post-sale. Your marketing, the way your staff dresses up, your office, your business cards, your greetings, your products, everything is consistent with what you represent.

Know the Market

A great realtor has acquired in-depth knowledge of their selected market or markets. They know, like the back of their hands, absolutely everything that has to do with their geographical location. They need to fully comprehend changes in consumer habits, mortgage rates, unemployment rates, trends. They need to know about the area’s history, zoning logistics, types of neighbors, etc. They need to know about the area’s history, zoning logistics, types of neighbors, etc.

Find Help — Build a Network

It’s challenging learning everything you can about your market. Having a strong network really helps out. That includes well-chosen mentors, business partners, clients, and even members of non-profit organizations. Much of the business relies on experiential learning. You get good at it as you go along. Not from textbooks.

Get an accountant

Taxes will compromise a huge portion of your headaches and yearly expenses. Understanding current tax laws can be complicated not just for your book-keeping but to help out clients and answer their questions. Savvy realtors get qualified, reputable accountants to help them out and even give a nugget of wisdom or two to their clients.

Marketing matters

Have a great marketing campaign in place and automate it as soon as possible to stay ahead. This includes social media accounts, direct mailing, blog content, and everything in between. Don’t be afraid to partner up and think outside the box. Whatever punches up your sales.

Be a social butterfly

It’s all about connections and making the right contacts. Being a realtor is really hard if you’re an introvert. You need a special kind of charm and outlook on life to succeed as a real estate agent. You need to know how to behave in polite company, when to narrate a lewd joke, how to shake hands when it’s important to wine and dine with a client or a potential partner.

Use Technology

Today, tech is everywhere and it really helps. Did you know that for a monthly subscription, there are sites that write articles automatically? —-and they’re good. Thanks to modern tech the business is that much more simpler. There’s a subscription service for just about everything you can imagine. A secretary, a small staff, is just a phone call away at a fraction of what hiring an actual person would cost.

Landing page

Have a landing page, period. A well-crafted SEO-ready landing page will increase your client base by 5X. Have good reviews on Google, maintain a clean internet presence, value, and curate your online reputation. Get help building your digital presence, thanks to sites like Freelancer, or Upwork, you can now hire out independent contractors for a fraction of their actual cost and incredibly fast.

Have a landing page, period. A well-crafted SEO-ready landing page will increase your client base by 5X. Have good reviews on Google, maintain a clean internet presence, value, and curate your online reputation. Get help building your digital presence, thanks to sites like Freelancer, or Upwork, you can now hire out independent contractors for a fraction of their actual cost and incredibly fast.

Don’t only focus on selling

According to Ali Safavi the main goal of a realtor is to sell a property — but that shouldn’t be your first goal. The main thing you should try to do is connect with buyers and sellers. It’s the interaction that matters. Everyone should feel comfortable with you, that you have their best interest at heart. Making a sale shouldn’t be your only focus.