By Meghan Belnap
Becoming a real estate agent can be a great way to make a living and take charge of your own schedule. But if you're just getting started, you need to be aware of the fact that there's already a lot of entrenched competition.
Related: 5 Ways You Can Use Your Smartphone to Gain an Edge and Become a Better Agent
If you want to make sure that you attract more customers this summer, you'll want to make use of a few basic tips:
Host Open Houses
Your first step is to make your current properties as visible as possible. Hosting open houses doesn't just get eyes on the homes that you're trying to sell now, but also gets your name out in the community. Some of the people who come to look at the home for sale might not be interested in buying that particular home on that particular day, but they'll take your card because they know that they'll be looking for a home in the future.
Hire an Advertising Service
Marketing is a key part of becoming a great agent. While you might be excellent at marketing your clients' homes, you might not be as skillful at marketing yourself. If you want to solve this problem, you may want to consider hiring a specialist in real estate advertising. These specialists are not only great at helping get more eyes on the homes that you're selling, but also at helping you make your name more prominent in the community.
Network Through Existing Customers
Your most valuable resource as a real estate agent is your current and former clients. As you work with buyers and sellers, make sure to let them know that you'd be happy to help them with any other transactions, or to help out their friends or family. Offer perks for recommendations and never be shy about following up later.
Offer Promotional Deals
Finally, make sure to work in some summer promotions as you sell. Reduce your fee if possible, or give customers some sort of bonus for working with you. Though this can eat into your short-term profits, it can go a long way toward establishing a customer base. While the promo might not last forever, it can attract customers and give you more traction.
No matter where you are in your real estate career, it's important to ensure that you have a strong customer base. Get the help you need to get your name out there, then work to create a great reputation for yourself. Once the community connects you with the great sales you've made, you'll have a much easier time getting future clients.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons.
