Resources for New Real Estate Agents
"Because life is too short to LEARN it all the hard way."
Time Management:
A New Twist on Time Management
Free article by The Agent Guide - find out how a little tweak to your to-do list can help you finally get things done.
Backpack lets you get organized and keep your to-dos, notes, ideas and schedule online. It's very user-friendly, like all the 37Signals software we've tried out. The base version is free, but we suggest
you try out the $5 a month version so you can get the calendar and have reminders emailed to you or sent to your phone.
(If you work with a team, try Basecamp instead.)
"No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs", by Dan Kennedy.
A good book to read early on, especially if you work in a highly social office. Dan Kennedy pretty much tells it like he sees it and doesn't care who he offends - we agree on nearly all of it.
How to Become an Early Riser - by Steve Pavlina
Mornings, especially early mornings, can be very productive. (Sometimes 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. is the only stretch of time when your phone won't ring - and when you won't be tempted to quaff a beer or slither over to the TV and watch "America's Next Top Model" either.) Steve Pavlina's blog article on how to get up early actually works pretty well.
Transaction Timeline Worksheet
Keep yourself and your clients organized during the closing! Use our free Transaction Timeline Worksheet to keep track of important dates and contact information. Fill in the info below and we'll immediately email you links to both the ready-to-go Adobe Acrobat file, plus the Excel version that you can customize.
Marketing
Put Your Marketing on Auto-Pilot
(And treat every client like a long-term investment!) That's the message in The Agent Guide's free and very helpful article - visit our Lab Tested Real Estate Marketing Blog to get the full scoop.
How to Get Great Testimonials (And Actually Get Them In Your Hands!)
Testimonials will sell your services like nothing else can, but the trick is getting them out of your clients heart and heads - into print!
The Agent Guide shows you an easy way to get written testimonials that rock the house.
Real Estate Email Newsletters - from The Agent Guide
Yes, you need to contact your clients regularly, but the days of being able to send fluff and get away with it are over.
If you're looking for timely, concise information
that your contacts will look forward to reading, check out what agents are saying about The Agent Guide's Home Focus email newsletter service.
They're professional, personalized and completely done for you each month. You never have to worry about keeping up with your marketing again!
Xpressdocs Real Estate Postcards
Want to spice things up with direct mail occasionally? Postcards are far more likely to get attention than something in an envelope. The service we use and recommend for postcards is xpressdocs. They are truly exceptional, high quality with tons of options and - get this - if you order by 4 pm CST you'll receive your postcards the next business day!
(Irene usually completes her order at 3:59 pm CST and can attest to this.)
Prospecting
What's Your Target Market?
When you started real estate did you just plunge in, or were you able to put some thought into which target markets you might have the most success with? Check out The Agent Guide's Lab Tested Real Estate Marketing blog article for insights on how to hone in on your best prospects..
The New Agent's Guide to Open House Success - by Michelle Blue - The Agent Guide
Open houses are a time tested way for new agents to accumulate a client base. But did you know that most agents - even experienced ones - spin their wheels with an ineffective approach?
Michelle Blue's first open house resulted in over $40,000 in commissions - because of the system she used to prepare for it, and her own customized reports that she had available. She shares her techniques with you, in her New Agent's Guide to Open House Success.
(Immediate download available.)
Cold Calling: Ari Galper's "Unlock the Game"
I've always felt that "cold calling" was a bit of a misnomer for what Ari Galper teaches people how to do. In fact, he's all about just talking to people - finding out what they need, and figuring out if you're the person who can help them.
So we recommend his program for cold calling, and for just talking effectively with prospective clients in general . (Especially when it comes to "cool" leads, like floor calls and calls from your website.)
Branding Your Business
Ann Convery Interview
This free audio of business branding expert Ann Convery being interviewed by Alexandria Brown is one of the most useful I've heard. Anne has a world of experience and a knack for hitting right at the heart of things with simple, yet brilliant insights. Listen to the free audio here.
Speak Your Business in 30 Seconds or Less - by Ann Convery
Yes, we're recommending Ann again - for good reason. "Speak Your Business in 30 Seconds or Less" is something you shouldn't miss out on, and it's extremely affordable. Just go to her main site, then click on "Products" to check it out - you won't be disappointed!
Logos - Visual Impact
Getting a logo is kind of like getting a website - anyone can make one for you, but they have to know what they're doing, or it's a waste of time. Visual Impact designs logos at very reasonable prices, and if you take a look at the portfolio you'll see that the logos do a good job of communicating what the business is about. (Sounds simple, but it's not!)
Promotional Items - Oriental Trading Company
It's easier than you think to get your name and logo on giveaway items. Oriental Trading Company has a big section of imprintable products, including a business category.
Websites
Is This Mistake on Your Website?
Free article by The Agent Guide - learn one of the most common mistakes that keeps your site content from getting indexed efficiently by the search engines.
Why Most Real Estate Websites Don't Work - by Linda Caroll
Free report by veteran website designer and search engine optimization expert Linda Caroll. Learn important mistakes to avoid when it comes to your real estate website.
Linda Caroll Web Design
Linda Caroll offers special rates for clients who arrive via The Agent Guide. Fill out the interest form to get the discount and learn more about her
real estate web design services.
Blogging
Free Blogs and Networking - Active Rain
Active Rain is kind of a phenomenon I love to watch - an online community of blogging real estate agents, born right here on Seattle's Eastside just over a year ago and now with over 50,000 members nationwide.
Many agents have another blog in addition to their Active Rain blog, but if you only have one I'd suggest having it here, and using the
Localism section to boost your local online presence.
Lab Tested Real Estate Marketing - The Agent Guide's Blog
Get the scoop on our latest no-fluff tips and resources for a thriving real estate business. (We suggest you sign up for email updates so you don't miss any posts - just use the form in the right hand column.)
Stuff You Need to Know
Sewer Scoping Saves Home Buyers Thousands
Free article by The Agent Guide - find out what you need to know about sewer line inspections, and see a photo of what you
don't want your clients to experience.
The Importance of Having Your Own Septic Inspection
Free article by The Agent Guide. Learn why it's not enough to go with the inspection the seller had prior to listing, and how to guarantee that your buyer clients have another option.
8 Elements for a Condition to be Valid
A great article to read early on (even if you think you know it!)
Did you find these resources helpful? Stay tuned! We're adding more, so bookmark this page and check back in soon.
"I Finally Have an Open House System that Works!"
"Now my open houses get more traffic, and I have answers ready for the questions that people ask. The templates are easy to use and visitors
are impressed by the professional presentation. Before reading the manual, open houses used to be stressful - now they're a piece of cake!"
Vicki Potter, REALTOR® |
"I've had greater response from The Agent Guide Newsletter than from anything else I've sent out."
Chris Guzzardo, REALTOR®
Windermere Real Estate/Northeast, Inc. |
