In today’s highly competitive real estate market, agents need to stand out from the crowd and find new ways to attract clients and increase sales. High turnover is standard in the real estate industry, with most agents only staying in the job for a couple of years before moving on to something else.

That’s because it can be challenging to stand out as an agent and meet client expectations simultaneously. Working as a real estate agent requires you to have excellent negotiation skills and be able to think on your feet — especially when things don’t go exactly as planned. 

With over 3 million registered real estate agents in the US, making sure you stand out above the competition can help you to improve sales and help you advance your career, and make a success of what you do to be the best real estate agent in your area. Here are the top 10 real estate tips to increase your sales count. 

Get Involved In The Community

Although this isn’t directly related to real estate, it is an excellent way to get to know potential clients and network with others in your industry. If you are passionate about your city, get involved in community events and charities, as this will help you connect with like-minded people.

Working with a local government official or joining a commission is another good way to get involved and make a difference in your community. Real estate agents need to be seen as helpful, trustworthy individuals who are a part of the community.

By getting involved in the community, you can put a face to your name and learn about what is essential to the people in your city. You can also meet potential clients who may be interested in buying or selling a home.

Create A Stellar Website

When you’re just starting out in real estate, you may not have any sales or listings yet. In fact, you may not have any clients at all. How do you attract customers to your website? Creating a stellar website highlights your experience, skills, and vision for the future.

In your ‘About Us’ section, include information about yourself and your team members, along with your educational background if relevant. In the ‘Services’ section, list the areas you specialize in, such as residential homes, commercial properties, and land or waterfront properties. Include any certifications or designations, such as being a certified appraiser or certified green professional. And don’t forget to include your contact information, such as your phone number, email address, and social media links.

Be Honest and Transparent

As an agent, you need to be honest with your clients from start to finish. If a client comes to you about a property and you don’t feel it’s the right fit, you need to be straightforward and let them know. You don’t have to give a reason, but you do need to be honest. Similarly, if a client wants to make a low-ball offer on the house and you know it’s not going to go over well with the seller, then you need to let them know. You should encourage them to make a higher offer. No one wants to lose a deal, but you must always keep the client’s best interests in mind.

Be a specialist

One of the best ways to stand out from the crowd is by being a specialist in a specific type of real estate. This can include being an expert in a particular neighborhood, a specific type of property, or a particular market segment (such as first-time buyers, low-income families, etc.). When people are looking for an agent, they often want someone who knows the local market inside and out. That way, an agent can advise on what is a good investment and what isn’t.

It might mean that you have to undertake further training or reach out to others in the industry to increase your skills further; however, having something that makes you stand out from the competition can help you corner the market and ensure all buyers and selling in this area come directly to you for your expertise.

Improve Your Listing Photography and Videos

Listing photos are one of the first things people see when they find your listings online. You’re missing out on potential buyers if your images are dark and blurry or don’t accurately show the home. If you don’t want to bring in a professional photographer or videographer, then investing in the right kit and having some training can help you to master the skill of photography to improve your listing.

Easy tips include:

• Shoot wide realistic shots using a wide-angle lens
• Make the most of natural lighting
• Use a flash
• Shoot straight to avoid distortion
• Use a tripod

While smartphones can be great for taking images, try to capture all pictures on a DSLR for better quality and know-how to edit property images for maximum effect. Use a drone such as the DJI to help to capture aerial shots or get a different perspective of the property for a better snapshot to show buyers.

Invest In Marketing

Investing in marketing that reaches a large audience in your area can help you gain a steady source of clients without having to move every few months. To invest in marketing, you can hire a marketing agency to create a marketing plan for you or purchase online marketing services. You may also want to make your marketing materials, such as brochures, flyers, or posters, that you can distribute throughout your city and online.

Try to create unique and memorable materials, so people will remember who you are and want to work with you. You can also create a podcast and distribute it through different channels such as iTunes. Podcasts are an excellent way to connect with potential clients and provide helpful information they can use daily.

Brush Up On Your Knowledge & Skills

As a realtor, you will likely encounter many good and bad situations. You may have a highly frugal client or one looking for the most expensive house in the neighborhood. Regardless of the situation, you need to be prepared to handle it. You can take real estate classes from an online university or local community college to brush up on your knowledge. You can also read books and articles on real estate and attend conferences and seminars to improve your skills as a realtor.

You may also want to consider becoming a member of a professional organization, such as the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), or the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI). Doing this will help you network with other professionals and keep up with industry news.

Utilize Social Media

Social media is the key to real-time marketing and connecting with buyers and sellers alike. You can show off all of your listings, take followers on home tours, and more for relatively little outlay.

Facebook and Instagram lives can help you bring virtual tours to life for those unable to view them in person and can help you show clients or potential clients how you work, who you are, and what you’re all about. Tiktok is excellent for sharing your tips and knowledge on any topic relating to real estate and can help you build your reputation in your local market and improve your chances of creating a more extensive roster of clients.

Perfect The Perfect Stage

When you finally have a client interested in buying or selling a home, you must prepare for the perfect stage. to sell the house for the maximum amount possible; you need to help show prospective buyers how they can live in the home and show off its best features. Many real estate agents work with professional home stagers for the best results, but neglecting this aspect of home selling can be detrimental to your efforts.

Alternatively, if the current owner is still residing in the property, work with them to help declutter and depersonalize the home to allow potential buyers to see how it would look with their stamp.

Always Advocate For Your Client

The best agents are advocates for their clients. When you find clients interested in purchasing a home, you need to be completely honest about the pros and cons of the property. You should never push a client toward one type of house because it’s more expensive or because you are interested in selling it. When representing a client in a sale, you should know everything about the property. You can answer any questions potential buyers may have to ensure you are showing them the property for the right reasons.

Conclusion

Working as a real estate agent can be very challenging, but it can also be gratifying. The best agents are always looking for new ways to stand out from the crowd and find new clients, and they’re committed to providing excellent service at all times. If you’re considering becoming a real estate agent, make sure you’re willing to do the work necessary to succeed. This industry is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it can also be very lucrative when done correctly.