Realtor Chronicles: 90 Days In
Normally, on the tv shows the realtor shows three homes, the client chooses their favorite one then the house is under contract. In real life that never happens. In my first 90 days I’d have shown at least fifty homes to about four clients. I was what seasoned agents would call a “super-realtor,” and trust me that was not a compliment. A super-realtor is one who tries to cover any and every area of town, shows their client every property they are interested in, and has little limitations and boundaries for their clients. I was just getting my feet wet, so the last thing I wanted to do was disappoint potential clients. I quickly learned that this approach was costing me time, gas, and wasn’t making me any money. I had to develop a better system or my career as a realtor would be over just as quickly as it started.
After dedicating lost time and gas to about three cold leads, I knew it was time to adjust my strategies. I began vetting my lease clients before working with them. Sure, I had a handful of individuals who gave pushback on verifying income or providing information about rental history, but this made my job easier when it came time to apply. As for my buyer clients, I had connected with three different lenders to refer them to. I know a person is serious when they have gone through the preapproval process. Simple boundaries made my job a lot easier.
My experience in real estate was unlike anything I had ever experienced in 90 days. On a typical job, the first 90 days were the probationary period. My first 90 days in real estate were my exposure period. I had completed my first two luxury lease transactions and for a new realtor I was doing great! I was flooded with professionals looking to connect with me and a social media following full of questions about real estate. I had began tapping into my sphere of influence and was beginning to see more traction with a client base.
