With football season in full swing it reminds me how similar the game of football is to real estate. You say what does football have to do with real estate? Plenty!
Think about this....Players that sit on the bench on the sidelines and never play in the game are never remembered by anyone other than their friends and relatives. Players however that are out in the middle of the field week after week and are involved in most of the plays are remembered by tens of thousands.
Realtors that sit in the office and work on the latest and greatest software program for hours and love the company of their co-agents never become top producers and never put up big numbers.
I have seen this year after year. The Realtors that sit in the office day after day and are either working on the computer or chatting with their best friends in the office or the secretaries barely pay their bills, if they do that at all.
Realtors that are out working hard and "Networking" day in and day out are the ones that put up big numbers and have good results year after year.
When I joined Re/Max at the end of 1997 I knew I had to start making money fast and I knew I was not going to make it sitting in the office taking floor time and waiting for buyers to walk in or call. I needed to get out and work and the results speak for themselves.
I drove around new subdivisions and looked for affordable homes for my buyers. I remember calling one builder from my car and asking for more specifics on a particular home I thought my buyer might be interested in. The builder was so excited that I called him with enthusiasm in my voice that he decided to do co-op advertising with me. This builder became the #1 builder in Idaho and for years I sold 25-30 homes of his each year.
I then drove around town looking for commercial buildings. I did some research and found a vacant 7-11 store in my hometown. After 7 phone calls I contacted the parent company, Southland Corp. They in turn turned me over to their corporate Realtor. That Realtor and I hit it off big time. The result is I have sold 3 closed 7-11 stores in Idaho and Oregon and have the contract with this corporate Realtor to sell every closed 7-11 store in Idaho and Oregon over the next several years.
These two examples are only 2 of many. I have not taken floor time since I started with Re/Max in 1997 and yet my volume numbers have increased every year. Why? Because I spent my days calling a lot of people and constantly was searching for new business. I have always looked for listings because I want to get my name out. When I take a new listing I always put up as many directional signs as I can to get the exposure. This in turn brings in buyers.
In todays market I am looking for vacant and abandoned homes and commercial buildings and contacting the recorded owners. The owners of these properties whether they are individuals or banks are motivated to sell and are anxious to work with someone that is motivated to help them. These motivated sellers will drop their prices untill the properties sell. Also, when the market turns I want to be the one playing in the game with all my signs out there.
So my recommendation is to "Get off the sidelines and get into the game" if you want your community to know who you are and if you want to grow your business beyond your wildest dreams.
Faina - "Get 'er Done!"
David - Regardless who they are...they need to get in the game!
Randy - They cannot succeed by "Thinking about it". They need to get in the game!
Carol - It is very easy to get complacent my friend. Have a great evening.
When I got started here I did hang out at the office to pick agents brains and see what they were doing to get business.
I did get sucked into that vortex and when I moved brokerages, that change took me out immediately. I go into the office only 4-5 times a month, mostly to pick up paychecks. I am quick with my conversations with other agents there.
I must admit that I did do what you did in regards to new construction. I have SOOO many new construction contacts that my clients are impressed when I bring them into a tract and the site agent knows me and welcomes me with open arms.
You need to network with the RIGHT people. One of those agents gave me the CONTACT for the builder just yesterday so I can put bundled new construction deals together for investors. There is one spot where my time is well spent.
Just like CEG, I am mentoring one right now and have been actually throwing him leads, lots and lots of leads. I have told him you have to get out, you can't just yap and yap on the phone all day long like I do, yet. He can't work some of these leads because "he needs Saturdays and Sundays off" and think a three hour day is a good day in real estate. I have told him over and over that just because you are showing homes doesn't mean your job stops there. You have to spend 4-5 hours prospecting ALONG with balancing leads and a MINIMUM of one appointment a day and how do you do that when you are hanging out at the water cooler?
It is obvious that this person thinks he is bigger than he is and he keeps hinting that he wants to ride my coattails at every angle. Sorry but my work is my work and as rude as it sounds, you are only allowed to pick my brain so much and I will be tossing you business for so long before you burn your bridge.
I picked up a VERY good client two weeks ago just from being out in the field and showing homes. There is NO easy way to doing this. You never know where your next deal is coming from and humility must be practiced at every angle. Don't let your ego get in your way.
George, you are my #1 inspiration for practices in humility each and every day.
George I love football analogies with real estate, this is a good one. It amazes me how many agents want to sit in their offices and chat. I do home office and I never go in, but when I need to drop something off, I do go in...................it is quiet as a mouse.
Yesterday, our copy machine needed repair and our office administrator sent out a email to let us know it was down and tongue in cheek, said, " Of course since none of you are ever here, it probably won't matter"!
Busy agents are NOT in the office. They are off the bench and playing.
Go get em tiger! However, you may want to stay inside today. It's pretty cold out. :)
George,
Great advice, our business will not grow hanging out all day in the office socializing!
Vickie - Thank you very much and I hope all is well and remember to "Get out in the field"!
Suzanne - Very true my friend. Have a great evening!
Thanks for offering the advice that states that you still have to work for your money. All too often I get the impression that Agents keep telling me to find success on the sidelines and I just don't understand how they do it
George,
I think this is true of life in general. If you spend your days just going through the motions but not making any real 'playes', you don't get that thrill of life. How happy are those that sit on the sideline. Does he ever get to yell...."I'm going to Disney World"? Its the players that get out there and make a difference!
Life is good.
Martin - Thanks so much for sharing your opinion...have a great evening
Vincent - Thank you very my and I look forward to connecting with you