Getting my very first client - help!

[Agenta]

Hi,
I am new to the Real Estate business. I am very determined to succeed and to help people sell and buy houses, but I have a very little idea where to get my very first client. I have all my friends and acquaintances know about me working in real estate now, and let them know about me appreciating their referrals. I have also posted some ads online, and some of my friends gave my ads on their closed work forums.

I have no responses yet. No one even called to inquire about any information I am not sure how to get my message across to people so they start at least asking me questions about selling or buying homes. My website looks presentable, has useful info, etc. I communicate well, try to network, but it doesn't produce results.. Really need advice, please!

[Portland Real Estate]

Open houses can be a great way to meet buyers that are actively looking. Many of them are not committed to working with an agent. Try asking other agents in your office if you can do an open house for them.

Although I should note I'm not all that fond of them myself because they are hit or miss and involve hanging out for a couple hours in a place where it may difficult to get any work done (ie bring a good magazine), but they can definitely work.

[Agenta]

Yes, I am going to ask realtors at my brokerage if I can host Open houses for them. I do doubt they will want me to do it, since they treasure it themselves.
As for hanging around the open houses... I am not really crazy about this idea: not all listing agents would be welcoming this and allow me to hang around.. and also, a very few buyers like this style of approaching in the area I live in (very laid back, private, etc.)

[OCTeam]

You need to get out and get face-to-face with 20+ people a day.
-How about doing some open houses?
-How about working a farm by door knocking and handing out something of value, like recent comparable sales to discuss?
-Have you tried pay-per-click with your website to try to generate leads? Since you have not posted your website, does it have an IDX search for homes?
-Do you talk about real estate everywhere you go?
-Do you wear a name badge so people know you are an agent?

Being new, you have to figure how to generate leads. You can't wait for your friends to call you. Be proactive. Do something and be passionate about it. Get a mentor to help you and hold you accountable for daily activity.

Don't let excuses become the reason for why you don't or won't do something. You need to step out of your comfort zone to find out what works for you in becoming successful.

[Agenta]

This what I have done so far:
- told all my friends, people I know, and new people I meet daily that I am a Realtor.
- posted ads online and on community forums
- go to different community events, business events, etc. to network
- my site has IDX
- I am VERY passionate about being a great realtor
- I hold myself accountable for my production activities daily

I didn't try PPC yet, and also didn't cold call or door knocked. That's what I am considering doing now, as I had zero response so far.

[kevinhuntley]

You never know where your going to get your clients so just start doing open houses and talking to everyone you know. Your daily goal is to find someone who either wants to buy or sell real estate. Talk to everyone!

[escapeso]

I am a big fan of open houses. I would do an open house every weekend. I started off purely doing open houses. That said this is a hard market to break into.

[Malok]

I am a big fan of open houses. I would do an open house every weekend. I started off purely doing open houses. That said this is a hard market to break into.

Wow, different strokes for different folks I guess.


I personally DESPISE open houses, and don't do them.

[SLP-NYCT]

Yes, I am going to ask Realtors at my brokerage if I can host Open houses for them. I do doubt they will want me to do it, since they treasure it themselves.
As for hanging around the open houses... I am not really crazy about this idea: not all listing agents would be welcoming this and allow me to hang around.. and also, a very few buyers like this style of approaching in the area I live in (very laid back, private, etc.)

FIRST: Congratulations on your New Business (its not a job, you are now Self Employed)

I would find it hard to believe that all the Agents in your office LOVE doing Open Houses. As you become successful, you go from being a Buyers Agent to a Sellers Agent. FYI: Sellers Agent is where the money is. Why? Simple Math. I can have 4,000 Listings out there (I wish ) and I'd have our local network of over 20k agents selling them for me. I will never be able to handle more than 20 active buyers at a time. I can List and Sell a house a day, 365 day a year, but I can only take so many buyers around per day and buyers do not buy the first house they see. Well one tried, but I stopped them

You are NEW, So YOU MUST find a way to do Open Houses. Here are some hints in addition to the one above.

• Ask the Top Producers to Hold Open Houses For Them
• Network to Other Offices in your Franchise (if applicable) and Do Open Houses for them too.
• Co-Host Open Houses with others. You each take a turn giving a prospect a tour of the house. This keeps the house secure as everyone is accompanied through the house. This keeps the agents secure as they are not there alone with strangers. Market this especially to women.

Next you have to network:

• First is Circle of Influence: Family (immediate and extended) Friends & Neighbors.Send them all Letters every 3 months if not monthly. I like it better than e-mail because you should include some type of coupon in it. Do this by networking with maybe a Car Wash or Small Store. You push a product for them and drive customers to them and you get to give your network maybe $5.00 off a car wash or Free Soda with purchase of Pizza. etc. This way they look forward to getting this stuff from you and it keeps YOUR NAME in front of them. Remember you are NOT trying to get them to Buy or Sell with you...You want them to recommend YOU to their friends.
• Take 20 business cards with you every day. When you return home, you should have none! You should be handing your card to everyone you say HI to. You want every one to know you are a REALTOR.
• You should also give your cards to your immediate family. THEY too should be handing those cards out to everyone they know.
• Before doing Pay Per Click, try sponsoring local Sports Teams. Soccer, Baseball, etc. I also sponsor kids camps and those kids run around all summer with my name on those shirts. How do I know they work: I got my first listing from a Tee Shirt! How did I know they would work: At 12 yrs old my parents took us to Florida, we lived in NY. At Disney World I spotted my Dad's company name on a shirt in Disney. We caught up with the people. It was one of the teams he sponsored. Make sure YOUR Name and YOUR phone number is on that shirt. Maybe a simple web site people can remember too.
• Lastly, Keep your head up and Keep going. Real Estate is like a Snowball rolling down hill. It starts with a little effort and picks up steam as it rolls, gets bigger and bigger and bigger. Then it stops...and you make another snow ball! Too many agents forget that it actually stops at some point.

One Sale, if massaged correctly, will lead to more and then eventually those sales become listings and the listings generate more sales and so on.

Oh, And Finally...Get some info on your posts. Real Name, Location, Speciality. This site is searchable by the public. In other words; Our topics come up in search results. Make it easy for them to contact you.

[Agenta]

Hi Larry,
What an extensive list! Thank you a lot

Interestingly, I was able to "score" only 1 open house for this week end. For some reason, only one of the realtors decided to let me help him. I am very grateful for that.

So now I am excited about holding my first Open House. I am also attending a lot of networking events, but it seems that majority of people there are also looking for business, as opposed to giving business.