Being a successful real estate agent requires hard work and a solid strategy. But what happens when circumstances force you to move to a new area and start over?
In this episode of “Keeping It Real,” we turn to Susie Ellis, one of Florida’s top real estate agents, for guidance on how to reboot your real estate business as an outsider.
Susie has had to rebuild her business several times over the course of her career. Her first piece of advice is to be available.
“This is how you work — be available.” -Susie Ellis
She recalls her time working the luxury market on Barrier Island, where she made herself available for open houses even during the slow winter months. This set her apart from other agents and opened up new opportunities.
Another key to success is networking. When Susie moved to Anchorage, Alaska, she was starting from scratch. She offered her services to a landowner who was not well-liked and impressed prospects from showings referred her to other buyers and sellers.
Within just 14 months, Susie had established herself as a go-to real estate agent in Anchorage.
Being a facilitator is also important when rebooting your business. Susie advises shifting your focus from being the best realtor in your new area to being one that’s willing to help.
Everything you do should communicate that you’re there for your clients, and they’re the star of the show, not you.
Susie also stresses the importance of identifying your gaps and filling them. For example, when she moved to Florida, she found she needed a way to generate leads.
She learned about cold-calling and used Vulcan7 to generate prospects and leads. This shows the importance of recognizing your weaknesses and addressing them.
Finally, Susie encourages real estate agents to leave the tech stuff to the experts. Technology is crucial in the real estate game, and having a reliable platform that offers CRM and other tech integrations can make a big difference.
Susie uses Real Geeks, a platform that keeps her and her leads in the loop, and she suggests agents sign up to see the difference for themselves.
In conclusion, rebooting your real estate business as an outsider can be challenging, but with the right approach, it’s possible to establish yourself as a credible realtor.
By being available, networking, playing the role of a facilitator, identifying your gaps, and leaving the tech stuff to the experts, you can set yourself up for success.