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Jamie Seppi'Megdade, Happiness begins with you (Adams Cameron & Co)

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Rainer
195,422
Karen Climer
Demetree School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL
Teaching people to pass the real estate exam

 Join a board - not a realtor board - but a community board.  Something like a business group, homeless shelter, ballet, or whatever you are interested in.  Join the board or a committee and get involved.

Attend networking events - chamber of commerce events, political events, community events, or whatever.  Here's the key to those organizations - follow-up.  You meet John Smith at the event, get his card, and you both say, "We should get together for coffee sometime."  It's your job to actually call him and schedule the coffee. 

I recently interviewed Ron Climer about what Realtors should do in their first few months on the job.  Here's his advice https://demetreerealestateschool.com/interview-with-ron-climer-advice-for-new-real-estate-agents/

Dec 02, 2019 01:09 PM
Rainmaker
4,566,354
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Welcome to your new state and your new career as a real estate agent.  You stated that the first month as an agent included "learning everything".  The learning is just starting...   You're here on ActiveRain and that's another good start.  You will find so many opportunities to keep become educated on many different aspects of the industry and in nuances of life.  Are you following others for advice.  For offline marketing, I would suggest following  Barbara Todaro to kick-start your career but follow her advice.  It's like boot camp.    Read, study and learn her advice through reading herhow-to-market posts over and over.  Learn them and do what they advise consistently.  Good luck.  

Dec 02, 2019 01:46 PM
Rainmaker
757,335
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

Work with buyers you find at Open Houses or doing floor time. Maybe try doing mailings for listings. 

Dec 02, 2019 01:35 PM
Rainmaker
5,103,372
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Do open houses; join a networking group; volunteer. I don't cold call (have never done it in 26 years) nor do I knock on doors (and never have in 26 years). But to each his or her own.

Dec 02, 2019 01:07 PM
Rainmaker
2,385,980
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Jamie Seppi'Megdade I recommend you get wrapped up in community events. This is how you meet the movers and shakers in the community. Network face to face by volunteering. Do you attend a church, are you active in it? Do you know the builders and developers in town? Make it a mission to meet them. I found that meeting them on site means a lot more to them then an office visit. When meeting them on site dress like a construction worker... they won't take you serious if you wear high heels and look like a call girl.

Dec 02, 2019 01:01 PM
Ambassador
3,120,770
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Everything you mentioned are great options Jamie plus getting out in the community by networking or volunteering or joining real estate related groups and organizations. Oh, and blog of course!

Dec 02, 2019 12:27 PM
Ambassador
2,176,071
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

In addition to the excellent networking & getting involved advice here, my advice is to continue to learn all you can about the area and the real estate market.  The more knowledgeable you are about the area and the market activity (detailed statistics included) the more confident you will be in connecting with people in every possible situation.

Dec 02, 2019 03:18 PM
Rainmaker
1,050,415
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

I'm deliberately not reading comments so I may be parroting others . . . but you're here and that's a start . . . NEXT, put the power of the pen (or keyboard) to good use . . . and REPORT on community events in the areas you want to work.

Be the 'roving reporter' which will have twofold benefit: it will position you as a 'go-to' and give the impression you are NOT new to the area . . . and you'll need to do belly-belly 'research' via Chamber of Commerce, etc which will help you become learned about your 'product' and also develop connections among your peers and those who can help your business.

Dec 02, 2019 03:13 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

network, network and network more..... face to face...meet people...join community groups.... 

Dec 02, 2019 01:47 PM
Rainmaker
1,194,466
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

See if other agents will let you host Open Houses. Get a mentor. Tell everyone you know you are in the business,..things like that

Dec 02, 2019 01:39 PM
Rainmaker
5,206,802
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

When you can't hold an open house, be visiting open houses and introducing yourself to fellow agents. Agents favor doing business with people they know and you learn the inventory.

Dec 02, 2019 02:11 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,470
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Jamie,

You did very well so far.  I would start exploring various areas in your marketplace of Daytona Beach.  Which part of Daytona do you want to work in?  A

Dec 02, 2019 12:44 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,320
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Go to your broker asking for open house hosting..... It takes sometime to set up. Florida probably got more realtors than you want to admit.'

Good luck.

Dec 02, 2019 12:39 PM
Ambassador
5,224,095
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Getting your name out there - my first question would be, why not social media? Join networking groups on FB in your area, your neighborhood FB page, etc. 

Joining those things (networking/groups/committees), you can expand on the social media with face-to-face. If everyone all around you is on social media, you should be too. 

THEN, market on your business page, your website and here, all of the open houses you are hosting for your peers. Your readers won't know they are not your listings - it just looks like YOU are busy! 

Brand yourself first - it's worth paying someone to do a nice brand for you but, if money is limited, Fiverr has talent there that will do a great job for you as well. Then, spread the word...all over FL!

Good luck to you!

Dec 02, 2019 08:00 PM
Rainmaker
679,204
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Alot of great and sound advice here!  Congratulations on your decision to pursue real estate.  Anyone can be successful - you just have to work hard, never give up, and stay consistent.  Good Luck!

Dec 02, 2019 05:55 PM
Ambassador
6,380,462
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

The "other than" part of your question may pose a problem for you.

You do need to consider social media and phone calls as a major part of the plan, but not the only part.

Of course they are not the only solutions, knocking doors in conjunction with open houses, networking around your community, joining a team, and so many other ways to make the phone start to ring are available to you in any community.

Dec 02, 2019 04:53 PM
Ambassador
2,669,212
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Best is to focus on growing your sphere of influence-people you know whom you want to have know you and refer you.

Dec 02, 2019 04:11 PM
Rainmaker
7,822,498
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Join the area builders association and network until you are friends with everybody. Pass out those business cards and ask for business.

Dec 02, 2019 02:02 PM
Rainmaker
2,779,663
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Volunteer at the board of Realtors on their greivance committee to further educate yourself in real life siutations. Know your neighbors and offer to assist any Realtor out there & they may return the favor

Dec 02, 2019 12:51 PM
Rainmaker
2,219,942
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Best of luck to you.

Dec 02, 2019 08:19 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

1. The website - your website!

Dec 02, 2019 07:33 PM
Rainmaker
1,090,037
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

You need a plan...a business plan and a marketing plan with amounts budgeted for both. It's helpful to decide what your niche will be so you are marketing to the audience you want to attract.

Since you've been here a year now, make a list of all the people you have met in that time and, if you haven't already sent out annoucements, send one to each of them.

Hopefully you found a broker who offers training and support and are meeting and making friends with the other agents in the office. Take all the floor time you can get and stay with it, you will get leads and business from it. Offer to sit open house for the agents in your brokerage, go out and preview every listing that broker has. It's great exposure and you need to learn the inventory (and geography) in your area. 

Take advantage of the classes at your local Board of Realtors, attend the socials and volunteer to work on a committee. You need to create a balance in your approach so that you spend some time each day both in the office and out in the community.

There is much you can do at little or no cost and once you have your budget, marketing and business plans made up, you can decide how much to spend on things like a website, direct mail, etc.

I'm on Cocoa Beach, not far from you, and am happy to offer any help I can.

 

Dec 02, 2019 10:13 PM
Rainmaker
536,943
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

I see you have some excellent answers here.  Best of luck!

Dec 02, 2019 07:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,306,062
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

 HI, Jamie. Welcome to Active Rain and welcome to our industry.

You have gotten some great input from some experienced agents here. I look forward to seeing your future contributions on AR.

Dec 03, 2019 06:56 AM
Rainer
4,145
Jamie Seppi'Megdade
Adams Cameron & Co - Daytona Beach Shores, FL
Happiness begins with you

Thank you Everyone for all of your great advise. This was very helpful and I appreciate every answer given. 

Dec 03, 2019 04:43 AM
Rainmaker
899,657
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Get out and connect. Join groups etc.

Dec 03, 2019 04:25 AM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Looks like you've already got a lot of great advice, the open house is the way to go

Dec 03, 2019 02:37 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Great support from AR member and advises. 

I'd do personal website as well. 

Wishing you luck and hope to read your blog soon.

Dec 02, 2019 09:35 PM
Ambassador
3,343,466
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Grow your internet presence and focus on a niche.  I agree with Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI - it will take time.  Networking with the right people and groups can work as well.  I wish you all the best! 

Dec 03, 2019 10:57 AM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

Welcome to the greatest game on earth. One of the quickest routes to a pay check is to hold Open Houses on the best location listings your office has.

If you have a significant budget you can of course get calendars, branded magnetic sport schedules, pens, note pads and wide variety of promo materials and hand or mail them out. This is more a long term strategy and you will have to keep at it to the same area or people for how ever long it takes.

Also start talking to everyone you do business with or give money to. Here's an old Rick Deluca script. Your getting a new pair of shoes (or getting a set of tires, or getting your hair done or....) If they have a name tag use their name. Have a warm smile and be sincere so don't use the script unless you truely feel good about the person. Here goes,

Agent: "Hi Sue. You know you are really good at what you do. We could use more people like you in our business."

Prospect usually smiling and happy with the compliment: "Thanks, what is your business?"

Agent: "I'm in real estate. You know I look at all the new listings and price reductions every day and every once in a while I come across a truely great deal. Would be interested in getting an email with a link to these great deals when they come up?"

 

If they say yes - get their contact info - full name, phone & email at least.

If they say no and they are not in the market, you can let it go or tell them that you understand that they are not currently in the market for a home even if it's a great deal but wouldn't knowing about them still be a benefit? You can help someone that you know that is looking for a great deal on a home.

The point is get out there and start talking to folks.  There's little strategies to improve results. And in the above scene if you start the conversation before you break out your debit card (before you are fully closed) this is someone that is about to take your money and while not always this person is likely to want to be cooperative with you.

 

Dec 03, 2019 06:44 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

"...besides cold calling, door knocking, car magnets and business cards."

Clearly, a long list of things you are UNWILLING to do exists. The first thing you need to commit to do are EXACTLY those things you refuse to do. Not because it will bring you business, but to identify the FAKE barriers you create that must be torn down. For what ever reason they were constructed, you must overcome those fears. Only then will you realize the freedom of one unencumbered by fear.

There are few things more frustrating that sharing ones hard earned secrets with another whose fears will render them unproductive. Such outcomes are disrespectful to both.

This is the gritty part of big results come from big effort.

Now, forgiving all these things that may or may not be true, my adise is to create some kind of collateral you can leverage. It can be a "FOOD FOR THE SOUL" book, a secret 'off-market' homes list, collorative opportunities created with local business's,  a propriety home evaluation app, a highly localized report with commentary, or, my favorite and very labor intensive, a community events/news website WITH a barter/exchange page.

All of these give you something SPECIAL to talk about when you go door knocking. Everyone loves FREE yogurt from the locally owned shop on Main Street.

Dec 03, 2019 05:54 AM
Rainmaker
1,724,986
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

I hope you have cash reserves on hand to sustain yourself for at least 12 months. We have been in your shoes and it takes a great deal of cooperation with select, successful agents willing to share. You are in peak season so hit the ground running and offer your services to fellow agents.

Dec 03, 2019 08:19 AM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

Hello & welcome to real estate. 😊
You have some awesome suggestions. I bet if you follow up and put some of this information you will have a wonderful 2020!

Dec 04, 2019 06:59 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,022
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

The best way to meet people is in person. Joining local social clubs or if your not into that, everywhere you go, such as i meet people at Dunkin donuts, at home depot and in the grocery store. I listened to a waitress telling some one they were thinking of selling and introduced my self, now i have a listing. 

Dec 04, 2019 05:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,501,618
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Host open houses for other agents with listings.  That'll require some cold calling and such on your part to find those agents (for now).  That will get you some exposure and help build your pipeline. 

Dec 03, 2019 02:41 PM
Rainer
231,948
Eva B. Liland Century 21 Doug Anderson
Century 21 Doug Anderson - Lancaster, CA
Glad to be of Service 661-714-1643

1. Start doing LIVE videos on Facebook once a week. Pick any subject. At the end of your live video, tell the audience what next weeks subject is going to be.

2. Sign up with Youtube, build your own page,  pick your own subject, make it fun, ask the viewers to subscribe.

3. Start building your data base thru a CRM, Realty Juggler is very inexpensive and you can try them out for free for the first 90 days. Put EVERYONE in there!

4. Rick Carruth, Zero to Diamond, you can find him on Youtube, is a great Florida Realtor, watch some of his videos. Also spend an hour a day watching other Realtors videos.

5. Expireds, Fisbos, do your own research, they really want to sell!

Best of luck!

Dec 03, 2019 01:26 PM
Rainer
16,946
Lisa Weiler
PM LLC - Los Angeles, CA
Interior Design Expert & Home Stager

There are some great suggestions in this thread. I like the one about joining a community board.

Dec 03, 2019 09:24 AM
Rainmaker
5,862,883
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jamie, good to spend the first month learning the differences, as every state is unique.   I would blog about neighborhoods/communities, at least a couple each week about something different, and use good keywords.  (long tail key words)

Dec 10, 2019 04:40 PM
Rainer
155,337
Anthony Kirlew
Group 46:10 Network @ eXp Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Helping You Make Fiscally Sound Real Estate Deals!

Here is a video that will help you. Knolly Williams is a trusted real estate trainer (with lots of free training on YouTube by the way) and he says our goal is to act like we are "running for Mayor" in the town we want to do business in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsBCFL9pWvI

That aside, start with those you know in the market place even if you don't feel that they are friends. Literally anyone and everyone you deal with; dry cleaners, local restaurant staff, grocery store, staff, etc.

 

Dec 06, 2019 06:17 PM
Rainmaker
4,924,982
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Go for lots of open houses and have give aways 1.e note pads, buyers guide.

 

Dec 06, 2019 08:18 AM