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Craig Mullins, Notary - Agent - SEO - Search Engine Optimization (Pleasanton Mobile Notary)

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3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

In 18 years I have never got a deal.  I work with clients and I manage their real estate transactions.  Most effective is making connections and treating people like people and not a "deal" is how I got clients when I was a new real estate agent. Still works today!  

Sep 21, 2020 10:41 AM
Rainmaker
628,614
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

Back in the day " Opportunity time", Desk duty... aka Floor duty was golden. Converted many sales calls and walk ins when I was a newbie.

Sep 22, 2020 02:52 AM
Ambassador
2,060,946
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

When I was brand-spanking-new... my sphere of influence was useless.. since the top-producing agent in our region was a close family friend and our spheres overlapped by about 100%.  Everyone I knew, she knew.  So I couldn't even count on my own family, or friends, to let me handle their transaction. They all knew I was brand-new, and she had been in the business for many years and literally was the #1 agent in the midwest at the time.

I never received even a single company-provided-lead, and I don't believe in door-knocking or door hangers.  Direct mail has performed very poorly for me.

Since I was a young, eager and hungry agent... I accepted as much floortime as possible... if anyone offered, I accepted.  I started in August, and by December I'd worked 50 floors.

I also did 51 Open Houses (I took off my birthday weekend) my first year, which set me up as the local expert for those out house-hunting.  Buyers saw me every weekend, and started to recognize me and ask me questions.

I had a fabulous spring, and very productive balance of year.

So the short answer, at least for me, was Open Houses, and floor-time.

Sep 21, 2020 04:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,056
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

I worked for a busy office and was required to do floor time. Got my first 2 listings that way, which led to a second deal when the tenant needed to move and decided to buy the first listing. Sent out a postcard looking for land in an area with no listings, heard back from the HOA President, got that deal through him. THEN his next door neighbor called me and I sold his house. 13 deals so far from him. And he referred more people to me . . . I think from that one postcard I am up to about 21 deals including 2 active listings from the original 2 guys right now . . . 20 years later.
Just do good stuff with your people . . . they tend to be fruitful and multiply!

Sep 21, 2020 01:11 PM
Rainmaker
1,310,972
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

My first ten transactions were a long time ago.

I remember that my first listing came from a referral...from my wife.

I also know that I got business from doing "floor time".

Do you even know what "floor time" was? That was before everything was on Zillow and so many real estate websites.

Sep 21, 2020 11:26 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,588
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Phone calls, door knocking

Sep 21, 2020 09:27 AM
Ambassador
5,228,997
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

My first listing came from a friend, the next 4 came from that listing, working the neighborhood (yes, door-knocking and handing out just listed, open house, under Contract and SOLD flyers)! Those sellers sent more referrals and my sphere kicked in after that.

At one point much later in my career, I was getting a ton of internet leads and during the recession, specialized in short sales so, that helped since my sphere and past clients were NOT moving during the recession!

Beat the bushes - if something works, keep doing it. Good luck!

Sep 22, 2020 06:18 AM
Ambassador
3,125,255
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Through hard work, open houses, knocking on doors, following up and through, only promised what I was able to provide. Teaming up is a great way to make contacts and broaden your SOI.

Sep 21, 2020 02:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,912
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Some new agents dont get 10 deals in 10 years.  The average salary for agents is surprisingly low.  

Most get their first sale from their sphere of influence.  someone they already know.  the next sale may never come since 50% of newly licenses agents dont last thru that first year.  I have heard this factoid but I have never fact checked it.  

Sep 21, 2020 12:26 PM
Rainmaker
7,834,939
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

When I was new, long ago, newspaper advertisements worked.

Sep 21, 2020 10:18 AM
Rainmaker
643,875
Greg Large
ERA Real Solutions - Grove City, OH
A Tradition of Trust

many moons ago but it was cold calling.

Sep 21, 2020 10:07 AM
Ambassador
3,587,835
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Craig my very first sale was at my very first open house. My broker said, do an open house so I did. First lookers wanted to buy it that day. I had no idea of what I was doing. Zero!  After that I got a lot of referrals from my athletic club and golfing buddies.  My broker also gave me great clients as he marketed other states to come to our area. I was lucky to be in a golf club area and resort area.

Sep 22, 2020 03:28 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,171
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

farming at that time was letters, up calls which is answering the phone for leads.

Sep 22, 2020 06:42 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

At that time, our company offered floor time and that's where my first transaction came from.  Then my sphere. 

Whatever you do, do it consistently and within the realm of staying true to yourself (i.e. if commercial doesn't do it for you, don't do it), and the leads will come.  

Sep 22, 2020 03:58 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Bravo, Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist !

Sep 21, 2020 06:37 PM
Ambassador
5,048,708
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Floor time and referrals from some of those early transactions.

Sep 21, 2020 12:56 PM
Rainmaker
2,182,502
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Open Houses on others Agents listings ( 30 times per yr)

Sep 22, 2020 08:51 AM
Rainmaker
5,215,388
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Way back in the beginning I worked expireds but it was easier back then.

Sep 22, 2020 05:54 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,372
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I got an easy start - worked at Safeway for 20 years, and had a built-in database.  But, did do open houses, floor time and called everyone I knew.

Sep 22, 2020 05:46 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

The most effective was working with a mentor (my husband).  From there, we generated lots of listings, which brought about lots of phone calls, in a prime area of Los Angeles...A

Sep 21, 2020 10:14 AM
Rainmaker
763,783
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I white knuckled it.

Sep 23, 2020 02:31 PM
Rainer
334,783
Linda Metallo DiBenardo
RE/MAX Impact, Lockport, Illinois - Lockport, IL

Cold calling from the phone book, sometimes using a pay phone too.

Oct 12, 2020 10:03 AM