What separates a real estate professional from a real estate agent ?

Question

I've recently joined a real estate company as a realtor and need all the motivation I can get to excel in this new career. I'd like to invite you true real estate professionals out there to share with me the qualities you possess that have contributed to your success and why you are different from the many agents who seem to be rather tolerant to mediocrity. Thanks in advance for your comments. :-) -Rosy [e-mail]

P.S. Pls note that I'm referring to the same designation and am not looking for the difference between one position from the other. To me real estate professionals are agents too but they have the X factor that mediocre agents do not possess.

P.S. Pls note that I'm referring to the same designation and am not looking for the difference in job scope between one position from the other. To me real estate professionals are agents too but they have the X factor that mediocre agents do not possess.

Answer 1

From a 26 year veterans perspective:

Several things will make you stand apart from others in the crowd. I train new agents and here is what I try to impart to them:

First and most important is "Always put your Clients best interests above your own". If you put the people first, the money will follow. In order to do this, several things must take place. You absolutely must know the law and your contracts backwards and forwards. Never give an answer you are not 100% sure is accurate. Be honest and say you'll have to double check on the info and get back to them, then do it.


Next, education. Take every class you can, read up on everything that has to do with real estate, go to conventions, take advantage of any and all training available. Go along with other agents in your company to listing appointments and buyer appts, learn how to work with fsbo's, a great source of business. For anyone who wants to join my fsbo listserve (it's free, agents all over the U.S sharing idea's) go to http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/FSBOFIGHTERS/

Get a good web site so you can inform and educate your clients, you will also get leads from this.

Treat your fellow agent with respect. Return calls, promptly reply with questions or paperwork. The reputation you build for yourself in the real estate community will make or break you.

Never promise something you don't or can't deliver. I see this as the biggest problem with clients. Communication and honesty are key.

Get your e-PRO certification and join the online forum for e-PRO agents. It's invaluable. for more info on that go to http://www.epronar.com

There are millions of other tips I could give, but that would make this such a lengthy post and this is a good start for you.

Hope this helps! Good luck and hang in there! I wish more agents wanted to be professional and ethical and not just greedy. Congratulations to you for wanting to be one of the elite!

:-) Paula

Answer 2

A professional is a person that has all the tools available to him and uses them. He is an expert in real estate, not being a notary, not being an insurance agent, not being a loan officer. You can not be an expert in all those career fields, keep current on license requirements and still be current on real estate matters, because you are in school, or seminars trying to get continuing education in all the jobs you have decided to be an expert in.

You have a area selected that you ensure that you are truly an expert in, know all the schools, commercial areas, shopping malls, strip malls, important people that live in your area that you work. You see you can not work all over Los Angeles and be an expert. You can however be an expert in a 5000 to 10000 housing area.

You need to join the local groups that are required for you to join. There are others that you might want to join but are not required to join. See which groups you fit in with and the ones that best fit you then join those groups. You don't even have to join these groups until you have the money and time.

I hope this has been of some use to you, good luck.

"FIGHT ON"

Answer 3

A professional, or broker, is the person with the proper state licensing. They own or franchise the agency. An agent is just a sales person who work for them. The broker actually has to close the deal for which the agent gets a partial commission.

Are you an agent or a professional broker?

Answer 4

I've worked with a lot of agents, and the ones that stand out for me AND do a ton of business are educated. They devour all information they can get their hands on about the business. They work full-time, 7 days a week and work their butts off for their clients. They are sales people, through and through.

If you're new to sales, read up on books. That's all this line of work is.

Answer 5

I think the question you are really asking is how can you better your real estate career.

fist of all goto www.realtytimes.com and poke around you can learn a lot.

buy "millionaire real estate agent" by gary keller - I hate Keller Williams but I love thier book.

Stop signing up for every class and focus on getting busineess.

Tony
www.hqhomes.com
www.cabellshomeloans.com

Answer 6

tell your customers to sell their overprice homes to what the actual sell price of compareable homes in the area....if the seller wants to sell a home for example, $300K and a compareable home and location sold for $280K...thats the reality..