Nothing in this world is constant, except change. The same statement is true in the real estate industry and a career in real estate is always rife with change.
As a rapidly evolving profession, a career in real estate always puts agents in the spotlight for new technologies, new methods and approaches to doing business and new business models, as well as the challenges of adapting to different market forces and behaviours.
Everyone in the industry would say there is nothing new with change, other than the rate it is going today and with such tremendous velocity.
No wonder, some find the changes all too fast and have difficulty staying abreast with the changes, especially when finding ways to adapt.
But how should real estate agents be in step with the times? Plan for it and create strategies around it.
Here are some of the oft-ignored “secrets“ of how real estate agents survive and thrive in the industry.
Embrace change
No matter how or what you do to prevent it, change is one thing that you cannot control. Love it or hate, it is something that you have to live with and accept.
In the world of real estate, you must recognise that changes constantly take place and you will have no control.
Instead of fighting or going against it, understand what’s causing it and your goal is to adapt and stay relevant, then focus on how your business can embrace the changes that are taking place.
Stay up to date
Nowadays, we’re blessed with the abundance of information that we can get our hands-on and there’s no better way to stay updated than to set aside time to read, learn, develop and grow in your real estate business or career.
Spare an hour or two each week to discover and learn more about your profession, how you can stay relevant and what you can do to adapt to the changes in the industry.
The same thing applies to career development. The theories, ideas and concepts you may have been trained for may be relevant or applicable years ago but could be outdated with the effects of changes that are taking place.
Invest in learning and up training, as well as capability-building and professional development courses so you can realistically achieve your goals and be better prepared to face industry challenges that can result from changes.
Take advantage of social media in the right way
You may be impassioned about your role and responsibilities in the real estate domain, but you must avoid getting into conflicts or arguments on social media, especially when you get dissenting opinions from others and may be tempted to respond inappropriately.
Avoid attacking anyone on social media forums for their insights or opinions, rather always think about how you can respond in a civil and dignified manner to avoid getting in conflict with others.
Remember, the moment you lose your cool, regardless of whether you are defending something that you think is right, it can impact your reputation and your business.
Use social media forums to help solve problems, not create one.
Be open to feedback and act on it, if needed.
It is important to maintain a feedback process between you and your clients because it can greatly help improve your service and business.
Remember that each client is unique, however, certain behaviours are shared or are similar to others.
Ask questions and allow them to rate your service. You can also get feedback from peers, professional partners or acquaintances to help you better improve and enhance your craft.