Anthony West is a real estate agent, the founder of The Luxury Life KC at Moffitt Realty, and an entrepreneur in Kansas City.

Email Anthony West.

  • Set a proper foundation, and focus on the knowledge bank before the piggy bank.

New agent? No problem!

We’ve all been there at some point in our careers — new to the industry, learning as we go.

You might assume those with connections in real estate have an immediate advantage, but the successful agents in your area all began at the same starting line: Having to select the right brokerage, learning the ins and outs of the business, building on their sphere of influence and getting the word out about their profession.

Here are some great things you can do as a new agent to overcome the odds of failure.

1. Select the right brokerage

As with any house, setting a proper foundation is key to building a stable home, and the same applies to selecting the right brokerage.

An environment that constantly challenges you to be your best, holds you accountable for your activities and provides you with meaningful continuing education will shape your perspective and how you approach each day.

You might ask yourself:

Advertisement

Find a mentor at your office, whether it be your broker or another agent. Have someone in your corner who you can ask advice of in situations that you’re not familiar with.

It also helps to partner with an experienced agent for your first few buying and selling clients to get a feel for the transaction process.

That said, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Doing so always serves as a learning experience. Just make sure they’re ethical ones!

3. Build on your sphere of influence

From the get go, you should make a contact list of everyone you know: family, friends, colleagues from past jobs, etc.

Now, narrow that list down to only those you speak to or have spoken with in the past year.

Whether it ends up as long list or drastically shorter, this is your true sphere, your warmest leads and your biggest cheerleaders.

These folks know you, your intentions and your abilities. Your list of names — 100 or 10! — are the people you should start with and build off of.

They are your foundation.

4. Tell em’ all

A saying that held true in the past and is even more relevant today: The only thing agents have control over is their time and the activities it’s dedicated to.

It can take months before a new agent closes their first piece of business, and unless you have a pause button for your bills, chances are you can’t afford to wait that long.

If you want to hit the ground running from the beginning, make yourself available and let everyone know who you are and what you do.

Most people move for life changing events: a growing family, empty-nesters, job relocation, and so on. The contacts you make may not be moving in the next few years, but chances are they know someone who will be, and if you keep yourself top-of-mind, there’s a likelihood you could be referred.

Getting the word out about your profession may not grant you immediate returns, but it plants the seed for future growth. Remember, real estate is a marathon, not a sprint.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed in an industry where so much is going on, especially when you’re new to the scene.

However, if you can mute the noise and focus solely on the things that will grant you the greatest returns short and long term, your foundation as a new agent will be set for a solid beginning and stable career.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
Only 3 days left to register for Inman Connect Las Vegas before prices go up! Don't miss the premier event for real estate pros.Register Now ×
Limited Time Offer: Get 1 year of Inman Select for $199SUBSCRIBE×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×