Breaking into the real estate industry as a new agent is no easy feat. Newly licensed agents are unknown and competing for clients with established agents. New real estate agents need to have a creative edge and see things from a different perspective to stand out. Building a successful real estate career requires knowing when to follow conventional wisdom and when to try a new approach.

Understand how to market yourself and your specialty.

It’s critical to understand your strongest attributes and your unique value proposition at the start of your real estate career. You need to build a solid foundation for your real estate business so that you can create the most value for potential clients. It’s impossible to work with every type of client, and not every client wants to work with you. You need to know who your specific target market is so that you can understand their needs and create value for them.

Completing a real estate course and obtaining a real estate license is necessary to become a real estate agent or broker. A real estate career can be very lucrative if you have the personality and business savvy to be a real estate salesperson. Getting your real estate license in CT requires a few key steps, and SERHANT offers a comprehensive real estate course that will prepare you to pass the state exam and become a licensed real estate salesperson. You must be 18 to register for real estate school, complete the state education requirement of a 60-hour real estate principles and practices course, register and pass the State of Connecticut exam, find a real estate broker to mentor you, and apply for your real estate salesperson license.

Consider yourself a small business.

Most real estate agents are independent contractors but consider themselves budding entrepreneurs. It’s important to invest in professional relationships, work towards long-term goals, and develop marketing skills. Create a real estate business that’s flexible and scalable as the market changes. Don’t prioritize getting clients immediately over business organizing and planning tasks. You must understand your target market, figure out your value proposition, and market your brand accordingly to ensure your business grows. You also need to make sure that you understand the ins and outs of all different types of real estate investing out there.

A hard money loan, for example, is a type of loan that uses the property itself as collateral. These short-term bridge loans are based on the value of the property, not the creditworthiness of the borrowers. Traditional lenders don’t offer bridge loans, which means hard money lenders are often private lenders. Hard money borrowers are typically house flippers undergoing renovations to resell the real estate that is being used as collateral.

Pacific Private Money is sure to appear in a search of ‘best hard money lenders near me‘ for real estate transactions in California. The hard money lender offers bridge loans that are funded with private capital that’s backed by California real estate. The lender’s loan types include residential property, commercial property, construction, fix and flip, and rehab for properties including single-family homes, multifamily properties, and residential developments.

It’s not always about selling.

Successful real estate agents know when good sales tactics are beneficial and when to let go of the hard sell. Distancing yourself from the pushy real estate salesperson stereotype can be advantageous to your career. It’s a good idea to focus on developing great photography and writing skills so that you can create compelling listings that attract buyers. The smart real estate agent thinks of themselves as a consultant, not a salesperson. You’ll also need to hone your people skills, self-motivation, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Setting yourself up for success in the world of real estate requires an understanding of how to market your unique value proposition, thinking like a small business, and not always focusing on the sale.