Unless you were raised in a real estate family, or started selling right out of high school or college, you’re like the majority of Realtors out there – including me – who started a career in real estate after working in another industry. While our business is certainly its own unique animal, there are many, many ways your “past life” in another career can help you kill it in the real estate game.
Skills that Pay the Bills
In any form of business, there are certain skills that will help you succeed, and different roles and industries translate very well to real estate. For example, probably the number one complaint I’ve heard from clients – and a complaint I have myself – is when people are not responsive in a real estate transaction. Simply being quick to respond to an inquiry of any kind can really set you apart. Other skills, like being organized, can really help you in real estate. You may have experience in a specific niche area or industry, like marketing, public relations, advertising, data analysis, construction, even event planning, that comes in very handy in your real estate business. Tip: Put your personal expertise to work in your real estate business, and hire out anything else that you need help with. For example, if you’re not a professional-quality photographer, hire one.
People Positive
In addition to technical skills that will help you succeed in business, there are soft, “people” skills that carry over nicely to real estate. The abilities of negotiation, being able to figure out what all parties are looking for in a deal and forming connections with other people are a hugely important part of real estate. You can market a property better than anyone else, but if you have a bad attitude, clients, other realtors and buyers and sellers won’t want to deal with you, and will go out of their way not to. And while niceness goes a long way, you can’t be a doormat, either. If you’ve ever successfully navigated a work environment with a lot of different personalities, that skill will come in very handy as an agent. Tip: Think about the way you’ve dealt with difficult people or personalities at a past job and apply the same strategies in real estate.
Activate Your Network
Your network should be the most obvious way your previous career can help you in real estate. All of the people, contacts and companies you worked with in a past job can help you in your new role as an agent. Reach out to everyone and let them know you’re in the business, as well as the areas where you can assist them. If they don’t need anything now, simply ask if you can keep in touch with them and that they will consider you when they do need someone. Tip: Scour your LinkedIn account to see who you know, and who they know. Reach out and keep in touch with your former colleagues and contacts.
Now that you’re thinking about all of the skills and contacts you built up in a past life and career, you can put these in to play immediately and help you be successful as a Realtor. Go for it!