Welcome to the exciting and empowering world of real estate! If you're looking to make your mark in this dynamic industry, you've come to the right place. The first 90 days can be a wild ride, but with a little know-how and a lot of determination, you'll be well on your way to success. That's why we've put together this comprehensive guide to help you navigate your first 90 days in real estate with confidence. From developing a strategic plan to building your network and honing your skills, we've got you covered. So grab your stilettos, power suit, and let's get started!

Where Do I Start?

As a new real estate agent, it's crucial to inform your network about your career change. Reach out to friends and connections on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to announce your transition to real estate.

What if they don't have a social media account for some reason?

Then you can send them an email or a personalized letter with your business card in it. Keep things Simple. You can grab our guide 10 Top Tips To Increase your Leads, Listings & Sales Here

Prefer to Watch the video. Watch HERE

Find A Mentor Or Coach

The next thing I would be doing is getting a mentor straight away, someone that you have trust in, and that you feel is going to help you, because your first six months are your hardest.  Find someone that's going to connect with you, especially in New Zealand where you've got to be legally monitored. It's like an apprenticeship for the first six months. If you are unable to find a mentor then hire a real estate coach.

Shadow a Top Performing Real Estate Agent

Within your office, find someone that you can shadow and learn from. You can offer to help them with their open homes and help set up their open homes, put their signs out and take names and numbers with their open home register.  You can do their open homes for them if they'll allow that.  

Attend Other Agents Open Homes & Auctions

I highly recommend going along to as many open homes as you can, whether they're your competitors or other agents within your office, and check out how they all do their open homes. 

Look at how they set them up, what their open home looks like, how they follow up?

If they don’t know you and you have attended an open home the agent should be calling you back and asking you questions about the home. 

Pay close attention to what they're saying to you because you'll learn a lot from watching other agents.

Write down the questions they ask you and learn from them.

Top Tip: Make a list of all the top agents in your area and go along to their open homes and see what they do, and seeing how they're conducting themselves. You can learn a lot from other people.

Orphan Data

Check with your manager or business owner and ask if the office has any orphan data. 

These are old open home books and old databases of agents that have left the office and nobody is using this data anymore.  This is a fantastic way to grow your database quickly as they are people that are interested in real estate.

Is there some buyers that you can work with?

Use those leads and re-connect with them and make your own connections and build new relationships with these leads. Follow them up because often they have houses to sell, so you can offer to do an appraisal on their property. Read the Blog I Wrote on this HERE

Work With Buyers

Ask other agents (in your office) if you can host their open homes, then you have the opportunity to follow up those buyers and get leads from it. 

This is one of the first things I did as a newbie to get started. I worked with an experienced agent and went with them to learn the ropes and when they were confident and were going away on holiday they handed their listings over to me to look after while they were away and I made some of my very first sales this way.

These leads can turn into appraisal and listing opportunities, mortgage broker or property management referrals and also you might be able to help them find their dream home.  

When you are calling your buyers back ask them what their buyer requirements are.

Top Questions To Ask To Qualify Buyers

Working with buyers to find their dream home or next investment property can be an easy way to generate income quickly for you. Firstly, qualify these buyers by asking questions such as: 

• Are you pre-approved? 

• Is this your first, second or third purchase in the area? (By asking this question, tells you whether or not it is their first purchase or if they own other properties in the area.  If they do own others then there is an opportunity for you to appraise and potentially list their other properties).

• Are you working with any other agents?

• Are you open to working with me exclusively? (Make sure you explain why they need to work with you exclusively. 

  For example: “By working with me exclusively I can ensure you get the proper care that you need to find your dream home.  If there is a property you would like to view please let me know ahead of time and I will arrange with the agent to get you through the property.  This means less headaches for you and I can arrange a number of properties for you to look at in one go.  Is that ok with you?”

By asking these questions ensures that you don’t waste your time and they don’t buy from another agent. 

Build Your Personal Brand

Building a personal brand as a new real estate agent is crucial in today's competitive market. To establish yourself as a reputable and successful agent, you should focus on creating a unique image that sets you apart from others in the industry. This can be achieved by highlighting your strengths, expertise, and unique selling points through various channels such as a professional website, social media profiles, and networking events. Additionally, maintaining a consistent image and message across all of your branding materials will help to establish trust and credibility with potential clients. By building a strong personal brand, you can attract more business, stand out from the competition, and ultimately grow your real estate career.

Here are a few ways you can do this:

Create A Monthly Newsletter

Consider creating your own newsletter to enhance your personal brand. By doing so, you will set yourself apart from your office's general newsletter and establish yourself as a leader in the industry.

A strategy that I found useful when I was in real estate sales was collaborating with a local mortgage broker and featuring their market insights in my newsletter. You can also reach out to other experts in your area and build relationships with them, potentially leading to articles written by them for your newsletter. The newsletter can be distributed both physically and via email to your local community.

Hot Tip: You can send that newsletter out to the neighbourhood as a physical letter as well as an email newsletter and reach more prospects.

This then positions you as an expert and thought leader in your area. Provides free and helpful information and grows your email list which is very important when you are starting out.

Create A Blog Or Vlog

Creating a blog or vlog (Video blog) is the fastest way of growing your online audience and building trust and credibility as the expert in your field. It is great for building your personal brand as well.

This is a step up from a monthly newsletter as it is a lot more frequent.  You can write an article or blog once a week and do a Facebook & Instagram live once a week answering the latest questions your prospects have.

There are tonnes of ideas out there on what you can do to boost your online presence and this is just one of them.

Networking

Something that I want you all to consider doing is joining a networking group or two. Not everyone loves it, but I highly recommend it. It is an excellent way of growing your confidence talking to other business owners and getting known in your network and increasing your chance for referrals.

Woman's Networking Groups In New Zealand

If you're a woman in New Zealand we have Venus networking. It's how I got started in my business and I found it a really great source for referrals. They have amazing resources and events. It's held once every fortnight for an hour and you meet other businesswomen that are just like you business minded, wanting to grow their network and businesses. 

The Auckland Executive Club is another one for women. It's a more corporate networking group and is usually invite only.  If you know someone that can invite you then you should go along and check it out.

Bearing in mind, It’s harder for a real estate agents to get into networking groups because there is fierce competition for the spot and there is only one spot in each group that's allowed. So if this is the case in your area, ask to be added to the waiting list. 

lthough there is WOW, which is generally on the north shore (New Zealand), that's a networking group and they can have multiple people in there. So that's another one.

Personally, I love having fun and networking and Venus was the right fit for me. 

Unisex Networking Groups In New Zealand

BNI is a mixed one and could be really good for a real estate agent this is also an international one. So if you're outside of New Zealand then look this one up. You can also google some local ones near you and now there are wonderful online groups too.

A You can check out these:

• BNI

• Chamber of Commerce (they are based in different areas around the world and most countries have them). 

• WOW

• TNG

Take a look and see which organizations you feel a connection to. It's also possible to join multiple Chamber of Commerce groups. While they may not meet as frequently as other groups, they are still worth exploring.

Attending their events and setting up a booth can be a great way to expand your database. While you will need to pay for the booth, offering a free bottle of champagne in exchange for business cards can be a beneficial investment in growing your client list.

Community Events

When you're first starting out, attend community events, get to know the people in your neighbourhood that you're working with and volunteer.  Get out there and amongst your community because people soon know you. And once they know, learn and trust who you are, they'll start referring business to you.

Schools

Schools  are another great way to network. If you have children, start with your children's school. Get involved on the PTA and get involved in your school events because the mums and dads are the ones that own the houses and they're the ones that are most likely to refer you business. So grow those connections and work them.

Sports, Gyms & Recreational Activities

Sports are a great way to build your network.  For example if you play tennis, join up to business house (New Zealand, other countries may have another name for this). as they are in the evenings with other local businesses.  You can do this with whatever sport it is that you're involved in or your children are.  Not only is it good for your mind space, but it's good for your networking as well.

Also, some gyms are great for networking like Next Generation Gym.  It's more like a country club which has a restaurant as well as yoga, swimming pools, and tennis.  I made some amazing connections in the restaurant, playing tennis and sitting in the spa or sauna and you strike up conversations with people. 

You've sometimes got to think outside the square with how you're going to do your prospecting, but your first 90 days is all about connecting with as many people as you possibly can. 

Hobbies

Also look at what your hobbies are.  For example going along to art classes or cooking classes, you're going to meet people in your area doing local things. 

I personally love wood work and creating beautiful chopping boards and platters and joined ladies night at my local Men's Shed.

Host Your Own Event & Sponsor Events

This is an activity I'd look at doing later down the track in your career, however you may have an opportunity to do this early on in your career so take it with both hands.  

Door-knocking

Door-knocking is a valuable marketing strategy for new real estate agents as it allows for face-to-face interaction with potential clients and helps to build a personal connection.

By going door-to-door, agents can introduce themselves, learn about the needs and wants of the neighbourhood residents, and leave a lasting impression. Door knocking can also help to identify potential listings, increase brand awareness, and generate leads.

Additionally, door knocking provides an opportunity for agents to practice their sales and communication skills and gain valuable market intelligence.

Overall, door knocking can be a cost-effective and efficient way for new agents to get their foot in the door and establish themselves in the real estate industry.

Connect With Local Businesses And Offer Joint Ventures

Another option for connecting with local business owners is to personally introduce yourself to them, particularly those who run coffee shops, restaurants, hair salons, and beauty clinics. These individuals tend to have a wide network of contacts. If you frequent these establishments in your neighbourhood, leverage these relationships by offering incentives for referrals and exploring joint venture opportunities.

Ladies, I know that you get your nails done and your hair done somewhere and if it's within your local area, work those connections. Offer them something in return for referrals and see who they know. You can do joint ventures with them. 

For example, a hairdresser and a beauty therapist, and you work together on a promo that sends business to their salons and in return they send business back to you. So, for every listing you get, you could send them a gift basket with a voucher to the salon.

You could work with someone like Mitre 10 or your local hardware store and do something similar. They may be open to something where they refer you business. They know a lot of tradies and tradies know a lot of people that are going to sell their homes. 

Past Colleagues

Who did you used to work for and what connections did you have in those industries?

Connect with people that are your past clients as well.  If they're in your area let them know that you've moved and that you're now selling real estate and who do they know?

You've already got the relationships built with these people, so keep doing that. There's just so many things that you can do when you first start, but the first 90 days is all about getting your butt out the door and learning as much as you can.

Shadow Top Agents

Take one or two of the top agents in your office out for coffee or lunch and ask if you can ask them a few questions, such as:

• What made them so successful? 

• What are their rituals for the day? 

• What are their habits? 

• What is something that they do religiously that makes them different? 

• What's their Unique Selling Proposition? 
  

Take out a couple of different top agents, whether they are in your office or your competition or even a successful agent out of your area. The least you can do is ask them why are they successful.

A lot of the time no one does that with them and they'd be so happy to help you.   Don't be afraid of asking people why they are successful. If you have an affinity with them and you'd get on really well, then they might be open to mentoring you. 

So there are just a few tips that I would recommend in your first 90 days.

Just getting out the door and prospect as much as you can. 

Are You Looking For More Help?

Are you a new agent looking for a secret weapon to help you succeed in the real estate industry? Look no further than 'Success Foundations'. This course is designed specifically for new agents like you, providing you with the tools, strategies, and support you need to succeed.

Whether you're looking to close more deals, create an amazing mindset or achieve a better work-life balance, our course has everything you need to reach your goals. With easy-to-follow lessons, expert guidance, and help getting your burning questions answered. You'll have the resources you need to succeed at every step of your journey.

Don't let the challenges of starting a new career hold you back. Invest in yourself and your future with Success Foundations. Start your journey towards success today!

In this comprehensive course, you will learn everything from:

• Creating your ideal week

• Crafting your own Freedom metric so you can hit your financial goals every month and breathe easy.

• Mastering productivity and time management with our ninja productivity tools

• Creating your vision for your life to create more work/life balance

• Creating a 90 day action plan so you can Breeze through life with ease and efficiency

As a bonus, you will receive our 'High Performance Productivity Planner' which will help you to create more time for what's important, like spending more quality time with your family and achieving a better work-life balance.

With these tools, you will be able to take control of your schedule and eliminate distractions that have been holding you back from closing that next big deal. Plus, you'll finally have time for a glass of wine or two at the end of the day without feeling guilty.

Don't wait any longer to start reaching your goals, and let's be real, making more money. Sign up for Success Foundations today and take the first step towards becoming the ultimate boss lady in the real estate game while also having a great balance in your personal life. Make the decision to invest in yourself and your future, and watch as you close more deals than you ever thought possible, while also enjoying a fulfilling personal life. So, let's get ready to make some money honey, and have some fun along the way.

Check it out HERE