Well, actually, we’ll probably need multiple profiles. There’s no “one size fits all” in this profession. We’ll give you a few thumbnail sketches and then add some pros and cons from a client’s point of view.
The High Volume Marketer
If you are a high-volume Realtor, you don’t just work with your existing clients and then start lead generating once you have closed some deals. Rather, you set aside time every day to focus on your marketing efforts. You’re proactive when it comes to generating new leads. And you have the budget to do it. As a top producing Realtor, you know that the lion’s share of your income comes from sellers, not buyers. How the client sees it: Many clients will love the exposure you’re getting. Some, however, may fear getting lost in the shuffle.
The Career Changer
After many years in one career, you looked for a major change. Perhaps you were a corporate executive, a pastor, a teacher. Changing careers has given you a new lease on life—and business. Wherever you’ve been, you have learned what it means to have a servant mentality. You put your clients’ interests above all and know how to be there for them. In an economy that’s constantly going up and down, real estate has offered you a chance to use your skills in a new way, along with the flexibility of controlling your own schedule. How the client sees it: Depending on how you profile yourself to clients, some may feel you lack sufficient experience and industry clout. Structure your brand carefully.
The Tech Whiz
You run your business with your cell phone and tablet. Clients will find you on Twitter, on Facebook, on LinkedIn, or wherever Google finds your name. You are available to your clients at the ping of an instant message. You do everything electronically, from your blog to your web site, to your cloud-based document signing app. The caveat is that just simply being tech-savvy is not what brings in the business. You also need to be able to answer the question, “Why should I work with you?” How the client sees it: Millenials and techies of all ages will love your approach. However, some clients may wish for a more personal touch.
The Part-Timer
Perhaps you have a busy life with kids and family obligations. Or you have a part time job and you need additional income. There’s nothing wrong with working part-time in real estate. You can definitely be as qualified as any full-timer. There’s no need to apologize for your part-time status and being part time does not minimize the quality of your service. The key to your success is to never let your part time status diminish your ability to serve your clients on their schedules. Just be sure you are treating your business like a business, not a hobby. How the client sees it: In today’s uncertain economy, you’ll probably find plenty of clients who are holding down more than one job. They won’t give a second thought to your status, as long as you meet their needs.
The Retiree
You looked forward to leaving the daily grind of a full-time job, but you still wanted social interaction and some income. And you just enjoy working. Real estate is the perfect post-retirement career choice. It offers a lot of time flexibility—you can work 20 hours a week, or 80. And as 10,000 boomers retire every day, and many seniors are looking to downsize their living arrangements, you can create a very nice niche market for yourself. Because you’ve been around for ten or twenty or more years, you know the territory. You can easily answer neighborhood questions and direct clients to community resources. You have a deep network of friends and acquaintances to provide referrals as well as professional support. You have an image, a reputation in the community. People trust you. How the client sees it: From the client’s point of view, there’s very little downside, as long as you are professionally savvy and available when they need you.
The bottom line is this: in the real estate business, there’s room for a lot of diversity. Wherever you are in life and business, you will find others who will meet you there.
So where do you fit?
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