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James Hoff, Real Agents Work (Century 21 Award)

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Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

or don't answer at all...hmmm....

New agents don't know what they don't know which is why your question is so relevant.

But there exists another problem. Does this new business owner have a business plan? Yes or know to that question changes the question I want them to ask me.

No - They should ask me, "Do I need a business plan?" No new agent ever asks that question. It always how can I get a buyer or seller?

Yes - "What broker/franchise should I choose?"

Let us assume the cow is out of the barn and the agent is standing in the middle of the office wondering 'now what?"

This agent should ask me 'Where do I start?"

Then it's back to the business plan.

But instead, they ask what the best resource for leads and they hear the same non-actionable responses.

 

Oct 18, 2017 02:13 PM
Rainmaker
5,584,639
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

question:  what's the most important task that you perform every day to make your phone ring?  

answer:  I market online and offline every day..... and every couple of days I will Google the keyword phrases used to check on the success of SEO....

Oct 18, 2017 04:19 PM
Rainmaker
5,774,100
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

James,

Like we have stated before, get to know the people in your marketplace.  This takes meetings, coffee time, joining service groups, etc.  Everyone of our clients spends a lot of time in the field, one of them knocks on doors in the luxury sector, everyone knows him as the go-to guy in that neighborhood.  A

Oct 18, 2017 02:13 PM
Rainmaker
1,751,737
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

What does it take to find your 'groove'.

Oct 18, 2017 05:43 PM
Rainmaker
1,009,428
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Only one... How do you get the phone to ring.

Oct 18, 2017 05:31 PM
Ambassador
6,687,332
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

The greatest mistake I see new agents making is buying leads rather than learning how to generate their own.

Oct 18, 2017 08:57 PM
Ambassador
2,708,028
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

 What is the best way to find buyers and sellers?

Oct 18, 2017 03:21 PM
Rainmaker
1,101,059
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

"How do you pay for all that?"

Oct 18, 2017 02:33 PM
Rainmaker
2,230,207
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Who do you get your business started?

Oct 19, 2017 04:46 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,138
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

That sounds like a great contest topic. What a do know is the questions that are repetitively asked have little value to passing a test or preparing for a real estate career.

Oct 18, 2017 07:12 PM
Ambassador
3,430,182
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

What I have learned over the years is that most will ask and won't do anything about or with what is shared.  Running our own business is not easy ... not just real estate business ... any small business.  It takes work. It takes patience. It takes dedication. It takes improving our game and learning non-stop.  If you thinks you'll make big bucks and not have to work, you kidding yourself. 

Oct 18, 2017 06:38 PM
Rainmaker
8,151,265
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

How to become successful.

Oct 18, 2017 06:07 PM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Talk to people in person & online.

Oct 18, 2017 06:00 PM
Rainmaker
1,538,464
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

How do you do this job?  How do I get the most bang for my limited bucks?

Oct 18, 2017 05:57 PM
Rainmaker
2,848,509
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

It is always important to explore upsides i.e. where you want to go and how you will get there and when plus downsides like if things don't go well or markets change and what about incomes to stay alive as in feast or famine dynamics? Real Estate is a people thriving business. Interaction skills, problem solving, finishing what is started and not giving up all surface and challenge even the best out there. Do you have those skills? Drive? Passion? Patience?   I always prefer dialog and exploratory approach to discussions (plus Q & A) as more subject surfaces to be considered. One last thing. You mention a new agents growth & development. I get it. However this is a service business that charges premiums for service. Its about the other guy not the self. Clients and customers all want to know the answer to the famous question: What's in it for me? A service provider or product has to not only answer but perform

Oct 18, 2017 04:13 PM
Rainmaker
1,466,257
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

James Hoff The same answer. Will you be willing to mentor me?

Oct 18, 2017 01:59 PM
Rainmaker
4,322,035
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Good answers here, James.

Jun 15, 2018 09:39 PM
Rainmaker
6,004,291
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

New agents need to know how to get their business off the ground, keep it on-going and get a system in place for organization.

Oct 22, 2017 10:01 AM
Rainmaker
564,544
Maria Sapio
Keller Williams of Central PA - Carlisle, PA
Real Estate Agent- Carlisle, PA. Mariasapio.com

Q: How do I grow my business?
A: Just like planting a seed - it probably won't spring up overnight - and it will definitely take your continual care for it to flourish.

Oct 19, 2017 09:09 AM
Rainmaker
809,308
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

How do I not become ine of the 90% that are out of the business within a year? And, how do I become one of the 10% that is doing all of the business? -Kasey

Oct 19, 2017 08:29 AM
Rainmaker
5,483,845
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

How do I build my sphere by doing meaningful activities?

Oct 19, 2017 06:32 AM
Rainmaker
5,312,494
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Too many questions to list here. It's the stuff of an entire blog post.

Oct 19, 2017 05:19 AM
Rainmaker
602,025
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

I think the #1 question is, "How do I get listings?"

Oct 19, 2017 05:17 AM
Rainmaker
5,115,938
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Q. How do I grow my business?

A. Prospect every day.

Oct 19, 2017 05:02 AM
Rainmaker
2,249,294
Michael J. Perry
Fathom Realty - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

We often are hit with questions that belong in a Pre-Licensing Class

Oct 19, 2017 04:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,713,581
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I can I succeed without making everyone else rich but me.

Oct 19, 2017 04:02 AM
Rainmaker
3,074,389
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 nailed this one!

Oct 19, 2017 03:49 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,227
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

The most important question is how do they get paid.

Oct 19, 2017 02:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,650,442
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC • Short Sale • Probate

Feels like we have too many Qs from soon-to-be-agents of a certain state and shockingly, they are almost always the same, rarely related to actual work. 

Oct 18, 2017 10:59 PM
Ambassador
5,487,128
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Talk to successful agents and ask, "Where do you suggest I find business?" 

Oct 18, 2017 09:58 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,473
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

They don't need to ask, just start contacting everyone they know

Oct 18, 2017 05:43 PM