As a real estate agent, you have a variety of legal responsibilities to your clients, which are known as fiduciary duties. One of those responsibilities is ensuring that you properly represent your clients by agreeing to an agency relationship.  What Is an Agency Relationship?  An agency relationship is typically formed when the agent and their client sign an agency disclosure or agreement form. However, some states allow verbal agreements.  The agreement or disclosure states that the agent is acting on behalf of and in the best interest of the client. This includes keeping the ..read more

Real estate agents are often incredibly busy juggling a large number of clients and potential leads at once. So, as you work to grow your customer base, what can you do to ensure that you’re not causing any gaps in communication on your way to success? That’s where real estate customer relationship management systems, also known as CRMs, can help.  CRMs help you keep your sales pipeline flowing so you can focus on your clients. Put simply, a CRM is an all-in-one platform that can help you with lead generation, lead management, workflows, and keeping track of the entire sales process. In t ..read more

Successful real estate agents are usually those who focus on building relationships with their clients, leading to referrals and repeat business. Showing your clients that you appreciate them matters, and that includes choosing a thoughtful and memorable closing gift to help them celebrate their new home.  During the homebuying process, you’ve likely spent a significant amount of time with your clients, getting to know their preferences, hobbies, and future goals. Use that knowledge to select the perfect gift!  A client who recently bought or sold a home might not need your services ..read more

If you’re looking for a reality TV show to watch about the real estate industry, you’re in luck. There are dozens of shows about real estate professionals that you can binge online right now!   Whether you want to learn more about flipping houses or you’re interested in seeing what it’s like to work with high-end, million-dollar mansions, our list of the top 5 real estate reality TV shows has you covered. “Fixer Upper” (2013-2018) This show stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, a couple who own a remodeling and design business in Waco, Texas. If you’re considering buying and renovating a fix ..read more

One of the most exciting parts about launching a new career in real estate is the opportunity for nearly limitless earning potential. Real estate can be an incredibly lucrative career, with your earnings dependent on the amount of time and effort you put in, the housing prices in your area, and the commission agreement that you have with your Broker.  However, there are a variety of startup costs associated with becoming a real estate agent, as well as everyday operational costs necessary for running a business. In 2020, REALTORS®’ total median business expenses were $5,330, according to ..read more

There are many reasons to begin a career in real estate, from the job’s flexible schedule to the ability to be your own boss. If you’re considering launching a new career in real estate, you might also be wondering what your earning potential will be as an agent.  The answer is complicated. Real estate can be an incredibly lucrative career path, but the amount you can expect to earn varies widely based on factors such as where you live, how long you’ve been working in the field, and how many transactions you’re involved in each year.  According to ZipRecruiter, the average U.S. real ..read more

Once you’ve decided real estate is the career for you, your first challenge is passing your state’s real estate exam. Not only is it possible to pass this exam with flying colors, but passing your real estate exam first time comes down to one vital element: the way you approach exam prep.  Here are four things you need to know about studying for (and passing) your real estate exam so you can move on to serving the real estate needs of your community: Understand Your State’s Testing RequirementsEvery state has different requirements regarding testing requirements. Passing the real estate e ..read more

Congratulations, you passed your exam! All of that studying paid off and you reached your goal. So now what? How do you use the 30 days as a real estate agent following your exam to set yourself up for success?  Seek Out Brokers In Your AreaOnce you have the required certifications, your first order of business should be to look for brokerages in your area. Think of a broker as your mentor and your boss; a way to learn the ropes of real estate from those who have been in the business for a while. Questions to ask when looking for your first brokerage include:  What are your commissi ..read more

Top agents are innovative, techy, and always looking for a way to work smarter. Modern technology, software, and apps allow real estate professionals to communicate more effectively, organize their time wisely, and serve their clients better. Here’s a quick look at the real estate apps you should be using to help you reach more people, sell more houses, and make more money: ShowingTime– the real estate industry’s leading showing management and market stats technology provider. This innovative app changes the way agents and brokers go home, and offers immediate feedback on how to improve showin ..read more

There’s no denying that the weather significantly impacts our moods, our plans, and our buying decisions. Top real estate professionals know that it also changes the way people think about buying and selling real estate and that they have to tweak their strategies a bit to successfully sell real estate in the winter. As the temperatures drop, these are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to selling real estate in the winter: Keep The Lights On- In many parts of the county, winter means longer nights and less sunlight. Keeping a front porch light on will make it easier for interested bu ..read more