Why Industry Relationships Matter as a Real Estate Agent
Great customer service is defined by your ability to make those around you feel confident in your experience. In the wise words of real estate speaker Ryan Serhant, real estate is a people brokering business. The more you know, the better. As you build your connections and reputation as a real estate agent, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Business-to-business relationships are critical.
It is often said that a referral is the highest form of compliment a business can receive. A client’s referral is invaluable because they trust you to do as good a job with someone else as you did with them. Conversely, a referral from other professionals in the industry means that you are well-rounded and pleasant to work with.
Think of it this way: when you are interviewing for a job, it is doubtful that the potential employer wants you to provide references that are your friends. Instead, a good reference is a former employer or coworker. Those who work with you see a side of you that your clients and friends may never see. They may be able to attest to the fact that you handle pressure with poise, or perhaps that you go the extra mile to help another business when there is nothing in it for you.
This sentiment of selflessness is lovely; however, when it comes to a business-to-business relationship, there is rarely ever an instance where each party will gain nothing. Several different businesses are involved with a real estate transaction, for example, the realtors, the moving company, and the real estate attorneys. Each of these businesses has its clientele, and building a relationship with each one will unlock the door to their client pool.
Industry relationships will build trust between you and your clients.
Suppose you are showing a house to a couple of potential buyers from out of town. If they are moving from another area, they likely don’t have many connections in the neighborhood yet. The real estate transaction process is complicated. It can get tough to keep track of everything between driving your possessions to a new home, communicating with the broker, and going over real estate legalities. These stressors can be exacerbated when it comes to long-distance moves.
An efficient real estate agent will anticipate a client’s needs and offer helpful suggestions, like where they can take care of their storage needs. Making these recommendations can portray you as knowledgeable and helpful. For the businesses you have recommended, you are providing them with potential customers. In turn, your clients will view you as an excellent resource, and your business-to-business relationships will be strengthened. As a result of your helpful tips, your clients will also have a much smoother moving process. Instead of spending their day googling “moving companies in FL” or “storage services near me,” they will have industry-backed recommendations to choose from. This is what you could call a win-win-win situation.
Familiarizing yourself with every aspect of the real estate industry helps you become an information machine.
One of the main pieces of advice that the industry leaders of SERHANT. provide to new or struggling real estate agents is to become an information machine. This process is reasonably simple and free. It’s about more than just staying up to date on the latest market trends. It’s about familiarizing yourself with the neighborhood and making local connections.
Suppose you are showing a house to potential buyers, and they ask you where the nearest place is to grab a cup of coffee or walk the dog. If you are caught off guard, it can make you seem uninformed and unreliable. Thankfully, building industry relationships can help you become more knowledgeable about your surroundings and the entire real estate process.
Making friends with local movers and working directly with real estate lawyers can help you to understand the ins and outs of the entire real estate process. There is no such thing as too much knowledge, especially in an industry that experiences constant fluctuations. Having solid connections in the real estate industry can help you build your reputation and assist your clients every step of the way.