Steps to Success: Surviving Your First Year in Real Estate

The real estate industry is teeming with freedom, flexibility, and opportunities to connect and make a difference in people’s lives. That said, just like everything else, being successful in this industry requires a bit of grit, devotion, and focus, especially in the first year of your career. Fortunately, you can follow a few simple guidelines to ensure success in your career.

Expect To Work Longer Hours

Whether you’re an agent, broker, or property investor, the real estate game isn’t for those who enjoy the traditional nine to five schedule. In fact, the freedom to choose your hours draws many people to this flexible and exciting industry.

Once you establish yourself, you can start picking and choosing your appointment times, office hours, and the like. But be mindful; working longer hours is imperative to your success, especially in the first year of your career. Being a real estate professional often requires building your business from the ground up.

Doing so successfully takes patience, persistence, and dedication. Thus, surviving your first year in real estate will likely entail investing much of your time into educational courses, marketing strategies, and network building. But trust us, once you get your foot in the door, that flexibility and freedom will feel worthwhile.

Invest in Your Education

Any seasoned real estate professional will tell you that one of the best things you can do to hone your skills is to invest in your education. For instance, if you’re an agent, you should go beyond your certification courses and register for extracurriculars to help refine your skills and explore new ones. Doing so will make you more effective at your job.

Moreover, it will present opportunities for you to grow in your career. Even if you’re going to a one-day seminar about marketing strategies for new real estate professionals, investing in your education and skill set is a crucial stepping stone to success. After all, the more educated and skilled you are, the more you’ll be able to build your business, identify your ideal clientele, and serve their needs proficiently.

Build a Network

Another cornerstone of surviving your first year in real estate is dedicating a considerable chunk of your time and effort to building a professional network. This is essential, as real estate is all about making connections, collaboration, and referrals. So it’s crucial to put yourself out there and start networking with colleagues and potential mentors or partners, particularly when you’re just starting out.

You can do this by attending industry events, going into the office regularly, and generally just taking time to get to know people. Once you have a strong network filled with agents, contractors, investors, and brokers to back you up, doors for your career will start to open a little more easily. For these reasons, you should make networking a top priority.