If you’ve been in real estate for even a few months, you know that cracking a deal in this field is anything but easy. I have come across several young professionals who encounter a multitude of obstacles. Whether it is lead generation, selling skills, or marketing. This shows that there is more involved in real estate than what meets the eye, and here’s a list of some of the most important things.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software can be a great way to identify your customer’s specific needs. CRM software helps streamline all your communication with a client through email, texts, calls, and any other medium and displays them all in one platform.

This helps you decipher what stage of communication you are at with a client. Depending on this, you can do follow-ups, send marketing emailers, or send them additional options. Some of the popular CRM softwares in India are Hubspot, Zoho, Salesforce, and Leadsquared.

If you think only sketch artists and comedians use Instagram reels, think again. If you think influencers are only those who share fashion and style advice online, you might be missing out on a huge marketing opportunity. 

Content creation has expanded way beyond its original scope. Today, lawyers, doctors, chefs, and even corporate employees, are creating content. So why should real estate consultants be any different? Start creating bite-sized, easy-to-understand content on social media because having an online presence will help your reach significantly. 

Having a website is essential too. It adds to your credibility and makes you more accessible to the young generation relying heavily on the internet for their references.

It is high time for brokers to start positioning themselves as consultants. You don’t just show your clients properties that you want to sell to them. You want to become their one-stop solution for real estate buying. They don’t just come to you when they want to browse options, they come to you when they have technical doubts. When they have difficulty processing certain paperwork. When they suspect a certain builder might be defrauding them of their money.

There are a lot of brokers in the city, but very few act as consultants, and if you do this, you will have a clear edge over your competitors.

Being in touch with your clients is a tried and tested method. The magic of word of mouth and referrals will never fade. When you meet clients, try your best to make a connection– one that they won’t forget. And considering the setting you are in, this shouldn’t be tough. Being approachable, open to solving doubts, and generally friendly is enough to create a rapport. 

Once you make this rapport, try to remain in touch. If your clients are open to it, add them to your social media networks. In this way, they will always know about your company’s progress. So even if they aren’t looking to buy now, yours is the first name that will come to their mind when they are.

You can tap into a new market by posting your ads in relevant Facebook and Telegram groups. Add to this your traditional cold-calling method, and you will have a substantial lead base. Once you generate leads, send them newsletters and emailers, educating them about the nitty-gritty of real estate. They will instantly perceive you as a knowledgeable person in the field, one who is fit to resolve their doubts and issues.

This will make it relatively easier to convert your leads to actual clients. Crafting newsletters and emailers is a skill that takes some time to develop, but it is worth all the effort.

We have all heard of things like business plans, marketing plans, etc., but always assumed that these concepts exist only in the corporate world. However, incorporating these concepts and using them for your business will give you much more clarity than you think. 

They help you look at your business holistically and objectively. Having a business plan helps you identify and focus on the demographic you are catering to and will, in turn, help you devise marketing strategies accordingly. So even if you are a solopreneur, consider devising a business plan for your venture.

Join networking groups on social media that will keep you updated about any developments in your industry. This will also educate you about new marketing strategies that are coming up in real estate. Communicating with peers and competitors will help you introspect and look at your business from a fresh perspective. This might even pave the way for future partnerships and collaborations.

The bottom line

Real estate is a field that requires tremendous patience. It is very attractive because of its high commission, but the struggle behind making each deal often goes unnoticed. Because of this, it is imperative to get into this field, knowing that it demands back-breaking hard work. But once you get the hang of it and are committed to making it big, you have won half the battle already.

A decade ago, I, too, was a novice in the real estate world. I yearned to have a place where I could find all the information to succeed in this field. But a few mentors would guide me and help me navigate the field. Today, I have observed that there are still a lot of young professionals seeking mentors, but not enough people are willing to help. I decided to help solve this problem and do my bit, which led to the creation of these blogs. If you like them, you can even head over to Edstate, my website that contains deeper insights and valuable knowledge for anyone who wants to make it big in real estate.

(The writer, Mayank Agarwal, is the Founder of Green Cottage, a real estate firm and EdState, India’s first online real estate education platform. The views in the article solely belong to the writer.)