As a new real estate agent, What are the best methods to get clients?
396526
In the early stages of the business, it can be tough.  You do WHATEVER you can early on, and work the referrals from there.\n\na) Phone time - If your office has it, take floor time to answer real estate calls.  This is not the best way to get clients, but sometimes it works.  \n\nb) Open houses - Similar story here.  Find your 'hook'.  I tell them I have other homes that are similar, and I can email them to them.  If you do well with followup, you can keep them as a client.\n\nc) Sphere of Influence - These are your former co-workers, your friends, family, etc.  This will likely be your top source of business the first two years you're in.\n\n----\nFrom there, you have to take the successes you do have and find a way to multiply them.  \n\nFor instance, every buyer I sell a home to I offer to throw their housewarming party for them.  It costs me about $150 and my time for an evening.  Why do I do this?  Because I meet all their friends.  And when the conversation comes around that I paid for the party, I always get lots of real estate conversations.  And usually, I get another piece of business.  \n\nDo a mailout to your friends and family AT LEAST four times per year.  Tell them whatever successes you're starting to have.  You have to establish yourself as an expert to them.  You have to be the person they go to when they need a real estate question answered (and if you don't have the answer, you can go find it).  \n\nThis will get you started.  Just think creatively, and you'll succeed in the business!\n\nGood luck.
1105508
The most effective advertising dollar is spent on a Yellow Pages ad, but that is not really a short term solution (unless your book is just about to come out and you can get in before the deadline).\n\nProbably next best would be direct mail, or get something  out in the weekly flyer bundle (if you are looking for residential work).  \n\nAfter that, nothing beats pounding the pavement.  You would likely want to target business with that type of service, so go around and introduce yourself, leave a flyer and a business card.  You could also talk to places that manage commercial properties, as convincing one of them to use your service could result in multiple properties. \n\nGood Luck!
341185
I use a program that allows all my clients to look at real estate in all 50 states, with out the annoying pop ups and advertising. It's a cool system, but it's proprietary. The problem with Realtor.com, is that your clients are exposed to other Realtors. You run the risk of loosing them to another Realtor and cutting you out. If you would be interested in the program that I mentioned, contact me directly.
728060
Get a website, set up a portfolio and start advertising. It might help if you did a few for free to get some good client testimonials and start the ball rolling.
478896
I'm a real estate broker and have found there's no best way. There are many ways and you should use them all. Referrals, farming, canvassing, newspaper FSBO's and Internet free classifieds are the most populars.
901243
Your license needs to be held by a brokerage in order to list properties. You need to get hired by a real estate agency.
210860
Pick the city of your choice, contact a local real estate agency for commercial properties, tell them you need a shop sized location  in the suburbs/housing area.\n3 out of 5 ppl have pets, so you can estimate how many potential customers youd be having in that location and you can estimate if you can cover the expenses.
925311
Carlo, what kind of virtual assistant?  Are you talking about a live person via internet or a computer program?  I'm in real estate, and we have a software program called Virtual Assistant and it works really well, in that it calls up homes that meet your criteria, it has up-to-date real estate forms (make sure they are right for your state), and it has a client management system and several templates for advertising. So if you are in real estate I can recommend it, if you are an individual looking to buy or sell, I really recommend you get a realtor - there are so many laws and if you don't stay up to date you might get taken advantage of.
359088
I'm a Realtor and have had people not show up to appointments. So it works both ways. There are lots of Realtors out there, which makes it hard to find the really good ones. \n\nI network with a lot of GREAT Realtors across the country, whom I have qualified in person. If you are looking for a very good Realtor I would put my name to, go to http://www.ReferredPro.com and I'll refer you!\n\nAlso, here's my response to the guy who says that selling on your own is better than using a Realtor:\n\n* According to Thomas M. Stevens, President of the National Association of Realtors for 2006, "Finally, the plain fact is that hiring a professional pays off. The typical home represented by a professional last year sold for 16 percent more than those sold without a professional’s help. That profit more than pays for the agent’s commission. Millions of homeowners know it, and that’s why they will continue to call on experienced real estate professionals."\n\nChances are that your home will be represented much more professionaly by a Realtor, not to mention it will save you a lot of headaches.\n\nRead more about for sale by owners at http://burlingamerealtor.com/serendipity/index.php?/archives/2006/02/20.html
295437
I would interview at least 3 agents or brokers within your community, look at their sales record, marketing material and see if they have an internet presence this should get you started. 95% of the real estate is generally sold by 5% of the agents in any community. Coldwell Banker is a good company and I contend its not the company but the agents experience that will get the job done.
618004
The best way I've found to get new clients is to make your existing clients happy, and make them aware that you love referrals.  Additionally, keep an eye out for businesses in your area that might not be doing advertising, and either call or (even better) stop by to talk to the owner/manager.  You can also try websites like guru.com.  \n\nFreelancing is tough and requires a lot of legwork, but it's rewarding working for yourself.
1002435
Well, A lot of people I know is in real estate. To get into it you have a take a few courses and apply for you rliscence, which I assumed you did. The best thing is to first apply to a larger company, like Re/Max or Century 21, or even Coldwell Banker. From there, you can llok for clients through friends and family and will make a client base. But an easier way is to get the name of developers in your area, ones that may open a whole subdivision of homes, and contact them and try to make them offer they couldn't refuse. Although it may seem like your not getting enough, this will lead to large exposure!!! From exposure you get....more clients. Also, try to go into a smaller area. Starting off in Toronto or a big city like that could be hard to compete with exisiting. If you are close to a smaller city or town, that would be the best place to start! Good luck on all you do and with hard work you will succeed.:)
456781
Please don't go the "cheesy" route; IE: DITECH\n\n   Your business depends on a client base that is in need of housing certainly, but more important than that perhaps is,,, how active is the "Market" in your area?\n\n   Have you linked up/networked with any well established, possibly return customer, Realtors?\n\n   I enjoy investing in Real Estate, and/or at least constantly shopping it and any options for buying. I don't know the lattitudes you are able to offer as a Mortgage Broker however. Do you own the business? Is it already a well established business? Is it in a decent location?\n\n   Again, I don't know your allowable range of options within the framework of the business, but you might look into offering as many options to buyers as exist,,, IE: SHIP, etc. It may also serve you to offer a customer a referral to another type of lender once in awhile, depending on your ability to loan to them, or their abilities to get a loan.\n\n   Certainly you can do balloons and flyers, radio spots, TV, change the "CURB APPEAL" of your office, change the signing, advertise more extensively in the Yellow pages, hire some clown in a themed suit to stand outside,,,NOT,,,LOL.\n\n   Networking with other brokers and especially with Realtors, who in turn might recommend you to prospectives, might be the better way to go.\n\n   There is no fear that I can see, that the market is going to fall apart anytime soon,,,even with over escalation of prices,,,and no matter that, there isn't anymore land,,, per say.\n\nRev. Steven
785081
It kind of depends what  your goal is. If you're trying to get a one-time list for a specific location, the first answerer is right - the deed registrar is your best best. \n\nIf you're trying to get a list of new buyers (usually called New Mover's List) for areas in order to market or contact that group of people via mail, then there are several companies from whom you can purchase these lists. Here are some links:http://www.newmovernames.com/, http://www.brandnewmovers.com/, and http://www.melissadata.com/lists.html. Best of luck!
360606
Be real good, get an agent
55648
If the agent wants you to do a mass mailing to potential clients in a particular nieghborhood (her potential clients) you can get free mailing lists from a title company. mailing list from title co. are great. You can tell them that you only want to mail to owners or renters or people that have live in their house at lease so many years. They should give you this list for free, if you ask, they may even give you preprinted labels
428438
Let me assure you that NOT all REALTORS state they are number 1- Ask the various agents you interview, for a print out (probably from the local multiple listing service) of their sales and their agencies sales of the last several months - year, within your price range.  Ask for a marketing plan, where your home will be advertised, etc. - and if someone from their company will actually be there to show your home, rather than accessing via a lock box, with a sign-up sheet and stack of brochures.