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Few, if any, celebrity real estate agents became famous out of pure luck. Many have earned their spot in the limelight.
That’s not to say these agents didn’t have some (or lots of) help on their path to fame and fortune. They definitely did. But it also doesn’t mean these folks are talentless or simply relied on their charm and wits to make it to the top.
Many famous industry pros — yes, even those on “Million Dollar Listing” — actually are skilled agents and brokers.
Pat Hiban
- Rebus University Owner and Trainer
- Host of Real Estate Rockstar Radio
- Author of “6 Steps to 7 Figures“
“A simple profit loss is going to show you what’s working, what’s not. … You’ve got to track. The more checks and balances you have in place, the more successful you’ll be and the more you’ll know right away if you’re off your goal or headed towards your goal.”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
Monitoring your sales and marketing progress is a must. Failing to track your business performance will only hurt your bottom line. Use a spreadsheet or software solution to see how your website, email campaigns, and other content help you over time. The more metrics you track, the more you’ll be able to improve them in the long run.
Jade Mills
- Top-ranked Coldwell Banker luxury agent
- More than $4 billion in total home sales
- Built brand division catering to pro athletes
“Take everything you can. Take every single listing, every single buyer. [They’re] gold in the beginning [of your real estate career] because you want as many deals as you can possibly have [at the start].”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
You can’t assume the leads and clients will pour in as a new real estate agent. Take any and all business you have the bandwidth for at the start of your career. Then, once you’ve built a strong reputation, you can be more selective in terms of clients you go after and work with — and even make the transition from buyer’s agent to seller’s agent.
Dave Jenks
- Co-authored “The Millionaire Real Estate Agent“
- Former Keller Williams and Century 21 executive
- Co-founder and CCO of Free Enterprise Warriors
“True entrepreneurs have a work ethic that won’t quit, and when they need to show up, they show up. It doesn’t matter if it’s the weekend or the night or whatever, they show up. And so they put in the effort and the work in the front end in order to get the wealth and the freedom at the back end.”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
Success does not come without putting some work behind it. Whether that’s working on getting new leads, branding yourself and your listings, or just following up on past customers, there is always more you can do to set yourself up for success.
Santiago Arana
- Principal and partner at The Agency
- Top 25 in home sales during 2017
- Brokered home deal for LeBron James
“Ask yourself, if you were going to be a CEO, would you hire you? If not, why not? What do you need to do? Do you need to schedule your time better? Do you need more resources? Are you marketing yourself? You have to spend money to make money. You need PR. Entrepreneurship is important no matter what you do if you want to be successful.”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
Take the time to step back and see where you are vs. where you want to be. Being critical of your processes and always trying to optimize can help your agency move in the right direction and grow your business. Investing in yourself and your business can go a long way in your career.
Barbara Corcoran
- Founder of The Corcoran Group
- Sold brokerage for $66 million in 2001
- Co-host of ABC’s “Shark Tank”
“Buyers decide in the first eight seconds of seeing a home if they’re interested in buying it. Get out of your car, walk in their shoes and see what they see within the first eight seconds.”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
Always try to see things from your leads’ perspective. If you represent a seller’s listing, take notes as you tour their home for the first time. This will help you determine how you can best stage the home and enhance its curb appeal. Making your listings look pristine in the eyes of potential buyers is essential to getting the most (and best) offers.
Tami Halton Pardee
- Founder and CEO of Halton Pardee + Partners
- #1 real estate brokerage in Los Angeles
- Firm has $3+ billion in total home sales
“When you surround yourself with great people that care about the company and you can foster a team mentality and sharing of ideas and information, you’re so much stronger than trying to do it alone.”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
It’s not just about hiring talented and skilled people for your team. Everyone from assistants to agents at your firm need to have a passion for your business and clients. Real estate is the ultimate “people” business. That means you need people at your agency who actually care about the people you serve.
Josh Flagg
- Los Angeles-based luxury real estate agent
- Star of “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles“
- 2015’s top sales volume agent in L.A.
“Anytime you can help someone and give them something of value, it makes it easier to do what you want to do, by being able to leverage your skills and existing knowledge base.”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
Buyers and sellers want the most knowledgeable and helpful agents to represent them. (We know: shocking). Prove your expertise and value in all of your online and offline marketing collateral, and your leads will take notice. They’ll see you not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk — and they’ll want to hire and recommend your business.
Diane Ramirez
- CEO of Northeast-based Halstead Property
- Named to 2018 Swanepoel POWER 200
- 2016 Real Estate Person of the Year by IREM
“Being true to yourself … in everything you do, big and small — with a staff person that cleans the office at night, or a top executive colleague, or some very important homeowner; they’re all just people you’re working with, so be true to yourself and treat all people the same.”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
Authenticity is the ultimate differentiator in real estate. Buyers and sellers can distinguish fake agents from genuine ones a mile away. So, be yourself in everything you do. Be the real you in every conversation with leads, every meeting with clients, every networking event you attend, and every open house you conduct.
Ryan Serhant
- Founder and associate broker of The Serhant Team
- Top 5 in transaction volume during 2017
- Star of “Million Dollar Listing New York“
“In sales, the more exposure the better. You’re always looking for different ways to brand yourself and market yourself and tell people, ‘Hello, hey! I’m the real estate broker you should use when you think about real estate!”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
It may be easy for Serhant to say this, given the exposure his show provides him. Regardless, he’s right: The more you can get your brand in front of your audience and prove you’re a go-to agent, the more business you’ll get. Always find new and innovative ways to connect with your audience, and your leads database will grow immensely.
Laura Brady
- Founder and president of Concierge Auctions
- Named one of Inman News’ top real estate influencers
- Firm has more than $1.2 billion in home sales
“Knowledge is power and instills confidence. On average, I spend three to four hours every day reading and listening to books, podcasts and news. I not only focus on real estate but also entrepreneurship, history, and other finance, tech, and business sectors.”
Real Estate Quote Takeaway
Any top-producing agent will tell you their education never ends. Coaches and trainers offer them in-depth advice regularly. National conferences and local meetups provide them new sales and marketing ideas. Blogs and books give them insights they’ve never learned before. The moral of this real estate quote is simple: Never stop learning.
New to real estate? Get even more actionable advice from top producers in our special guide:
