5 Things Agents Struggle With and How to Conquer Them

No matter how long you’ve been in the real estate industry, chances are there’s a task you would either like to start doing or get better at. Most real estate agents have one or two areas that frustrate them on a regular basis, but the good news is that nothing is insurmountable. Approach the challenge with commitment and an action plan, and you’ll be on your way to conquering it in no time.

1. Lead generation

It can be a challenge to find leads. Successful agents are always prospecting and searching for new places to get contacts. Work your sphere of influence (SOI), reconnect with people in it and find others you can add to it. Revisit expired listings on your MLS and find ones that you can convert. Leverage networking opportunities wherever you can; in your neighborhood, at industry events and online.

Take a look at how you spend your money on lead generation – where have your dollars been the most effective and where are they being wasted? Refresh your marketing strategy so that your time, money and energy give the maximum return.

2. Productivity

How many times do you reach the end of the day and realize that you didn’t accomplish nearly as much as you planned to? Sometimes the amount of work you have to do on a daily basis is overwhelming, making it difficult to simply get started. A business plan is an excellent tool that can help you focus your time, resources and efforts. Set goals and make them SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.

Prioritize your tasks every morning. Make a point of writing down what you want to achieve that day and use a CRM to help structure your to-do list. Talk to a real estate coach, your mentor or the person who inspired you to become an agent: They can give you a different perspective on the next steps you can take to increase your business. Finally, get help. Your business might be at a stage when a real estate team can make a big difference in how much you accomplish in a day, a week or a year.

3. Marketing

Like your business plan, your marketing plan makes it easy to follow strategies and execute tactics according to your yearly goals. There are many ways you can build your brand to attract and close more sales. Use social media to connect with leads, run an email campaign, spruce up your website, start a blog, shoot some videos, or do a postcard mailing. Even your promotional giveaways can be a way to differentiate yourself from other agents and stay top of mind with leads and clients.

4. Time management

What does it mean to “work smarter, not harder”? For starters, you can save a lot of time by automating many real estate tasks using a CRM to schedule tasks and appointments. Use it to organize your database, run email campaigns, send market reports to leads, and remind yourself of client birthdays and anniversaries.

It’s easy to let time slip through your fingers: A busy selling season stretches into an even busier off-season of prospecting. The next thing you know, months have passed and you can’t recall when you last had a day off. A stressed-out, used-up agent can’t provide the best customer service, so make a point of taking time off to recharge your batteries. With thought and preparation, you can leave the office at a reasonable hour and enjoy your life outside of work.

5. Keeping up

Sometimes it’s a challenge to stay up to date with the industry, trends and technology: There’s so much information you need to know and there’s always something new. While you might find yourself short on time, there are lots of resources that can help you stay current. Many industry magazines publish online versions so that you can read them anytime, anywhere to catch up on the latest. If you have more time to spare, find a real estate conference or seminar to attend — for educational and networking opportunities. Zillow Premier Agent's resource center and Zillow Research are two more resources you can use to expand your knowledge.

Every real estate agent has an area that challenges them. Continuing to struggle with it — or, worse, ignoring it — wastes time and (sometimes) money, and unnecessarily adds to your stress levels. Your efforts to overcome a problem area might be ongoing, but so is the payoff: The difference between a successful agent and one who feels stuck is where each decides to focus their efforts.