Starting your journey in real estate as an agent is both exciting and challenging. Well, now that you’ve got your licence and your business cards are ready, it’s time to sell houses and change lives, right?

Not so fast! You want to be ready for the challenges that lie ahead. 

Understanding the Real Estate Industry

The reality of real estate is that many new agents find the first year tougher than expected. In truth, data from various sources shows that more than 80% of insurance agents struggle and quit within 3 years!

To us, that’s an astonishing figure. And the most surprising part is that these agents don’t quit because they aren’t talented. Instead, they are simply responding to the unique set of challenges that make it easy to make small mistakes that add up fast.

By telling you this, we aren’t trying to discourage you. We just want you to understand that the journey ahead can be quite challenging, so you should be ready. One of the best ways to do that is to review the mistakes that real estate agents make.

Common Mistakes to Be Aware of in Real Estate

If you’re trying to establish yourself as a successful real estate agent, here are the mistakes you want to look out for.

1. Neglecting Professional Development

Even though most of us want passing our exams to be the end of learning, the system is just not designed that way. In truth, passing your exam is where all the learning begins. Many new agents underestimate how much they need to keep learning about local market trends, negotiation strategies, and even the legal side of transactions.

Don’t make this mistake. Invest in top-tier continuing education real estate courses from highly rated providers like RocketCert to boost your knowledge and skills. Never treat CE as a requirement, even where it’s presented as one. Rather, take it as a form of self-improvement that makes you stand out.

2. Thinking It’s All About Selling Houses

Real estate is far from being purely all about finding clients and closing deals. In reality, you’re also running a business and combining different roles into one (marketer, negotiator, bookkeeper, and customer service rep). So, make sure you’re treating your career like the business it is.

3. Failing to Build a Strong Network

Your licence gets you into the industry, but it’s your network that keeps you there. There’s a surprisingly high number of agents who rely fully on cold leads or hope that their brokerage will provide a steady flow of clients. Of course, such beliefs only lead to disappointments.

That’s why you should invest in a strong sphere of connections that includes your friends, family, and other community connections. Always keep in mind that about 41% of buyers choose their agent through a referral.

4. Underestimating the Power of Marketing

Slapping your name on a couple of flyers or posting sporadically on social media won’t be enough to get your business out there. The modern buyer has higher expectations; thus, they want you to have a polished online presence. They want to look you up before they call, which is why you must have a professional website, consistent branding, or regular online content.

The amazing part is that you don’t even need to spend thousands. Just show up consistently.

5. Expecting Quick Money

This could easily be the biggest mistake of all. Many people enter real estate expecting crazy commissions. The truth, however, is that most new agents won’t see a substantial paycheque for months. This is why experts recommend having at least six months of savings before entering full-time.

So, treat your first year as an investment period, and then work on remaining consistent and building a foundation. The commissions will come, but not overnight!

Start With the Right Foundation to Succeed

Becoming a real estate agent is, without doubt, rewarding, but you have to approach it with the right mindset. Avoid the mistakes mentioned in this post, and most importantly, build a strong foundation for your career.

RocketCert helps you do this with expertly written and fully narrated pre-licensing and continuing education courses. So, if you’re ready to take the plunge, now’s the time to visit rocketcert.com to see what they are offering you.