First came the Multiple Listing Service, then came the Internet Data Exchange, and they’re supposed to work together. But what’s the difference between the two? And how can real estate agents choose the best software for their online property listings? In the next few minutes, you’ll learn everything you need to know and more about MLS and IDX.

What is a Multiple Listings Service and How Does It Benefit Agents?

Put simply, a Multiple Listing Service is a system that allows real

First came the Multiple Listing Service, then came the Internet Data Exchange, and they’re supposed to work together. But what’s the difference between the two? And how can real estate agents choose the best software for their online property listings? In the next few minutes, you’ll learn everything you need to know and more about MLS and IDX.

What is a Multiple Listings Service and How Does It Benefit Agents?

Put simply, a Multiple Listing Service is a system that allows real estate agents and brokers to manage and share their local listings with other real estate professionals. MLS was created in the 1800s when agents realized they could better serve their clients by making each other aware of each other’s listings instead of hogging them all to themselves. The listing and buying agents could benefit from consolidating information and sharing commissions.

Now, modern MLSs are online and every real estate agent with an internet connection has their listings on one. Agents pull the right listings for their clients and the property-buying journey begins. While some MLSs have public-facing sites, most are only available to licensed agents.

A common misconception is that there is only one state-wide or city-wide MLS. In fact, there are hundreds of MLSs and they can often grow and overlap in other marketplaces.

Real estate agents and brokers pay a membership fee to access each MLS. Buyers rely on agents to get access to thousands of great listings, so it’s crucial for agents to be a part of an MLS. With the help of a modern IDX, agents give customers a peek into their MLS and get a huge helping hand in the property search.

What is an IDX and How Does it work?

When MLS was first introduced, it was similar to a massive phone book: a dusty, thick bank of pages with individual property information. Now, thanks to IDX, agents and brokers are able to connect their MLS to their websites and easily get started on the property search from wherever they are.

IDX is not a website itself; it’s an online software that allows anyone to access MLS data on a third party website. This is where having a great real estate website becomes super important.

Only members of MLS systems can access IDX. IDX vendors download property data from an MLS System several times throughout the day, store it in their  database, then structure it and make it available for display and interaction on agent websites. Without IDX, agents wouldn’t be able to share listings from MLS on their websites.

IDX was first introduced by the National Association of Realtors and has strict guidelines to ensure national consistency. The NAR’s goal was to come up with a set of rules that would protect prospects from exploitation while making it clear and easy to share MLS data.

Some rules include:

Do You Need IDX for a Real Estate Website?

With a great real estate website and IDX integration, you have the power to not only show off your MLS listings, but use the entire MLS database to attract and build promising leads.

For 44% of all property buyers, an online search is the first step to buying a home. In a competitive real estate market, leading agents can’t afford to opt out of such an important tool.

An IDX makes it easy for buyers to browse through listings on your website. That means that they stay on your webpage for longer and send the message to Google that your website is worth a visit. Not to mention that if someone actually finds what they’re looking for on your website, they are more than likely to give you a call.

However, not just any IDX will do. You need an IDX designed to make the home buying experience as smooth and enticing as possible so that you can bring in leads without a hitch.

AgentFire websites are designed to house incredible property listing pages. Our talented designers have worked with the leading real estate experts nation-wide for years, so they know how to create real results from your real estate website. Curious about what AgentFire has to offer? Take a look at our web stacks.

Are All IDX Providers the Same?

All IDX systems are not built equally. We say to go for the one with the most beneficial features for your clients.

The tricky thing about IDX is that it will bring in all listings found on MLS. Agents cant cherry pick what they’d like visitors to see. It’s crucial that your chosen IDX gives customers control to customize their search and organize results. That’s why we prefer Showcase IDX. Showcase IDX offers the most extensive client-oriented, customizable features that serve multiple functions along the lead generation and property buying process.

We worked with our clients, the Bishop Team, to develop a branded property listing page using Showcase IDX. This page works intuitively with their prospects and generates consistent leads.

Common IDX Features

There are a few specific features you should consider when shopping around for an IDX:

What Are The Differences Between IDX vs MLS?

At this point, it should be easy to identify the difference between IDX and MLS. But the key takeaway is this: MLS is where listings by agents/brokers are originally posted and shared internally. IDX is the software that allows these listings to be shared with prospects through real estate websites.

What about Zillow and Trulia?

You’ll be happy to know that Zillow and Trullia do not pull from the MLS, so you’re not exactly competing head to head. The high amount of listings on these marketplaces gives customers the illusion that there are countless listings on their sites, but this isn’t entirely true. Because these real estate marketplaces are not connected to an MLS, their listings are not always up to date. Listings are commonly overstated by 20% and 36% of listings posted are unavailable.

Despite consistent inaccuracy, these massive listings sites are what modern clients have gotten used to. It’s beneficial to ask ourselves what draws them in and how we can use those positives on a smaller scale in our hyperlocal real estate markets.  Visually attractive listings and high-quality client service are good places to start.

Wrapping Up…

MLS and IDX are integral tools in the property buying process, on both the client and agent side. It’s safe to say that without either tool, agents are at a huge disadvantage and will have trouble competing in today’s market.

There are tons of IDX systems available to the modern agent. If you think from your client’s perspective, it gets a lot easier to choose the right one for your real estate business.

What makes copywriting distinct is the goal of encouraging the reader to take a very specific action. In real estate copywriting writing, you’re persuading the reader to make the largest purchase of their lives. That means the quality of your writing needs to be impressive.

What Is Real Estate Copywriting?

The key to excellent real estate copy is writing for the few individuals who are really going to “click” with your content. Every sentence you write has the potential to

What makes copywriting distinct is the goal of encouraging the reader to take a very specific action. In real estate copywriting writing, you’re persuading the reader to make the largest purchase of their lives. That means the quality of your writing needs to be impressive.

What Is Real Estate Copywriting?

The key to excellent real estate copy is writing for the few individuals who are really going to “click” with your content. Every sentence you write has the potential to be the one that leads your reader to their dream home and changes their life.  If you can make a client feel seen and heard, you’ve won half the battle.

You can see why, as a real estate agent, gaining basic copywriting skills is a huge plus. At the very least, you can improve your ability to communicate with homeowners and buyers in a way that resonates with them and gets you the deal.

Unfortunately, while many real estate agents are natural-born sales people, they’re not natural born copywriters. It may take a bit of advice and practice to reach a level of copywriting that  you can feel proud of. By considering the tips below, you’ll gain the skills you need to develop awesome copy. And hey – worst comes to worst, you can hire your own copywriter (we have tips for that too). 

Copywriting for Real Estate Landing Pages

Your real estate landing page is the place where you funnel clients and should generate a load of loyal clients. Great copywriting will keep visitors on your page and coming back to revisit your incredible resources.

Ace the Headline

Your headline in the first part of your content that readers see. If you want to keep your prospects scrolling and exploring, acing your headline is crucial. A lacklustre headline not only lowers interest, it may even deter prospects from clicking into the article.

Make It Attention-Grabbing

Think of headlines that have caught your attention in the past or even in the last week. What did they have in common? Did they spark a feeling of concern within you? Were they funny? Timely? The principles of a great article headline or ad headline can be applied to your real estate website landing page. Any way you put it, a standout headline creates a feeling of urgency and interest. Not sure which headline would be the most enticing? Try out few variations and run them by real estate colleagues, friendly clients, or loved ones to get a good idea of which is the most effective.

Leave the Headline for Last

Your headline needs to sum up the most important points of your content, answer a client concern, and offer knowledge in a way that is syntactically appealing. If you’re having trouble coming up with a stellar head line, wait until you’ve constructed the bulk of your web page content. Then think of how you can sum up those 1000 words into a sharp 10.

Don’t Resort to Clickbait

As tempting as it is to try and bring in readers at any cost, using clickbait titles can severely hurt your business in the long run. It’s a simple SEO theory: nothing recognizes dishonesty and inconsistency faster than a search engine. For example, Google quickly picks out websites that have high bounce rates, yet a packed amount for keywords and captivating titles. If Google gets a whiff of clickbait from your webpage, you’ll be pushed down the ranks and that particular webpage may never see the light of day again. Don’t take the risk.

Find the Pain Point, Press It, Then Solve It

It’s human nature to be more action-inspired by the relief of pain, than the seeking of pleasure. Marketers have been playing on this unfortunate trait for years – and with consistent success.

For many of your current or prospective clients, the property search can feel long, expensive, stressful and time-consuming: the perfect breeding ground for relief-seeking. Industry professionals call this “taking advantage of a pain point”. The key for real estate copywriting is to press on this pain point and then offer your services or knowledge as a solution.

It would go a little bit like this: show that you understand client concerns and don’t hesitate to go into detail.  Every client group has a unique standpoint based on their hyperlocal area, budget, interests and lifestyle. For example, if your client base is mostly nuclear families, touch on the inconvenience of going to multiple open houses with kids, finding a neighborhood that is both affordable and with awesome surrounding schools, or creating separation between rooms while maintaining an open feel. 

Use your selected pain points as a jump off point for the best qualities about your services and the properties/clients you service. “Frustrated with non-stop viewings and impatient kids? Our brokerage consistently narrows down the best choices in the market on any given day. We’ll get crystal clear on exactly what you’re looking for. That way, you get the least stressful and most informative viewings.”

Use Accessible Language

Your real estate web pages don’t need to read like Shakespeare in order to be appreciated. In fact, you’ll find significantly more success if they read more like a children’s book. Flowery language has its place, but it’s often a barrier that creates confusion and distance. When you write long, winding sentences, your readers have to work twice as hard to find the information they’re looking for. Often, it’s easier to click away to another agent’s real estate website.

Think from the perspective of the reader: what information are you looking for and what language would you use to describe it? With this perspective, you can add descriptive words that emphasis without confusion. 

For many copywriters, writing accessible, brief paragraphs pose more of a challenge than a poetic 300 page novel. Not only does language have to be clear, but structure and order greatly affect readability. It takes a bit of practice to recognize and organize a few words that pack a punch.

We suggest starting with a mind map of all the main points you’d like to touch on. Mind maps help to clear the mind, create connections between points, and make sure you are touching on every necessary detail. From there, you can put the points in logical order and flesh out the details. Once all of the information you need has an organized order, you’ll want to break it up using text breaks and visual tools. Numbers, lists, and images create space between blocks of text that make your pages easier and more pleasant to read.

Copywriting for Real Estate Listings

What does your real estate listing say about the property? And how? You’ll have to do a bit more than describe basic features if you want to capture clients’ attention.

Focus on Benefits, Not Just Descriptions

Great property listings not only touch on what exists, they foster ideas of the potential of a home and the lovely people that will live in it. By now, we understand that purchasing a home is a much more emotional experience than simply buying a piece of land. It’s a refuge at the end of the day, a place to shut yourself off from the rest of the world, create a new life, and do whatever else you imagine for your life.

Of course, as you plan out your listing description, you’ll want to start by making sure that the basics are covered (how many bedrooms, bathrooms, appliances, etc.). The idea is to transport your prospective buyer to the home of their dreams with such immense persuasion that they can’t resist coming for a visit. Your ability to communicate the benefit of each feature is what will truly set your listing apart. Add character by considering how each feature in the home feels and adds to the day to day experience of living there.

Define Your Target Audience

Who is your target client base and what language would they use to describe their dream home? If you’re having trouble pinpointing the right language, ask yourself what type of person your listing wouldn’t be right for and select language that appeals to the opposite. 

Here are some examples of language leading agents would use to expand on a simple feature like a double sink:

Language like this not only appeals to your target client, but can pull in those who are teetering back and forth between different property styles, types, or agents.

It’s equally important to be familiar with words that are unappealing and even ostracizing. References to physical disability, religion, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, and employment status can quickly get you in trouble with fair housing laws and lead to unwarranted lawsuits. Check out the Fair Housing Guidelines for the full list of appropriate and inappropriate language.

Tell a Story About the Property

I know we said no flowery language, but storytelling is the one exception we’ll allow. Storytelling gets the reader emotionally involved with the text and makes a property standout among a series of dry listings. 

If your listing is an older home, reference the history of the space and how it intertwines with the surrounding neighborhood and local culture. You may reference architectural details, populations, monuments, and other worthwhile qualities. 

If your listing is a new development or one without any historical significance, look into the history of the hyper-local area. When in doubt, bring attention to the future potential of the neighborhood. There are a million ways to tell a story.

Enlist the Help of a Copywriting Tool 

Modern copywriting tools are essentially computer-generated AI programmed to mimic the cadence and vocabulary of natural language. For busy real estate agents without an external copywriter, copywriting AI can save you loads of time and effort in the long run.  From filling blank spots, to acting as a work-along thesaurus, and generating content ideas, there are a wealth of tasks copywriting AI can help with. Remember however, that these tools are not a replacement for human skill and don’t have the ability to recognize what sounds natural and appealing to the human ear. You’ll still need to verify your facts, check for consistency,  and add your own personality. 

Jasper

Jasper is one of the most comprehensive copywriting tools on the market right now. This tool is programmed to match the tone of several publication types and speed up the writing process by 10x. From real estate listings, to Facebook ads, Jasper AI predicts the type of language and topics appropriate for your content. 

Stuck on a blank page? Jasper scours relevant content to suggest what you should write about next and helps you build the text as you go. 

Here is a short tutorial on how you can take advantage Jasper now:

WordTune

Similarly to Jasper, WordTune provides suggestions on how your writing can be improved as you type. Once you add the Chrome extension, you can instantly use it across popular websites such as Google Docs, Twitter, Grammarly, and LinkedIn. 

Should You Hire a Real Estate Copywriter?

For some agents, all the copywriting tips in the world wouldn’t create enough time for them to write their own copy. In this case, a proficient copywriter can take a heavy load off your plate without sacrificing results. Unless your brokerage has large and ongoing needs, a freelance copywriter can provide sufficient and occasional work as needed.

What Will Your Copywriter be Responsible For?

Your copywriter should be confident in their ability to write engaging content that promotes your real estate business and highlights your unique offerings. Keep in mind that a candidate doesn’t need to have exclusive copywriting experience in order to excel in a copywriting position. Focusing on the skills that a great copywriter typically has, rather than the title, will allow you to hire from a larger and equally well-qualified pool of candidates. Consider past work experience that is indirectly related to are helpful in regards to copywriting. For example: do they have a graphic design background that could be integrated into your marketing materials? Admin experience that could be helpful if you need a bit of organizational help? 

On a micro-level you’ll want to look for:

What to Include in Your Job Description

Your job description is likely the first time job seekers will interact with your company, so you’ll want to make a positive first impression. This is your opportunity to attract the best candidates who are also looking for a top employer. Get clear on what your new hire will be responsible for. Some typical copywriting tasks within the real estate industry include: 

The Writing Sample

Before the one on one interview, narrow down the best applicants by asking them to complete a sample. Copywriting is best tested by example, and asking for one will save you tons of  time in the long run. It’s customary in the copywriting industry to pay the applicants normal per-word-rate for the sample, however you may negotiate. 

Think of a topic that is relevant to the real estate industry, your unique business style, and your client’s interests. Here are examples of content written by some of AgentFire’s leading agents and marketers:

AgentFire client, Johnette Barham, is a real estate copywriting whiz. As a real estate agent herself, Johnette knows first-hand who her real estate clients are and what they’re looking for in her local area. With a high number of pet-owners in Johnette’s hyperlocal area, a blog about pet shops is useful and informative. This is also the type of article that is likely to be shared or viewed more than once by the same person. If ever needed, the intelligent AgentFire Blog Assist tool can suggest topics for Johnette to write about next. 

Chris Crow’s blog is a fabulous example of how to stay on brand while providing timely, relevant content. This real estate terms article is packed with digestible pieces of content between engaging visuals. It’s simple, yet effective in keeping visitors engaged. 

In Conclusion…

You don’t have to be an amazing copywriter to recognize amazing copywriting. With the knowledge you’ve gained, you’ll know how to identify a great headline, improve text phrasing, and find the right AI tool without touching a keyboard. 

Whether you write your own content or hire someone to help you out, great content is the responsibility of the website owner – and it isn’t a challenge to figure out. When in doubt, just think of what makes content that you like pleasant to read. The tips on this list will definitely apply.

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Summer is coming to an end (hard to hear, we know), and many of us are struggling to get back to a working pace. For many real estate agents, the motivation to maintain a work-life slowed to a glacial pace as summer heated up. After several days or weeks of a slower-paced work week, or not working at all, you’ll need to prime yourself to truly jump back in with full force. By jumping in without preparation, you’ll quickly realize how challenging it is to work from morning to night – and sometimes even

Summer is coming to an end (hard to hear, we know), and many of us are struggling to get back to a working pace. For many real estate agents, the motivation to maintain a work-life slowed to a glacial pace as summer heated up. After several days or weeks of a slower-paced work week, or not working at all, you’ll need to prime yourself to truly jump back in with full force. By jumping in without preparation, you’ll quickly realize how challenging it is to work from morning to night – and sometimes even later if you’re a busy agent. 

Don’t be too hard on yourself. 

The thought of coming back to work with hundreds of unread emails waiting for your response is daunting, to say the least. You may start to regret taking such an incredible break in the first place. Don’t let your stress levels fool you: you deserved and break and there are ways of getting back to work that won’t overwhelm you. Take a breath, release guilt, then follow the steps below. 

1. Reinvigorate Your Purpose

Getting clear on your purpose is one of the most motivating factors not only at work, but in life as a whole. Why did you start your real estate career? What opportunities does it provide for you and your loved ones? What are your favorite parts of the job? Put your focus on why you are at work and how thankful you are for your career, instead of why you’d rather be somewhere else. 

One of the fastest, actionable ways to step back into your purpose is to focus on what you can provide for others. Find something, that allows you to feel as if you’re truly making a difference. This could be reminding yourself of how many clients you’ve helped along the way, the freedom you’ve created for your family, the list goes on. Tap into the richness of your purpose, then you’ll feel the momentum start moving. 

2. Make a To-do List

Reality hits harder when we’re overwhelmed by the tasks that have piled up. A tried and true solution? To-do lists. The key is knowing how to write a productive to-do list that feels satisfying instead of suffocating. Focus on the most challenging or pressing tasks first, then work your way down to the smaller things. Don’t be tempted to say yes to everything as soon you return to work. Evaluate your existing priorities first. If at any point your to-do list starts to feel larger than life, there’s no shame in requesting an extension or asking an associate for help if they have the bandwidth to offer support. 

3. Start Slow

The last thing you should be doing is working 24/7 as soon as you jump into work. Instead of taking on tens of extra work hours to fight through your to-do list, leave the non-critical tasks to the next day. Give your full attention to the most important tasks while you have the energy, and push through the next tasks after you have a good rest. There’s no use doing a sloppy job for the sake of speed. 

4. Take the Opportunity to Evaluate Your Real Estate Business

After stepping away from work for a while, you gain a fresh perspective on your day to day work. Take this opportunity to examine your real estate business structure and dive into what’s working and what can be improved. What’s making you happy and what could be reconfigured to improve your day-to-day work? Could your marketing strategies be improved? How can you grow your professional relationships and network? 

5. Meet with Your Team

Whether you’re a real estate agent or a broker, it’s beneficial to get back in touch with your team after a long time apart. The fall season is the perfect time to start planning your financial goals for the next quarter and how you and your brokerage will achieve them. Start off on the right foot by addressing clogs in your team machine and making a clear plan on how you’ll combat them. 

6. Review What’s Happening in Your Hyperlocal and National Market

The real estate industry moves quickly. It’s good practice to consistently check in on real estate news whether you’re on vacation or not. However, you’ll want to dig a bit deeper to get a full scope of what’s going on in the real estate market on multiple levels before diving in with clients. Getting fully informed will make sure that you know what your current and future clients are experiencing and expecting now. 

7. Network and Ask Questions

There’s no better way to get into the mix of things than to meet with other professionals who are doing the same.  Check out our most recent article about how to network strategically and when given the opportunity, ask questions to other professionals. Find out what teams are doing successfully whether they’re in your local market or not. You may find new approaches that can enrich your business in the upcoming season. 

8. Revive Client and Professional Relationships

After months of being away from the office and out of the regular rigamarole, it’s the perfect time to send out an email and remind clients and associates that you’re back and ready for business. Reiterate your contact info, referral information, availability, and new points of interest in your hyperlocal zone. Review and organize your CRM for future contact with leads in different stages of the buying and selling process, as well as community and professional stakeholders. 

Our AgentFire CRM integration pairs with every leading CRM to effortlessly organize online leads with minimal effort on your part.

9. Get Back to Your Regular Sleep Schedule

We’ve saved the best tip for last. A decent sleep is arguably the most important tip of all. Without a decent rest, nothing is possible – and we mean that. During your vacation, you likely jam-packed your itinerary to make the most out of every second. When the sun is shining and everyone around you  is lounging, it’s easy to sacrifice sleep for a few cocktails or a late night meal. Add more exercise and activity than usual, and your need for rest is bound to pile up. Unfortunately, you can’t cheat yourself out of sleep for long. The Huffington post co-founder, Arianna Huffington has even written a book about it and dedicated a fair amount of her career to sleep advocacy. Burnout is a real thing. 

After coming back from vacation, give yourself enough time to rest up and prep for the work week. If you’re returning from a country with a significant time difference, your days and nights can turn into a mess of confusion when you return. 

It’s a known fact that jet lag makes people disoriented and unintentionally irritable. That’s not the attitude you want to bring to clients or your office. 

In Conclusion…

It’s tempting to jump into work after some time away. Agents who have felt disconnected for a while, often rush into work out of guilt and a feeling of overwhelm. Don’t fall into the same trap. There are simple strategies that will allow you to be as productive as possible upon returning to work, without losing your sanity and stability. With the right steps in place, you could even come back to work stronger than you were before your break. 

If you’re a real estate agent struggling with leads, there’s a chance you’re not making the most of your agent network. Your real estate agent network is the community of other real estate agents working in a similar field who you maintain close professional relationships with. But if you’ve stayed away from building quality relationships with other agents up until this point, you’re not alone.

Many agents worry about getting too close to their competition – especially in a fierce market.

If you’re a real estate agent struggling with leads, there’s a chance you’re not making the most of your agent network. Your real estate agent network is the community of other real estate agents working in a similar field who you maintain close professional relationships with. But if you’ve stayed away from building quality relationships with other agents up until this point, you’re not alone.

Many agents worry about getting too close to their competition – especially in a fierce market. While those fears are logical, most are misguided. Pairing up allows for unique opportunities like subbing in when the other goes on vacation, sharing secondary resources such as contractors and stagers, expanding into other local niches and markets, and more. So what is there to truly be scared of? Even a single high-quality relationship with another agent can cast a wider, more open network and unlock opportunities you didn’t know existed.

Does that mean you should get closer to the competition? Yes.

Pair up with those more experienced and knowledgeable than you? That too.

Luckily, realtors are a naturally chatty group. With the right strategies and confidence, you can stand out at any networking event and build connections that will quickly diversify your business.

1. Wear Something Professional, Yet Memorable.

In a sea of white and baby blue button-downs, a slight outfit change can make a huge impact.

A colorful scarf or smart pair of shoes are visual cues that will stand out in the memories of other attendees when they think back to the event and whom they met. Think about it: are you more likely to remember the guy with the funky, green pocket squares or one of the hundreds with black briefcases?

2. Complete Your Contact Card and Be Ready to Share It.

That little snippet of information that pops up when someone texts someone else’s contact info, is called your contact card. If it’s not filled out accurately, you could be missing out on more layered and effective communication.

Here’s what we mean:

Most iPhones have 10 standard fields for each contact (and the option to add more). Yet, most people only fill out their contact information with their phone number and name. Imagine how much more value you could offer your new contact by filling out all of the fields? Forget about searching for your social profiles long after you’ve left an event or asking friends about upcoming events. Take the time to fill out every field possible so that new contacts have several avenues to get in contact with you in a matter of seconds.

3. Make Your Business Card Standout.

There’s standard business card is here to stay – no matter how advanced communication technologies have become. However, there are ways to make sure that your business cards don’t get lost in the mix with tens of other cards each attendee racks up.

Your business card should not only be professional and clear, but an accurate representation of you and what you represent. Are the colours consistent with the branding theme of your other handouts? Does your logo reflect your business style and niche?

Our Logo and Branding addon gives you a customized and unique brand image that can be shared across all of your marketing materials. Prefer to stand out with small handouts such as USBs instead of business cards? We can make sure you have the correct branding for those too. Learn more about our Logo and Branding addon.

4. Research the Attendees.

A little preparation beforehand can make the difference between a so-so work event and a memorable experience – especially if key speakers are leading the event. Think about what hyperlocal areas these agents work in and which group of clients or niche they work with most. This will help you to get a fluid conversation started and dive deeper into the conversation quicker with rich, informed questions.

5. Break Out of Your Comfort Zone.

Networking events are rare opportunities to meet people you would otherwise not cross paths with. If everyone stood back and waited to be approached, it wouldn’t be much of a “networking” event at all. Speaking with only people you’ve met before, also isn’t much more helpful. Those relationships need to be nurtured, but the key is to not get stuck in your comfort zone.

Take the chance to speak with someone you wouldn’t usually speak to and be open to new things they can share with you. There’s no risk as you can always politely end the conversation and move on. All the better if you’re the one to start and end the conversation.

6. Don’t be Scared of the Big Players.

There’s a trick to getting to those speakers who are guarded by an anxious and excited crowd:  speak to them a few hours before they go on stage (or as early as possible). Assuming you’ve done some research and with these confidence tips, you can easily host a memorable, mutually beneficial conversation.

This means: a balance between praise and curiosity, listening, speaking, and not devaluing your own skills in an effort to express your admiration for the other speaker. Think about why that person would love to speak to you as much as you’d love to connect with them – and maintain that level of confidence.

7. Make Sure Your Real Estate Website is Ready.

The goal of most networking events is to gather contacts’ information and foster a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. Don’t let your low-quality website be the barrier that prevents new contacts from referring you to others.

Once visitors reach your website, they should be enticed to explore valuable tools and content that demonstrate your knowledge and expand theirs. With the right expert design team, your website can be a lead magnet that enhances your ability to draw in quality prospects effortlessly.

AgentFire real estate websites are consistently rated number one for a reason. Our team is constantly updating our web platform with affordable, effective and beautiful addons and marketing tools that are made specifically for real estate professionals. Excellent relationships with our existing clients allow us to keep our ear to the ground and provide exactly what real estate agents need to grow their business day by day in a rapidly changing market. Check out our web stacks and customized tools here.

8. Be a Good Listener (your kindergarten teacher was right).

No one likes the person who is so focused on networking, that anything non-business related disinterests them. Remember that as much as other attendees can benefit from hearing about your real estate career, no one appreciates a high-pressure, one-sided conversation. Be attentive to what is being said, regardless of whether the topic is work-related or not,  and you’ll consistently get the best version of people (and the natural career benefits that follow).

The flip side is that failing to listen properly causes you to miss out on valuable knowledge that could be tremendously helpful. Listen intently and you’ll pinpoint opportunities to step in and be an awesome resource for your new contacts, and new business.

9. Don’t Shy Away From Your Success.

Real estate networking events are one of the few situations in which rambling about your career isn’t irritating  – if you know how to do it properly. Take a soft approach to self-promotion instead of a hard sell. Keep name and award-dropping within relevant topics and conversations.

10. Introduce Your New Connection to Other Connections.

A network is just that: a net of working connections. The aim is for a high-quality connection to lead to other top-notch contact and so on; slowly building relationships that can all be of use to each other.

For example, if you know a home buyer looking for a property within your new contact’s niche, don’t hesitate to send them that agent’s relevant contact information. When the opportunity presents itself, you can expect them to do the same for you.

There’s no use being shy about your referral expectations, as long as you phrase them calmly and professionally. Expressing that you’d love for your new acquaintance to share relevant referrals with you is usually an obvious-enough nudge.

11. Avoid Drinking, If Possible.

Although a few drinks may make you feel more relaxed, the drunk version of you is not the one that should be attending business events.  Forgetfulness, embarrassment, speaking out of turn, aggression… the downfalls of drinking at a networking event are plenty. It’s just not worth it.

12. Give More Than You Get.

Always enter social, networking environments ready to share. Beyond your own contact info and knowledge, what can you contribute? Referrals not only to prospective clients, but to other professionals such as stagers, appraisers, real estate investors, and others, can help fellow realtors save hours of time and missteps.

Then, when you’re in a pinch and need a professional to step in, you’ll already have several real estate agents ready to refer you to a reliable contact.

13. Build Connections with Non-Agents.

The thing about real estate is that everyone needs a place to live. Large real estate networking events such as the NAR Broker Summit or  Inman Connect, will likely have attendees of a wide range of backgrounds within the real estate industry, such as marketers, bookkeepers, investors, and more. Although they may not sell homes, those experts are key players in the real estate industry and are absolutely worth building professional relationships with. Make an effort to meet and maintain relationships with a diverse group of real estate professionals who share your business principles and maintain a great reputation in the community.

An effortless way to maintain contact is by optimizing your CRM and newsletters. Prepare your CRM with lists for non-client contacts and provide updated and reliable local information periodically to those networking groups. You could even promote local real estate professionals through your email list and ask for the same promotion in exchange.

Our AgentFire CRM integration makes it easy to source and organize every type of contact and client in one place. Learn more about our CRM integration here.

14. Keep Your Goals in Mind.

Take a close look at your real estate business and the progression of your career up until this point. What are you specifically looking to gain from this networking event? What in your current working situation could be improved by building new professional relationships in the real estate industry? Is the primary goal to meet as many people as possible, learn new techniques, or seek out leaders who can serve as mentors?

Don’t be afraid to communicate what you are looking for casually in conversation. That partnership could be exactly what another attendee is looking for – but you’ll never know until you start asking around!

15. Find Your Networking Style.

You don’t have to be the loudest one in the room to have a rewarding and successful networking experience. Think about what already makes you successful as a real estate agent. Perhaps it’s your compassion, attention to detail, or incredible ability to sense what your clients need before they ask. Whatever comes most naturally to you and makes you feel the most confident in yourself, is what will help you stand out in any social situation.

In fact, once you acknowledge and understand your communication style, you’ll quickly find tricks to working with your communication style instead of against it.

Do you struggle in group environments? Try to be one of the first few to arrive at the event.  This way, you won’t feel all eyes on you when you walk in. Instead of walking into a conversation with strangers, you’ll draw people to you and conversations will slowly build around you.

16. Consider Virtual Events.

While in-person networking allows for unique personal connections to be built easily, there is still tons of unique value in virtual networking events. Connect with out-of-town agents that wouldn’t usually be available and expand your network past the hyperlocal. An efficient and active CRM allows you to cultivate and nurture these relationships effortlessly as your career progresses.

17. Plan Your Next Networking Event with Social Media.

Stay active on social media to find out when all of the best, targeted and upcoming real estate networking events are taking place. We love the idea of using LinkedIn groups to put agents in contact with other agents as well as find local events.

To find new LinkedIn groups and the ones you’re already a part of, type relevant keywords into the search bar and select groups from the drop-down menu. For more information on how to master LinkedIn, check out this article.

18.  Keep an Ear Out for Industry Insight.

It’s not uncommon for agents to fall into the trap of hyper-focusing on their niche or particular locality. In fact, that’s what we often advise agents to do. However, general knowledge about the larger nationwide and even global market, is crucial in order to predict what could be coming to your hyper-local community.

Networking events with agents in distant or nearby real estate markets can also provide insight into new tools and techniques other successful agents are using. Regardless of whether you apply the same tools or business style, it doesn’t hurt to have a more complete perspective of what’s happening in the industry around you.

19. Follow-up With Contacts.

Even the most interested prospect or associate may forget to contact you the next day. Take the initiative to follow up and follow through with the people you’ve met through networking. Don’t assume that contacts have lost interest and let the entire connection fall through.

It’s as simple as sending an email or scheduling a coffee. At the very least, your new connections will appreciate the time you took to write a personalized response (making you look extra-professional and accountable).

20. Enjoy Yourself.

The person having the most fun is undoubtedly the most magnetic. We’re not suggesting that you completely let loose (check tip # 11), but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself. Whether the event is a complete bust or a total success, congratulate yourself on trying something new.

In Conclusion..

As you learn how to network properly and make the most out of your connections, your real estate business will undoubtedly reflect the positive change. Rather than fear competition, use networking events to make it easier for agents to help each other and enrich each other’s careers. Every real estate professional wants to flourish in their business, and strategically working together is a step many agents are missing.

Home buyer’s remorse often comes with a purchase as large as a home. For millenials, home buyer regrets are particularly common. But there is a difference between twangs of doubt and huge missteps that could make your buyers wish they’d never bought a house. For many people, buying a house is the largest purchase they’ll ever make. Yet, common mistakes like rushing into buying or looking only on the surface can completely ruin your client’s home-owning experience.

When it all comes crashing

Home buyer’s remorse often comes with a purchase as large as a home. For millenials, home buyer regrets are particularly common. But there is a difference between twangs of doubt and huge missteps that could make your buyers wish they’d never bought a house. For many people, buying a house is the largest purchase they’ll ever make. Yet, common mistakes like rushing into buying or looking only on the surface can completely ruin your client’s home-owning experience.

When it all comes crashing down, it’s often the real estate agent who gets the late-night calls. ” The place is infested with mold, what do we do?!”, ” Who do we call to have the locks changed?”. You’re not the homeowner or the landlord, but if a client makes the wrong decision, you’ll be expected to answer questions about reno options and community issues.

A great agent can help clients prepare for their house search and keep them focused on what is important. More informed, knowledgeable clients mean less panicked calls for you. Before your buyers sign on the dotted line, get clear about the most common regrets. Then, do your part as an agent to keep a close eye and make sure they don’t fall into any of the common traps.

1. Not Thinking About Future Life Changes

A survey from Redfin showed that in 2022 and 2021, the median homeownership tenure in America is nearly 13 years. And there’s a lot that can happen in 13 years. Your clients may have different physical needs that need to be accommodated in the home over time. Kids, work changes, extended families with elders, all require changes in the home. Remind your homebuyers that they should consider a home that will grow with them, not one that is trendy and suits there very specific current lifestyle. This will save your clients the disappointment and inconvenience of selling their homes quickly after moving in.

On the other hand, many buyers, especially millennials, rush into a family home when they think they should, although it’s not really what they want. The importance of the people, culture, nightlife and food of a place can’t be underestimated.

2. Devaluing Location, Location, Location

Scouting the perfect location for your client’s new home is a lot more nuanced than most people think. Not only do you need to consider basic needs such as interests, community, school zones etc, but agents should also encourage buyers to visit their hyperlocal area of interest during different times of the day and night. This way they’ll get a good idea of how the neighborhood changes throughout the day. If your clients are at the lead stage and are especially eager to learn more about their neighborhood, encourage them to pass by during cold and warm weather. Not everyone enjoys a surprise block party as soon as warm weather hits.

The next big (and unexpected hitter) is traffic. Is there bumper-to-bumber traffic at the end of your clients’ street that stops them from leaving quickly? What about air traffic and the noise that comes with it?

AgentFire websites offer interactive maps that show users what is located in their area of interest before they jump in. Learn more about ClickMaps here.

3. Not Factoring in Maintenance Costs

Different types of properties have different upkeep costs and requirements. From parking garage maintenance to roof repair or the need to fix or replace heating appliances, maintenance can include a wide range of things.

With a new home, you can’t just call the landlord and have someone repair everything free of cost. If you forget to discuss maintenance costs in relation to the cost of your client’s home, there’s a chance they could lose money overall on the property.

4. Focusing on Appearance

The interior decoration of a house can help to get it sold, but also work as a tactic to keep buyers from looking at the nicks and scratches around the space. Just because a home is modern, doesn’t mean it was made of the best materials. Whether or not the material will last until next year is much more important than if they fit the trend this year.

A bathroom that’s too small for comfort can become easy to overlook when it’s decorated beautifully. A new Zillow survey revealed that the top regret cited by recent homebuyers was that their home needed more work than expected. While around 30 percent of recent homebuyers also said that their home was not the right size. Unfortunately, home renos are not like they are on TV. The preparation, hard work, time, and effort is often underestimated.

5. Skipping the Home Inspection

It seems ludicrous that anyone would skip a house inspection before spending hundreds of thousands on a home, but it happens often. The home inspection is the part of the process that lets your buyer know what shape the home is in and how much it’ll cost to get it into shape. It’s not enough to call a home inspector to come by and leave a note while the clients are gone.

Between the inspector and you, the agent, you can only communicate so much through email or summarizing. Encourage your clients to be present for their home inspection. This will give them a clear idea of what work needs to be done and get the opportunity to ask questions.

When all is said and done, make sure to keep and give your clients a copy of the inspection report. If the report is a bit confusing, take it up with the professional.

Some home inspectors don’t inspect underground pipes, wells, or other areas that are expensive and often in need of replacement. Protect your clients by finding an inspector who carries “errors and omissions” coverage. It’s better to front the upfront costs than have huge regrets down the line.

6. Not Respecting The Budget

Get clear on a budget early and stick to it. Housing market and lifestyle changes make it continuously more difficult to save over time. Buyers can find themselves stuck between rising rent or buying a house in a tight market and may not know what they’re really getting into.

Before you start taking clients to different listings, discuss home prices and make sure you understand their financial limit very well. Resetting that limit if the type of home is no longer affordable could be a good idea.

7. Not Considering Future Development

Great – you’ve scored your clients a beautiful house in an up-and-coming neighborhood! But what does ‘up-and-coming’ actually look like?

Homes near major roads or intersections will need to consider the noise and commotion of traffic. Homebuyers will also want to consider if a bus stop or subway will be added and how that will affect the property value.

If there is a lot of open space around the home, clients should think about new builds in the hyperlocal housing market. How many homes will be built? Are they selling quickly? And how long do you have to listen to that morning construction?

Your blog and newsletter are two of the best tools to keep past and potential leads updated with local real estate information. With our TextBroker partners, we’ll send over a customizable real estate blog every week. Then, use the MailChimp integration to automatically turn your blogs into newsletters!

8. Not Being Unprepared for Homeownership

Homeownership is not a small responsibility. There are a few necessities that clients may not be prepared for. Some include:

Pest Control

Landscaping

Furnace and Water Heater Upkeep

This list of new home-owning responsibilities goes on and it’ll change depending on location, climate, and type of home. Go over each concern with clients to make sure that you’ll be able to cover them when the time comes and prevent buyer’s remorse.

9. Forgetting Commute and Travel Time

A quiet house outside of the city sounds great until the daily commute becomes a hated burden. If your client’s commute could take time away from their leisure time or valuable time with family and working on personal goals, they may want to reconsider.

Commuting long distances is just plain exhausting; bad for the commuter and the environment.

10. Factor In Resale Value

What about your client’s new home (or potential home) could possibly build equity with time? Homebuyers don’t always have a clear idea of what adds and takes away from property value. Factors that build equity can be as small and internal as new carpets or external factors like new shops and restaurants popping up.

11. Forgetting about Closing Costs and Additional Charges

Your client’s property budget needs to create space for additional costs such as closing costs and unforeseen charges. The last thing an agent wants is to find out that a client can barely afford the necessary final costs to close on a home.

There are a lot of moving parts that first-time buyers are unaware of. Inspection fees, title, appraisal, and various other parts of the real estate transaction need to be considered in advance.

12. Not Having An Emergency Budget

Anything can happen in a new home (whether old or recently renovated). Often called “carrying costs”, these pop-up expenses are just a part of owning a home. If buying a property leaves your client with no cash in the bank, they’ll be in big trouble if an emergency hits.

Most financial advice suggests that individuals keep an emergency fund worth at least 2-3 months of their earnings.

13. Not Keeping PaperWork Organized

There’s a multitude of important, useful documents that come with buying a home. From the contract to the microwave manual, it is important to keep these documents organized in a system that is easy to access.

If you are working with messy buyers who don’t keep their things organized, grab them a ring binder to give them a hint. This way, they won’t be calling you to ask about the houses’ basic features when they can’t find the appropriate manual.

14. Not Looking at the Crawl Spaces or Attic

Clients should familiarize themselves with every nook and cranny of their new home (yes, even the scary corners). It would also be beneficial to share useful tips with your clients like how to spot bugs, mold and other issues that should be addressed sooner rather than later.

The issue with tiny crawl spaces is that they’re not visited frequently, so any issues going on could go unnoticed for quite a while. It’s your client’s house afterall, so they should feel comfortable exploring the space. These hidden places could the targets of buyer’s remorse if not inspected carefully.

Wrapping Up…

The pitfalls that come with buying a home can pile up and drive our clients crazy – just don’t let them become your problem. Prevention is the best remedy. When it comes to making a massive purchase, we can’t stress the importance of knowing common regrets and how to prevent them – or, in the worst case, work with them.

The good news is that most people do love their homes and the financial benefit, regardless of its challenges.

If you enjoyed this article and don’t want to miss our latest content, subscribe to our newsletter. We send valuable lists, guides, and articles like this one, so you can start your day learning new marketing strategies over a cup of coffee ☕.

And if you’re REALLY looking to implement some of these marketing ideas as part of your hyperlocal real estate domination strategy, you need to check out our AgentFire websites.

Whether you’re a DIY’er or prefer to have someone else manage your digital marketing strategy, we have a solution for you. If you want a guided tour of all of our amazing tools, book a one-on-one demo with one of our Client Success Specialists.

The follow-up after a listing presentation is a unique and often missed opportunity to connect with your potential clients. It’s not about whether you secure the deal or not; it’s much bigger than that. Leaving a positive impression on every potential client you meet guarantees more referrals, a better local reputation, and more real estate business in the future.

It goes without saying that each listing appointment is as unique as the seller, so you’ll have to take their

The follow-up after a listing presentation is a unique and often missed opportunity to connect with your potential clients. It’s not about whether you secure the deal or not; it’s much bigger than that. Leaving a positive impression on every potential client you meet guarantees more referrals, a better local reputation, and more real estate business in the future.

It goes without saying that each listing appointment is as unique as the seller, so you’ll have to take their interests into consideration during your follow-up. However, there are some overarching pillars for following up (despite listing price, time, client interests, or other variables.

Plan Your Listing Presentation Follow-Up In Advance

Think about your follow-up before your listing appointment ends. If you have details about the client such as their interests, time constraints etc., ask yourself how you can integrate those details into your call, via email, or handwritten follow-up to add a personal touch.

Written thank you notes can even be prepared and mailed in advance so that they arrive the afternoon after your listing presentation or the day after. If you need a bit more client information, draft a rough outline of what you’d like to say before your appointment, take note of details gathered during the listing presentation, then quickly fill them in and finalize what you’d like to say in your follow-up.

Get in Contact Immediately

It doesn’t matter how you feel about the sellers. An immediate follow-up is crucial to any future positive interactions with that client. Waiting too long to follow up with prospects gives the impression that you don’t prioritize them or their time. Unfortunately, if you’re not top-of-mind with consistent communication, you also create the perfect opportunity for another agent to step in.

Follow up by email or phone as soon as the next morning or that evening. Handwritten and mailed follow-ups should be expedited or sent in advance so that your clients receive them the next day.

Ask Questions

Your listing appointment follow-up can and should be more substantial than simply saying “thank you for your time”. Encouraging a conversation and fostering a relationship is exponentially more beneficial than hyper-focusing on sell, sell, sell.

Ask prospects what questions they may still have or if there is any additional information you can provide. Something often comes up during or after the presentation that clients haven’t asked about and they’ll be glad you asked.

Nurture Leads and Be Persistent

Think about personal relationships in your life that add serious value. Did you speak to those people on one occasion and expect a long-lasting relationship? Did you wow them with attention and affection, then disappear and still have ongoing happiness with them? Client relationships take maintenance and care, just like any other relationship. If you want the benefits of a loyal client or referral, you can’t only give your all during the highs or when there’s money on the table.

Be prepared to maintain the same level of enthusiasm and interest throughout the sales pitch and post-presentation. You haven’t secured their business until they’ve signed on the dotted line. And even if they don’t choose you for their current listing, there are opportunities for future sales and referrals that deserve your full energy.

Your CRM is crucial to fostering ongoing contact and staying-top-of-mind with these seller leads. Within your CRM, you should have multiple seller lead marketing funnels designated for warm leads, cold leads, referrals, or however you find it easiest to organize them. Before your listing presentation, add your seller client to the appropriate funnel and keep moving at full speed through the presentation, follow-up, sale, and beyond with the lead nurturing strategies you have in place.

A drip campaign is one of the most efficient lead nurturing strategies for new prospective clients. It involves adding your prospects to an automated list that receives particular emails relative to where they are in the buying/selling process and their hyperlocal interests. Drip campaigns have 80% higher open rates and are three times more likely to be read than single-send emails (campaigncreators.com). For more information on marketing funnels, check this out: The Secret Behind a High Converting Real Estate Marketing Funnel.

Don’t Kick Uninterested Leads Out of Your Pipeline

Sometimes clients have a genuine reason to go with another real estate agent. If you haven’t sealed the deal, nor have you seen any interest after implementing a lead nurturing campaign, it’s okay to reach out less often (but don’t give up).

A couple of months after the listing presentation, check in to see if your seller lead has had a change of heart. From there, you can step up your pitching if they express interest or further dial down emails and only offer hyperlocal market updates.

Impress Clients with Market-Specific Real Estate Content

What content have you already created that can be repurposed to target sellers? If you already have a killer newsletter or regular blog, take snippets of relevant information from there and repurpose them into market-specific emails, follow-up correspondence, social posts and more.

AgentFire clients have the option of signing up for Blog Assist Pro, a partnership with professional writers at Text Broker who create customizable, real estate-specific blog entries for you every week. From there, select our Mail Chimp addon to automatically pull your blogs into a formatted, ready-to-send newsletter. With all of the right content and format prepared, there are endless opportunities for reuse.

Gently Bring up Past Successes

The success of your real estate business is a reflection of your skill and expertise as an agent, so don’t be shy. Positive reviews and client testimonials are some of the most powerful tools of persuasion in your real estate agent tool kit.

If you’ve sold similar properties successfully in your prospect’s hyperlocal market, feel free to gently refer to them in your follow-up (key word being ‘gently’.) Don’t push them with an overload of stats, numbers, and buzz words. Force blocks the pipeline of rapport and ongoing conversation. Instead, refer to an interesting success story that shows your innovative thought, expertise, and resulting success. Think about what made the difference in securing those agreements or the details that these clients would find particularly relevant.

Arrange to Meet Again

It all goes back to client relationship building. Real estate agents become shortsighted when they’re hyper-focused on the sale right in front of them, quickly forgetting the lifetime of opportunities they’re sacrificing.

After the listing appointment and before sellers make their final decision, offer to organize another meeting. This is an opportunity to provide value and naturally demonstrate your knowledge.

Consider offering to take them out for coffee and give them a run-down of market stats you’ve put together. Alternatively, take them on a tour of an area you know well that they are also interested in buying in. Get creative with the value you provide and make it worth their time. The more comfortable they feel with you, the more effort they’ll put into maintaining a reciprocal relationship.

Take Note of What Worked and What Didn’t

Every opportunity is an opportunity for self-improvement. From public speaking, clear communication, building connections, and staying top of mind, there are several moving parts in a listing appointment that agents can improve on.

Take a look at where leads slip out of your pipeline. Is it after your presentation? After spending some time on your email list? Client reactions offer a wealth of information about what you’re doing well and what you’re doing wrong – you just have to pay close attention. One of the best ways to gather client feedback is by sharing a simple and easy-to-complete survey after they decline or accept your proposal. Most people are eager to share their reviews and are happy to see that agent going the extra mile to improve their services.

Wrapping Up…

The follow-up after a listing presentation is a crucial part of a larger marketing funnel and prospect-to-client journey. Without proper follow-up, you’re allowing interested leads to turn cold and for hardworking agents to take over.

The steps to a great follow-up are simple and easy to put in place with every client. The bottom line is that a good follow-up is based on keeping your eye on long-lasting relationship building and not getting distracted by quick deals.

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As in-peron interactions increase, so does the safety risk for real estate agents. The following security technology will keep real estate agents safe in the most common, high-risk scenarios on the job.

The

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