Starting out in real estate can feel like drinking from a fire hose. There’s so much to learn, so many systems to master, and everyone’s got advice for you. After mentoring dozens of new agents over the years, here’s what I reckon really matters in your first 90 days.
Week 1-2: Get Your Foundations Right
Don’t rush into chasing listings straight away. Spend your first couple of weeks really understanding your market. Drive around, visit open homes, talk to other agents. You can’t advise clients on something you don’t understand yourself.
Week 3-6: Build Your Database
This is where most new agents go wrong – they think they need to find new people to work with. Wrong. Start with everyone you know. Your mates, family, former colleagues, the bloke who cuts your hair. Let them know what you’re doing. You’d be surprised how many people are thinking about buying or selling and just haven’t mentioned it yet.
Week 7-12: Focus on Learning, Not Earning
I know you need to pay the bills, resist the temptation to take on anything and everything. Work with experienced agents, shadow them on appointments, ask questions. The knowledge you gain in these early weeks will pay dividends for years to come.
The Reality Check
Here’s what no one tells you: you probably won’t earn much in your first 90 days. That’s normal. Real estate is a relationship business, and relationships take time to build. The agents who succeed are the ones who play the long game.
My Top Tips:
- Always follow up. Always.
- Under-promise and over-deliver
- If you don’t know something, say so – then find out
- Treat every client like they’re your only client
- Learn from your mistakes, don’t dwell on them
The first 90 days will test you. There’ll be days when you wonder what the hell you’ve gotten yourself into. If you stick with it and focus on doing right by people, you’ll start to see results. And once you get that first successful sale under your belt, you’ll remember why you got into this game in the first place.