8 Habits of Successful Real Estate Agents
Perhaps you are just getting your start in the real estate business. Or, maybe you’ve been an agent for a while but you’re not experiencing the success you envisioned. And even if you are enjoying great success, there’s always room to take it to the next level, right? Whatever your current situation, take some time to review the following habits. They are the proven practices highly successful agents we talk to on a daily basis rely on to stay at the top of their game. 
Establish a Morning Ritual — One thing we hear time and time again from the most successful agents is how they have an established set of practices they use to start their day. Whether it’s a pre-dawn cup of coffee combined with quiet meditation, or sweating it out at the gym (or some of both), starting each morning the same way helps set the stage for a more productive, less stressful day.
Develop a Business Plan — Many agents get started in the business with no real road map for where they’re going to go. They get a running start by relying on friends and family for business, but once those transactions come and go, they’re at a loss for what to do next. Savvy agents get started with goals in place that go beyond their immediate sphere of influence.
Continue Education and Pursue Designations — Earning your license may feel like the end of a process, but it’s really just the beginning. Successful agents make continuing education a priority. They see the value in learning everything they can about the many different aspects of real estate. And they understand that designations add credibility and help them present to clients as a trustworthy authority.
Ask for Help & Utilize Resources — Every individual agent is essentially the owner of their own small business. That doesn’t mean you have to go it alone, however. Turn to your managing broker, fellow agents and other professionals, such as mortgage lenders and title agents, to help you learn about the intricacies of different types of transactions. Additionally, start making an effort to utilize assistants and other resources to keep your workload manageable. While it’s tempting to do everything yourself to retain control, keeping up that pace can lead to burnout.
Establish Boundaries — Many agents pride themselves on being available to their clients 24/7. While it’s certainly advisable to make clients a priority, you can do so without sacrificing every moment of your personal life. Setting up reasonable boundaries on your time, such as not taking calls during your family’s dinner hour, is healthy and allows you to create a more realistic work/life balance.
Schedule Your Days — Most agents we talk to tell us how important it is for them to schedule their time, even when they’re not seeing clients. Setting aside time for essentials tasks, such as lead generation and follow-up, will help ensure you have a steady stream of leads in the pipeline.
Make Work Enjoyable — Every job has its good days and bad days. But when you make a conscious effort to have a good time every day, the bad days will be few and far between. Successful agents we talk to all make it a point to mention how much they love being in real estate. Some agents love meeting new people, others love staging and marketing listings and we’ve even talked to some agents who are passionate about doing paperwork. Whatever it is you love most about being in real estate, be sure to do as much of it as possible.
Become a Force for Good — Getting involved in the community through volunteering and monetary support serves a number of worthwhile purposes. It creates outstanding networking opportunities and helps you to establish a reputation as someone who cares about the communities that support your business. Plus, it just feels great to give back!
There is no magic formula for real estate success. But when you combine your own unique personality and skills with these best practices, you’ll find every day is just a little easier, more productive and more enjoyable.