Six Success Habits You Ought to Adopt as an Agent

​It is a well-known fact that some agents become wildly successful in the real estate business and others not so much. Why might that be?
 
While there is no foolproof formula for success, hard work and in-depth expertise play a part for sure. So do skill sets like negotiation and communication and attributes like persistence, resourcefulness, and drive – to name just a few.
 
But there is also something else that plays a role – the adoption of good habits.
 
These six habits are ones that agents at the top of their game have in common and ones that can help you kickstart and sustain your success.

#1 Look at the bright side.
It may sound cliché, but positive thinking can play a more significant role than you think in helping you thrive as an agent. A ton of research says that habitually looking at the bright side can boost your confidence, attitude, and problem-solving skills. And guess what? That leads to higher levels of energy, motivation, and productivity – and ultimately greater success.
ways to do this: Monitor your self-talk and get good at stopping negative thoughts in their tracks. Look for lessons to learn when missteps and setbacks occur. Relish victories, no matter how small. And surround yourself with people who have optimistic outlooks.

​#2 Make time for planning.
Take a close look at the practices of top-producing agents, and you will see that planning is an ingrained habit. They don’t leave success to chance. Instead, they plan for it. They determine what success looks like for them and then create a playbook to attain it.
ways to do this: Start with the big picture and then set daily, weekly, monthly, and annual goals.  Make sure they are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based. Once you set your goals, commit to follow through and monitor your progress to stay on track.

​#3 Soak up knowledge.
It’s hard to overstate how crucial it is to stay informed and constantly be honing your craft as an agent. Your brand will be better for it, and your chances of success significantly increased.
ways to do this: Stay tuned to news sources to keep up with developments and trends. Follow podcasts and blogs (like ours) that educate and inform. And up your expertise through training, networking, and results-oriented courses like those the Ben Farmer School of Real Estate offers. Our broad selection of online classes makes it easy for you to take what you want on your schedule.

​#4 Be consistent.
From attitude to marketing efforts, consistency is key to maximizing your business success. Here is how. When you are consistent in approach and actions, you build a trustworthy reputation. That makes it easier to attract prospects and establish client relationships. And when you have a solid business routine and stick to it, you are sowing seeds for a steady stream of future success.
ways to do this: Commit to being (more) consistent. Say it out loud and write it down. Make to-do lists, time block tasks, and hold yourself accountable. An accountability partner and productivity apps can help with all of that. Also, put systems in place to support consistency. CRM software, for example, lets you manage marketing, leads, and customer interactions systematically.

​#5 Go the extra mile.
It’s not uncommon for agents to go above and beyond now and again to close a deal. However, top-performing agents make going the extra mile a business habit. The result: Clients are not just satisfied with their buyer or seller experience. They are so elated that they will make referrals without hesitation and happily become repeat clients themselves.
ways to do this: Be proactive with routine check-ins and deliver real-time updates. Hit deadlines early and offer hands-on help wherever it’s needed, even if it’s not a part of the job. Handle issues before your client even finds out so the process is as stress free as it can be. And be thoughtful. Little things like a handwritten thank-you note will go a long way.

#6 Clock some me time.
Becoming a successful real estate agent takes hard work and long hours. But, if you want to sustain high energy and productivity levels and avoid burnout, you need to have a good work-life balance. 
ways to do this: Set a work schedule and do your best to stick to it. Don’t forget to include breaks. Carve out time to exercise, meditate, read, or engage in other creative outlets or social activities. Pick a daily time to go tech-free and let others know when you will be offline. Avoid being overly optimistic in your scheduling so that your calendar has free time. And take time off regularly, including a week-long vacation, to fully unplug and recharge.