Proven Tips for Real Estate Agents to Succeed

Real estate attracts millions of Americans, and it’s obvious why. It can offer a secure future, great earning potential, and there’s never a dull moment. But like most competitive industries with high earning potential, it’s sink-or-swim.

Around 1.5 million licensed real estate agents are in the US, yet 87% of agents leave the industry within their first five years. It comes with a steep learning curve, and new starters can be surprised to see the work behind a successful real estate agent. Starting a new career as a new agent in real estate brings unique challenges, from building a network to developing essential skills to stand out in a crowded market.

Introduction to Success in Real Estate

If you’re a real estate agent, you already know that 87% of successful agents have one thing in common—they don’t leave their success to chance. Picture this: a potential client is browsing homes at 11 PM on a weeknight, and they want an agent who’s responsive, knowledgeable, and ready to act. That client isn’t waiting until tomorrow to make their next move, and neither should you.

Real estate success happens when you master the art of being everywhere your clients need you to be—market expert, trusted advisor, relationship builder, and deal closer all rolled into one. For new agents especially, this means getting laser-focused on understanding your local market inside and out, building an unshakeable foundation of skills, and creating a client attraction system that works while you sleep. But here’s the kicker: effective time management and a killer online presence aren’t just nice-to-haves anymore—they’re make-or-break factors that separate the agents who thrive from those who barely survive. Whether you’re just getting your license or you’re ready to take your business to the next level, the strategies we’re diving into in the following sections will give you the exact blueprint to dominate this dynamic industry and build the real estate career of your dreams.

Why do some real estate agents struggle?

You have to wear many hats as a real estate agent, and each of those hats requires constant improvement. Real estate agents need to be a:

• Salesperson
• Consultant
• Negotiator
• Customer service agent
• Communicator with strong communication skills
• Marketer
• Project manager
• Research analyst
• Administrator
• Entrepreneur

Some hats fit better than others. However, the workload feels much lighter once real agents accept that. Then, you can create systems and seek real estate agent tips for the areas you struggle with. Doing so will help you succeed in the industry and reap the benefits that attracted you to become a real estate agent in the first place.

Building a Strong Foundation

If you’re a new real estate agent, building a competitive foundation is your first move toward dominating your local market. Your professional website isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s often the make-or-break first interaction potential clients have with you at 11 PM on a Tuesday when they’re browsing listings. 73% of consumers judge a business’s credibility based on website design alone. Start with a site that showcases your expertise, active listings, and contact information because that competitor down the street is already online capturing your leads. Next, create a detailed business plan that outlines your revenue goals, pinpoints your target demographic, and maps out aggressive marketing strategies that actually convert. A solid business plan doesn’t just keep you focused it’s your roadmap to measuring real ROI and staying ahead of agents who are just winging it.

Don’t sleep on the power of a dominant social media presence. Consistently sharing valuable market insights and engaging with your audience on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn isn’t just about likes—it’s about capturing leads while other agents are stuck in the dark ages. 64% of home buyers start their search on social media before they ever call an agent. Attending community events and networking with other real estate professionals isn’t just about building your reputation—it’s about getting insider intel on zoning changes, off-market opportunities, and market shifts before your competition even knows what hit them. By laying this aggressive groundwork, new agents can establish themselves as the go-to, results-driven professionals that clients choose over everyone else in their market.

10 tips for real estate agents to succeed in the evolving market.

1. Create a system to stay in the know.

Customer expectations, regulations, and technology keep on evolving. As real estate agents are always busy, it’s understandable that you may miss important/helpful information.

Lots of tips for real estate agents are sent to real estate agents’ inboxes daily. The problem is they’re always too busy to read them. So, what’s the key to staying in the loop? Create a system.

How to stay up to date with industry trends:

• Make a list of industry publications such as NAR, HousingWire, The Close, etc. Add them to a news aggregator application like Feedly or Inoreader. This saves you from jumping between websites.
• Sign up for email newsletters, label them, and send them to a particular folder so your inbox stays tidy. You can check that folder in the time you’ve set aside for it.
• Make social media accounts for work and follow industry influencers and thought leaders.
• Create a repeat task in your calendar to catch up with the above.

Following these steps will help real estate agents stay organized and on top of industry changes.

2. Make your mindset a priority.

All the best tips for real estate agents are useless if your mindset is working against you. A healthy mindset helps you stay upbeat and productive, even when you’re having a tough few days or weeks.

Write down your ‘Why?’—the reason you got into real estate—and refer to it when things get tough. Set goals. Make a list of healthy habits that help you feel at your best, and keep them up no matter how busy you get. These practices help you stay focused on your long-term objectives, making it easier to persist through challenges and avoid distractions. Listen to podcasts and read books that inspire you. You can’t over-invest in your mindset.

3. Master your CRM.

The only thing more frustrating than having no leads is fumbling leads. This can happen if you’re uncomfortable using your CRM. Some people view CRMs as a database, but they’re so much more than that.

Once you’re comfortable using your CRM, confidence soars. After all, this tool helps you generate leads, boost your social media presence, improve relationships, build relationships, and win new business.

Reach out to your CRM’s support team for help or watch YouTube tutorials. Knowing your CRM like the back of your hand makes you extremely confident in an area where many real estate agents struggle.

4. Answer every phone call 24/7.

Buying/selling property can be a nerve-wracking experience. Clients look to you for help, so missing calls can tarnish how much they trust you. And trust is vital in real estate. In fact, 81% of consumers need to trust a brand to consider buying from them.

Clients also expect around-the-clock availability. Our research found that 63% of all off-peak calls come through between 6 and 9 am on weekdays. But you need to sleep and enjoy life outside of work. While you can’t tape your phone to your ear and answer every call, you can team up with an answering service for real estate professionals.

Think of them as your 24/7 front desk. A team of friendly virtual receptionists can answer incoming calls to capture and qualify leads no matter the time. Your clients won’t know you’ve outsourced your customer service, either. Receptionists will answer calls and live chats using your brand scripts to sound like you.

“My attraction to SignMore is their people-powered tools and services! I am all about human connection and SignMore is a 5-star extension of the Glennda brand!” – Glennda Baker, Glennda Baker & Associates, inc

Even as you ensure every client call is handled, it’s important to schedule time for yourself to recharge and maintain your productivity.

5. Create systems, workflows, and templates for repeat tasks.

World-leading surgeons, engineers, and aviation professionals use a simple tool to ensure they don’t miss essential steps. And that tool is? A checklist.

Following a tried-and-tested checklist greatly reduces the chance of making a mistake.

Real estate agents have a fast-paced job. And being human, it’s natural to miss a key step occasionally. Keeping a checklist eases the pressure to remember everything. Using checklists is one of the most effective time management strategies for real estate agents, helping to increase productivity, reduce stress, and maintain work-life balance. Create a checklist for routine tasks and save them in your CRM or tools like Trello, Notion, or Todoist.

Essential checklist ideas for real estate agents:

• Lead generation
• Client onboarding
• Property listings
• Open house viewings
• Follow-ups

6. Build your personal brand.

People buy from people. That’s especially true in real estate, where trust is paramount. One of the top tips for new real estate agents is to start building your personal brand. It can do wonders.

People feel more at ease contacting you once they’re used to seeing you on their newsfeed sharing valuable information.

A strong personal brand helps you stand out and attract clients.

How to build your personal brand in real estate:

1. Revisit your foundations: Look back at your value proposition, target audience, and brand documents to make sure you’re creating content that resonates with your audience.
2. Get comfortable on camera: Many people don’t like being on camera, let alone posting videos of themselves sharing advice online. So you have a big advantage if it’s not a problem for you. A professional photoshoot will give you photos you can use on your social media channels and website for years to come. If you can get comfortable being on video, too, that’s even better.
3. Create short-form content: Writing 1000+ word blogs can take many hours. But short LinkedIn posts take much less time and tend to get great engagement. Content creation is a key part of your marketing efforts, helping you attract and engage clients by sharing listings, market insights, and local events. Check out Cindy Ambuehl, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, and Ryan Serhant’s short-form content on LinkedIn for inspiration.
4. Record video content: 91% of businesses use video as a marketing tool; it’s the most dominant format in marketing. Record videos for property tours, market updates, educational content, etc. Video also gets priority over other content forms in social media platforms’ algorithms, making people more likely to see it.

7. Create boundaries to protect your work-life balance.

‘Hustle culture’ may create exciting social media content, but it’s not a sustainable way to work. You need time off to recharge.

Be mindful of Parkinson’s law: Work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. Without boundaries, work tends to steamroll your day. It’s okay to work longer than planned occasionally, but it invites burnout if it becomes a habit. Set boundaries to protect your time and well-being.

Virtual receptionists for real estate professionals can capture every call when you’re not around. If you want to turn your phone off, do it! Leads and clients are in safe hands.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance allows you to provide exceptional service, which encourages repeat business from satisfied clients.

8. Integrate your tech and automate repetitive tasks.

Repetitive and manual tasks eat up time and are subject to human error. You need all the free time you can get, so look to automate tasks. Booking appointments, data entry, and posting on social media can all be automated. By automating these tasks, agents can spend more time selling homes and building strong client relationships. If you notice that a repetitive task is time-consuming but can’t find a way to automate it, create your own automation with Zapier.

Common examples of real estate agent workflow automation:

• Send new calls into your CRM as leads.
• Send follow-up emails to new leads.
• Share listings across your social media channels.

9. Build a network.

The thought of networking makes most people cringe. It conjures up images of rooms filled with business attire, weak coffee, and everyone trying to put a business card in your hand. Try to erase that visual. Because you’re networking anytime you’re chatting to someone new. Just reframe it as meeting new people. Valuable new connections are everywhere you go.

How to build a network:

• Attend networking events and community events. These are excellent opportunities to build relationships, expand your reach, and gain insights into your local market.
• Always be ready to chat. Know your elevator pitch like the back of your hand. Know how to share it casually and in a way that starts a good conversation.
• Look for public speaking opportunities. You’ll meet people in the process, and many more will likely get in touch after your talk.
• Always be ready to share a business card, virtual business card, or your LinkedIn QR code via the app.
• Add people you’ve met into your CRM.

Building a strong network of industry professionals, clients, and community contacts is essential for long-term success.

10. Never stop growing.

Lots of tips for real estate agents are learned through hands-on experience. You learn a lot at the start of your career. But after months/years, game-changing knowledge becomes harder to find.

There’s a lot of noise online, and many top influencers keep their best ideas behind paywalls. So, you need to keep your eyes peeled to find trustworthy people to learn from. Lifelong learning and professional development are essential for real estate agents to stay competitive and maintain expertise in a constantly evolving industry.

How to keep learning and growing as a real estate agent:

• Listen to industry podcasts
• Take online courses and certifications
• Join forums
• Attend events
• Attend seminars
• Participate in continuing education programs
• Join mastermind groups
• Read the newsletters from your software providers to learn about new features

Mastering the Buying Process

If you’re a real estate agent, you already know that mastering the home buying process isn’t just nice to have—it’s what separates you from the competition. From that first consultation when a client walks through your door to the moment you hand over those keys, understanding every single step lets you deliver the kind of service that gets people talking. Stay on top of market trends, financing options, and local regulations because when a client asks “What happens if rates change tomorrow?” or “Can we close in 30 days?”—you need answers that build confidence, not confusion.

Here’s the thing: when you’ve mastered the buying process, clients don’t just hire you—they trust you. You become the agent they text at 7 PM with questions, the one they recommend to their friends, the person who makes what could be the most stressful purchase of their lives feel manageable. Your expertise lets you spot those common pitfalls before they happen, offer solutions that actually work, and turn potential disasters into smooth sailing. In a real estate market that changes faster than most people can keep up, being that knowledgeable, proactive agent isn’t just setting yourself apart—it’s how you close deals while others are still explaining why things went wrong.

How to succeed as a real estate agent.

Real estate agents need to wear many hats and some naturally fit better than others. Accepting that’s the case for everyone helps you get ahead. Remember why you started, what you’re working towards, create systems, and seek help for the areas that don’t come naturally to you. Building a successful real estate career also means developing strong market knowledge, maintaining relationships with past clients, and ensuring you have satisfied clients who can refer you to others.

 “Success is simple once you accept how hard it is.”

See how SignMore can help you secure more leads and improve client relationships while you enjoy a healthy work-life balance. Book a demo or call us 24/7 at 800-924-9679.