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Praful Thakkar, Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale (LAER Realty Partners)

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Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Because if done right they can quickly start getting leads and business

Oct 03, 2017 09:36 AM
Rainmaker
911,228
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

It's all they hear these days. " 90 % of all buyers begin their search on the internet", " You have to have a web presence to become known", etc, etc.

Oct 03, 2017 09:53 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

New agents don't always have a sphere of influence... I didn't when I started and my very first client in Charlotte was an internet lead, who then referred business to me. Since starting in Charlotte, I've done several million dollars of sales each year from internet leads.

Oct 03, 2017 08:57 AM
Rainer
417,071
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

It's easy to dream that some other monkey can do the hard work and all you need to do is lean back in your chair and hope to balance and turn the computer off at 4:45 BUT in 30 years I never found a a lead company worth any fee

Oct 03, 2017 12:38 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,858
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

The internet can be the cheapest way to start out to build that sphere.

Oct 03, 2017 09:39 AM
Ambassador
6,392,899
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Many newer agents are fine with being poorly treated contractors of the lead generating companies, and their brokers often encourage this.

Oct 03, 2017 01:54 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

for a NEW AGENT to work by referral is a very long road.... new agents need to learn how to market for all leads....not buy leads from the wide variety of sites ready to pick their pockets.... new agents need to learn to make their own phones ring....sellers are derived via offline marketing.... learn to market offline... many methods .... direct mail, print and networking are the major methods ( and in that order, in my opinion!!)

Oct 03, 2017 08:38 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

  They live on the internet and the smart phone... so that's where they are going to look for business.

Oct 03, 2017 05:35 PM
Ambassador
5,048,718
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

The emphasis these days IS buyers using the Internet for home searching! And as others said, new agents don't really have much of a sphere.

Oct 03, 2017 04:11 PM
Rainer
354,788
Ben DeHaven
Haven Realty & Investments - Lakeland, FL
Proudly serving Winter Haven & Lakeland, Florida

Its hard to get a listing or buyer when you dont have anyone to refer you someone. You've got to start somewhere.

Oct 03, 2017 03:56 PM
Rainer
97,521
Shannon Thomas
Selling Indy Metro, LLC - Avon, IN
Managing Broker, E-Pro, ABR,SRS, SFR

When I started I had no sphere of Influence.  The only thing for me to do was the internet.  I did almost a million $ worth of property that first year.  Listing referrals come after the sale.  The internet is where it's at in my opinion to get started.  

Oct 03, 2017 09:21 AM
Rainmaker
5,215,748
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Follow Barbara Todaro and you won't go wrong!

Oct 03, 2017 09:21 AM
Rainmaker
809,258
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Maybe new agents don't have much of a sphere of influence. Plus many brokerages and team leaders provide internet leads to new agents, handing them business they would not otherwise have. When John and I started selling real estate we had just moved to Boise and had very few friends and contacts. Our brokerage handed us loads of internet leads, which we successfully converted at a high rate and those clients became our sphere, referral network and future clients. 14 years in probably 80% of our business is now repeat, referral and sphere but I guarantee we would have not been as successful and would be out out real estate by now if it had not been for those initial internet leads. P.S. Back when we started nobody wanted internet leads. Agents still were fighting IDX and didn't want the MLS online either. -Kasey

Oct 03, 2017 08:37 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,502
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

It's slower than losing your money at a casino !

Oct 04, 2017 07:13 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

I agree with Jennifer Mackay 

Oct 04, 2017 04:44 AM
Ambassador
5,229,296
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

No, they should focus on their sphere - if they don't have one, get out and create one! The internet leads are icing on the cake ONLY - not to be relied upon for your meat & potatoes, Praful!

Oct 03, 2017 09:50 PM
Rainmaker
637,434
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Well, they start from scratch and get calls from so many entities willing for $ to sell them leads. For those who are willing to put in the work, it probably works. Otherwise, how can all those entities stay in business? No more pockets to pick?

Oct 03, 2017 09:41 PM
Ambassador
3,164,119
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

in my office they don't

Oct 03, 2017 09:39 PM
Rainmaker
5,005,333
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

I'm with Jennifer Mackay ..key words "If done right!"

Oct 03, 2017 07:07 PM
Rainmaker
711,752
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Are the newer agents younger? If they grew up with the internet, they may think that is THE way to get business.

Oct 03, 2017 06:54 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

They think that leads from a paid source are the way to go. It isn't until they are in the business awhile that they learn how weak they are and referral business is so strong.

Oct 03, 2017 06:28 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

They think it is easy. They do not want to work hard and want everything given to them. I like to say they should try to earn it through hard work 

Oct 03, 2017 04:27 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,171
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I agree with Nina on the new agents but time & again it's been proven on the SOI with your numbers.

Oct 03, 2017 02:57 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

It is what everyone tells them.  That being said, there are leads to be gotten on the Internet, however, they are not enough to maintain a viable income stream. A

Oct 03, 2017 01:06 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

No enough interaction between a good broker and them. Also, too many brokers only care about adding transactions rather than counsel these new ones about expense versus being profitable.

Oct 03, 2017 10:19 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,013
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

New agents have the highest expectations although not focused very well. In time, they will learn to hit what they are aiming for instead of firing at will

Oct 03, 2017 09:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Praful Thakkar I've talked to several hundred people who have come into this business when I taught the classes. Most come into this business under capitalized and can barely meet the initial expenses for getting started. The Internet can provide a resource for these new agents. Work by referrals is a good method for real estate agents who have done business and have clients. Face-to-face networking is one of the best methods for a new agent to prospect for leads.

Oct 03, 2017 09:35 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,349
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Internet leads companies do a good job at marketing their products.

Oct 03, 2017 08:55 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,266
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Many new agents need advice and training.

Oct 03, 2017 08:26 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Well, I'm in general more face to face person, I like to know who I work with. But my first client was indeed online lead, bought a house for cash.  

Oct 09, 2017 10:29 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,372
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Because they have no sphere.

Oct 06, 2017 07:26 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

yes

Oct 05, 2017 05:55 AM
Rainmaker
2,817,671
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Most new agents don't have much of sphere yet.

Oct 04, 2017 07:31 PM
Rainmaker
1,725,896
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Instant gratification is a disease

Oct 04, 2017 02:30 PM
Rainmaker
4,935,556
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

The day of website for agents are going away but sillow is taking over.

 

Oct 04, 2017 10:44 AM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

Newer agents don't have a referral base or their sphere may be limited.

Oct 04, 2017 06:57 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Jeff Pearl nailed this one!

Oct 04, 2017 06:04 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Good question.

Oct 04, 2017 05:38 AM
Rainmaker
599,274
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

It's the magic pill. They expect to get business without having to work for it.

Oct 04, 2017 05:08 AM
Rainer
44,891
Dan Capra
LAER Realty Partners - Lowell, MA
Listing/Buyer Agent

Great question Praful....I consider myself new and young in the business and I have not paid $.01 for an internet lead...I use Facebook and other social media for free and strengthen my relationships with my sphere to generate business

Oct 04, 2017 03:44 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It is easy

Oct 03, 2017 07:04 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Many experienced agents, including those on Active Rain, advise new agents to focus their efforts on Internet and SM marketing.

The reality is, new agents get horrible advise. And old agents are out of touch with the challenges facing new agents.

That leaves brokers free to plunder and pillage. 

No, we should not direct new agents to work by referrals. Let them learn the trade before putting the torch to bridges to family, friends and associates. When the newbie has their act sufficiently together to get a stranger to commit, THEN they should pursue referrals from those 'inside' the family.

Be aware, some 'associates' are sufficiently separated from family to be candidates for referrals.  

Oct 03, 2017 08:43 AM