New agent, rookie, newbie, upstart… whatever you want to call yourself, you’re in an all-new world… and you’re not quite sure where to turn.

You feel all alone… and desperate to start making things happen.

But mistakes at this stage can slow or stall your progress, and that’s the last thing you need.

So I thought I’d share some mistakes I see agents make when they get too eager, too cocky, too lazy, or just too oblivious to avoid them.

My hope is you’ll take this blog to heart and make sure to avoid these mistakes at all costs!

Ready? Let’s go!

“New Agent” Mistake No. 1: They Choose the Wrong Brokerage

Ooh, I can see you now, excited and on the edge of your seat, waiting for me to deem certain brokerages “right” and others “wrong.”

No.

That’s not what I mean here.

What I mean is that some agents choose their brokerage for the wrong reasons. And it hurts the growth of their career.

Instead of looking for the most lucrative offer or the office where you know someone, make sure you’re finding what you’ll need in a brokerage.

For the vast majority of new agents, I’d argue a strong training program is way more important than a bigger split.

The same goes for mentoring. And finding a supportive culture where you feel comfortable.

Others might seek certain technological advantages.

The key is to look within yourself and figure out what you need to perform at your best. Then go find a brokerage that will provide that. Don’t be afraid to ask these questions when interviewing with different brokerages. The more openly you express what you need and what will make you successful, the better fit you’ll land yourself in.

“New Agent” Mistake No. 2: They Have No Written Plan

There are agents who get into this business thinking that it’s just another sales job, but with higher price tags than selling cars or furniture.

What they fail to realize is that’s not the case at all. As a real estate agent, you’re essentially starting your own business, and therefore you need a written business plan.

Getting into this business without creating a written business plan is like jumping in your car for a cross-country drive without giving any thought to what route you’ll take. You might eventually reach your destination, but your journey is going to take much longer and encounter many more starts and stops along the way.

Create your business plan and share it with other business owners to get feedback and make adjustments before you get too far into your journey.