A Real Estate Agent’s Guide to Making a Great First Impression In 5 Quick Steps

Part of being a real estate agent is learning how to make a lasting impression on clients.

Given how it takes a person seven seconds on average to form an opinion when meeting someone, it pays to learn what we can do to impress those we’re working with.

Here’s what you can do to ensure that the first impression is a good one:

#1 – Consider your online presence

Although first meetings are done in person, you need to remember that everything starts online. With a quick Google search, your clients can easily look up your name and get a general idea about who they’re meeting with. This is why you want to keep your online presence in mind and mind the way you present yourself, especially when it comes to your social media accounts.

The tricky part of being a real estate agent is keeping your professional life and private life apart as they often merge.

In real estate business, reputation is everything, so before you post any statuses or photos, ask yourself how they would affect your clients’ perception of you and whether that would impact your professional image.

When sending emails, your grammar and spelling will also reflect how professional you are, so keep that in mind as well.

#2 – Follow the dress code

Now that your clients have got a general impression of their real estate agent’s online persona, you want to make sure you amaze them when you meet offline. Just like your online presence, physical appearance can also affect how your clients see you, so you want to make sure you dress the part.

Dress professionally, choosing attire that is in line with the industry’s standards. For some, this could mean a professional suit, for others, it can be something casual such as a pair of khakis.

As a general rule, you want to be able to merge with individuals from your niche market who follow a certain dress code.

#3 – Look the part

Before you’re able to meet the clients and amaze them with your expertise, you will first have to get to the place where your meeting is scheduled.

Now, the car you arrive in will speak for you long before you even introduce yourself, which is why you want to take some time to rent the best car for yourself and your clients.

Since you’ll be meeting clients in all the different places, you want to look for a car hire service in the area in question. Reserving a car from services such as airport Avis Car Rental service can come in handy in case you need to pick your clients up when they land.

Generally speaking, the type of car you select will largely depend on your target clientele. Nevertheless, you want to make sure your car always looks clean and presentable. That way, you’ll ensure you look the part, which will help you make a great first impression.

#4 – Pay attention to your handshake

When meeting new clients, you want to keep in mind the way you approach them, which has to do a lot with non-verbal cues such as posture, gestures, facial expressions, and of course, the handshake.

Shaking a client’s hand is the first contact you’ll make with them in person, and if you do a little bit of research online, you will find that handshake, and body language in general, can tell a lot about an individual.

As a rule of thumb, your handshake should be firm and confident, followed by a brief smile and eye-contact. Be sure to stand up if you’re seated before you shake hands, and always keep your right hand free and visible.

Avoid keeping your hands in pockets as this gives off an impression of an unconfident person, which is not helpful when you’re trying to build trust with clients.

Practice makes perfect, so take some time to learn the basics of human psychology and how you can use it to present yourself in the best light possible.

#5 – Be relatable and engaging

Establishing a connection with your clients is crucial for making a good first impression, which is why it pays to scroll through their social media accounts and find something to talk about.

Be it pets, sports, family, or a university both of you went to, sharing a couple of details from their personal life will make them feel more relaxed and comfortable. The conversation will also feel natural rather than forced, making them feel at home.

Talking to your client about everyday topics and asking open-ended questions shows that you care about them. Combine those questions with real estate-related topics – you can go through two or three talking points you’ve prepared in advance. This will help you gain an insight into what they’re looking for. Furthermore, it’ll ensure you come across as friendly and highly-organized individual, which will positively influence the opinion they have of you.

Professional, engaging, friendly, and personable – those are some of the most important qualities of a good real estate agent. Rely on these tips to help you put your best foot forward and make your meetings go smoother.