Step-By-Step Recruiting

Set Your Goals and Do the Math

By Judy LaDeur

I’m often asked by brokers, “Where do I start?” It’s a common question for recruiters. When you’re looking at your goal – it can seem overwhelming if you don’t have a plan.  I like to tell them that a good goal, to begin with, is to conduct three experienced agent interviews per week. From that, you should average at least two hires per month.  This will give you at least 24 experienced agents per year.  If each is producing two million in gross closings that would give you an annual increase in market share of $48 million and a net gain of $98 million over your competitors!

So how do you get to that? Start by putting these 12 steps in place! 

  1. Find your targets: Set up your target ‘hit lists’.  Your list will depend on the size of your marketplace.  I always recommend that you have at least 100 agents on your hit list, but the more agents that you have, the better. Full-time recruiters should have 250-350 agents on their hit list.  Your hit list will have 3 categories of agents. A, B, and C categories. The A list is your active pipeline. At all times, your active pipeline should have at least 10 agents in it. The active pipeline has two types of agents. Those that you have interviewed, but not yet hired and those who have agreed to come in for an interview and the date for the interview is set.  This means that you will always be talking to at least 10 agents about joining your team. The B-list agents are those that you have a relationship with. You are Facebook friends, you talk to them every 2-3 months, you invite them to social events, etc.  Your C-list agents are those agents that you are marketing to but don’t really have a relationship with yet.  Your A-list and your B-list agents are the ones that you will focus on and spend the most on. I always recommend that Brokers use a program such as Broker Metrics to determine who you want on your hit list, but if you don’t have Broker Metrics, you can use your MLS as a guide to determine who you want on your list. Many brokers pull lists by production level or dollar volume.  Some pull by time in the industry.  There are some strategies and success rates in targeting those second-year agents that have been in 12-36 months and might be ready to move.   Another great strategy shared by one of our members is to target the rising and falling stars in your market. Just as it is crucial for agents to put together their marketing lists for their SOI and farm, it’s just as critical that you have a list to market to as a recruiter.
  2. Digitally position yourself weekly. Use your Monday Morning eNewsletters as a way to position yourself in a motivational, positive message with great tips and tools each week to the agents in your market. This goes to your both your entire list recruiting prospects,  as well as your current team members.  Encourage your agents, and your recruits to use the same strategy with their prospecting lists so that they are positioned as well with a Monday Morning message.  Log in at the end of each month, copy the eNewsletters for the month into your email platform and schedule them to go out every Monday morning.
  3. Monthly position yourself with letters and lumpy letters. Agents love Lumpy Letters and they really create a buzz. Every month we put two or three Lumpy Letters in your system. You can also scroll through the archives to see past letters.  These are perfect for the A-list agents, as well as certain B-list agents.  Most Brokers send 25-50 lumpy mail items per month. At the start of every month, order the suggested mailing insert (small gift or fun item) – we usually include an easy ordering link or offer a suggestion where you can buy the item. Then copy and paste your favorite Lumpy Letter onto a card or onto your letterhead and sign them. Then stuff them into padded envelopes, labels, and mail. They capture the attention of the top agents, create a great talking point, and get you noticed.  Next, pick your favorite seasonal letter and send those to your B and C list agents each month.
  4. Follow up: Give each targeted agent a follow-up phone call just to touch base.  Your goal is to talk to at least three agents per day and schedule a minimum of three interviews with experienced agents per week.  When the agent has indicated that they are happy where they are, call them every 2-3 months just to check in on them. Has anything changed? Are they ready to meet? If the agent is on your A-list, follow up weekly or as needed based on that agent’s situation.
  5. Connect again: The following month, send out another letter, note, or package to your list to promote your systems and your organization.  Everyone doesn’t have to get the same thing either!  Be creative!  Personalize them! You can always look into the archive section of your platform to see past month’s tools.
  6. Follow up again: Hit the phones again just as in step three and make it a habit to consistently send and call each and every month.  Use your CRM to track who you call each month, and when you should contact that agent again.
  7. Promote: After each hire, send out a “Just Hired” postcard to your entire hit list.  This sends out the message that agents are joining your team. Also, post your new recruits to your Facebook page, and include announcements in your eNewsletters.
  8. Promote again: Send flyers out that promote your company, the success of your agents and your commitment to the community.  You’ll be planting those seeds for agents to WANT to learn more about you!
  9. Review your skills. Pick at least one lesson from the 7+ hours of audio training to master each month. Log in and watch a webinar on-demand as well and learn what other brokers are doing to recruit at record levels.
  10. Review your value propositions. Use those to show how your organization is different.  What are the 12 compelling reasons for an agent to join your team? Are those 12 reasons compelling enough for others to take notice and join? What are the results of your 12 compelling reasons to join?  This is how you build value in joining your team.
  11. Use social media: Facebook has really changed the way that brokers build relationships and stay in touch. You should send a Facebook request to everyone on your hit list, as well as your existing agents. Each day, please apply the 30-20-10-5 rule on Facebook. Spend a max of 30 minutes on Facebook in the morning, like 20 things that potential recruits say, make 10 comments, and send 5 personal messages inviting the agent to get together to discuss their business.  Set up your hit list into a group on Facebook.
  12. Stay true to the 3-7-27 rule. Your engagement on Facebook, as well as calls and texting, is designed to build their trust as soon as possible.  It is based on the Rule of Marketing: 3-7-27. It takes 3 direct contacts for them to remember who YOU are. It takes 7 direct contacts for them to connect you to your company. It takes 27 direct contacts for them to trust you, to like you, and to feel as though they can approach you when they are ready.  BUT it also requires the messages to be positive and inspiring, which causes them to like you before they meet you.  Direct contact is a call with a response, a text with a response, a social connection with a response, etc. Any time they respond in any way, you are building a relationship and trust.

Agents are deciding now how they will move forward during these challenging times — and what brokerages best suit those needs. If you position yourself now as the broker with the tools, resources, support, and environment for success – it will be your name at the top of their list of choices. If you need help, let us know.

For more great ideas on giving your agents the best resources possible, while attracting awesome new agents, join The Profitable Recruiter.  Take advantage of our special offer! Make any Profitable Recruiter Pro Membership part of your business plan, and take 50% off with the promo code 50OFF — PLUS, have the ability to add up to 10 managers or admins to your account at no extra cost!  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training, more than 30 webinars on-demand, scripts, letters, social media tools and more!  What are you waiting for? Register today

Do Recruiting Incentives Work?

Yes, But…

By Real Estate Coach Judy LaDeur

The simple answer is “yes”, BUT some incentives work better than others, and it all depends on the behavior pattern of the agent.Handshake after a job recruitment interview

Most brokers use money, or financial incentives to motivate their agents to help them recruit. The problem with that is that most real estate agents are emotional decision makers, who are motivated more by what you do for them than what you offer to them in the way of money.

Let’s look at what agents do on a daily basis. If they like their loan officer, they refer them to everyone. Why? Because they are paid to refer business to them? No. It’s because they want everyone to have a positive experience when they are buying a home. Many real estate companies have their own in house lenders, and ask agents to refer the business to them. Some even have financial incentives. Does an agent use their loan officers just because they can get paid, if they have a loan officer that they feel can do a better job for their clients? No. They also refer attorneys, inspectors, etc. For an emotional agent, when you offer to pay them to secure their support, it does not feel good to them. Some say that they even feel guilty about getting paid. There are real estate organizations who offer incentives to recruit, but when I ask them how well it works, they admit that most agents do not care if you are paying them to recruit.  You might be asking yourself why I said that recruiting incentives work at this point. As you recall, I said yes, but…

Let’s look at what works and for which type of agent. If you have a driver personality, or an analytical/logical personality, that person is motivated by money. They actually prefer money over other types of incentives. This allows them to spend it the way they want. Statistically, 10% of agents are drivers and 5% are analytical, so 15% of agents will be motivated by the money. However 85% are not!

How do you motivate the 85%? What do they want? Recognition! When they are happy in their work environment, and they truly feel that it’s the best place to work, they will invite others to join.  When they give you a referral, they are just looking to be recognized in a personal way that shows you care.  When an agent gives you the name of an agent who might be a good member of your team, send a thank you note to their home that says, “Thanks so much for helping us build our team of associates with agents just like you! I really appreciate it.”  After the agent comes in to the office for an interview, give the referring agent an update. If the agent joins your team, do something special for that agent.  When I say “special for that agent”, I am referring to something that tells them that you know what is important to them and that you care. If the agent is a driver, they probably would like a financial reward, so that’s’ fine. But chances are they are emotional, so think about what they like.  Maybe it’s a day at the spa, or a certificate for dinner at a nice restaurant, or a really nice bottle of wine.  Perhaps you have box seats to a sporting event and you know that agent enjoys sports. Whatever you give them, put it in a card and say “Thanks so much for recommendation of (Agent Name). They are a great addition to the team and I could not have done it without your help!”  There’s no need to announce that you are offering incentives. Make a habit of asking who they would recommend, and follow up. Once you have recruited them, present them with the note and gift. You will be amazed at how quickly they give you another referral. Why? Because they enjoy working with you, and they appreciate the recognition.

Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics said, “Every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, ‘Make me feel important.’  If you can do that, you’ll be a success not only in business but in life as well.” She was known for the way she made people feel. What will you do to show your agents how much you appreciate them when they refer an agent to you?

Want to learn more about building your dream team in less time and with less headaches?  Join The Profitable Recruiter and gain access to 7 hours of training via downloadable links including interview skills, scripts, objection handlers, and more. PLUS, you’ll have access to entire libraries of recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media content, training webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best. Join today and take advantage of our special 50% off with the promo code 50OFF.

The Three Daily Practices of Master Recruiters

Hint: Are You Staying in Touch with Your Customers?

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach and Speaker Judy LaDeur

If you are like most Brokers, you are constantly reinforcing with your agents how important it is to stay in touch with their clients and potential customers. It’s one of the most important jobs for your agents, but according to NAR, one that most agents do not do.

What about you? Are you staying in touch with the agents in your market that you want for your team? Are you building your base of potential recruits?  Are you staying in touch with them on a regular basis? Do the agents in the market know what tools/training and benefits you offer as an organization and why it might be a better option for them and their career? Do you have your names set up in a CRM?

It’s not enough to have “good stuff”. Most companies have great tools and a lot of opportunities for their agents to make money and succeed.  If that’s all it took, most companies would have agents lining up at their doors to join. They trick is to also communicate the value of what you are offering and stay positioned with those agents at all times.

Communicating your value actually starts way before the interview process. When you take the time to build people’s trust, build the relationship and “pre-sell” your company, the job is half done when you start the interview.

  • Social Media is a great way to build the relationship.
  • You can build curiosity about the value of joining your team with “Just Hired” announcements, both online, in the sidebar of your weekly emails, and postcards are a great way to spread the word that agents are joining your office. You may want to include their “why” – where they share the top reason they joined.
  • Your marketing should be about your results. Share the things that make you unique. Do you have an awesome mentoring program? Do your agents close more than those at other companies? Share your success stories.
  • Make those phone calls to discuss your value, the results your agents are getting, to thank an agent for a great co-broke experience, etc.
  • Our Profitable Recruiter Monday Morning email newsletters keep you positioned at all times. They are motivational and inspirational and a “soft” way to stay in touch without that imposing push of a hard recruiting call. You’re offering content of value, and creating the rapport that is powerful when those agents start to think about making a move.

What do top recruiters and brokers do on a daily basis to insure consistent results in recruiting?   They stay in touch with the agents that they want! We talked to many of the best recruiters and brokers that we coach and asked them what they do to stay in touch with their “book of business”, the agents that they want.

#1: Phone calls are a daily routine: They talk to at least five agents every day about a career with their company. When their pipeline is empty they spend several hours each day making calls. For a Master Recruiter, if they are not interviewing a candidate, they’re looking for one!

#2: They network for referrals daily.  Master Recruiters say the best way to get appointments with the best agents is to build relationships with their existing agents. Master Recruiters say 50%-80% of their recruits are a result of the referrals from their agents. How do they get the referrals?  They ask for referrals, they watch who the agents are co-broking with and follow up with phone calls, they hold networking/coaching sessions weekly for the agents in the office, and they understand that when agents are happy with their office, they want other agents to have that same experience.

#3: They follow up with the agents in their pipeline:  Master Recruiters hire about 50% of the agents that they interview that day, or within 60 days of the initial interview. 15% will choose another firm right away and 35% of the agents will decide to move sometime in the next 12 months. That means follow up is critical for long-term success. Follow up involves, notes, calls, sending books or gifts, invitations to special or social events, or sending them a weekly motivational email that they can read, share with their friends and family and also share with their book of business. When that agent is doing more business because they are sending your weekly motivation message to their book of business. Their business and success is tied to YOU, and they are not even there yet! Brokers who stay in touch with their potential recruits with The Profitable Recruiter say that they recruit more than of 6 agents per year with this one tool alone!

Show your agents that you practice what you preach and sign up for the Profitable Recruiter today. Your agents will love it!

What do you get?  Make any Profitable Recruiter Pro Membership part of your recruiting plan, and take 50% off with the promo code 50OFF — PLUS, have the ability to add up to 10 managers or admins to your account at no extra cost!  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – AND includes the SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training, more than 30 webinars on demand, scripts, letters, social media tools and more!  What are you waiting for? Register today and be on your way to being a Master Recruiter.  

 

 Identifying and Communicating Your Value Proposition

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

The most important asset within your company is the people. Attracting the right people means attracting those aligned with your values and vision.  This gives you an opportunity to create a flourishing environment that translates into an improved bottom line.

Putting a strong team in place will require you to answer a few tough questions first. You must be able to share details about your company in “what’s in it for them” terms. Explain how a move would benefit them both personally and professionally. Because let’s face it, switching companies is a very scary decision for most people. Diffuse fears by accurately and effectively sharing the “WHY” that sets you apart from your competition. What does this look like?

You must define:

  • What you do better than your competitors
  • What you are doing that your competitors are not
  • How you can help potential recruits earn more money through your systems and tools
  • How you enhance the working environment of your agents
  • What real results other members of your team have seen since making a move

Once you answer those questions, the next step is spelling out the reasons any agent would want to join your team. In my training, I ask each broker to come up with their 12 most compelling reasons. Unfortunately, twelve reasons can be difficult for a lot of brokers. For that reason, I have created a blueprint that you can follow to begin crafting your own list.

12 Compelling Reasons Recruits Will Say YES to Joining Your Company

# 1:  Strong Leadership: Vision, support with problem solving, and leaders who are acting like leaders. Take it one step further and determine what specific value you and your expertise bring to your team.

#2: Lead Generation: Agents need to prospect, but they want companies that are working to generate leads for them as well. There are lead generation companies out there that are charging agents up to $1000 a month for leads and believe it or not, agents are paying. Why? Because agents want those internet leads, or any leads that the company can provide. What are you willing to provide?

#3: Name Brand Awareness: Companies with a strong presence in the market, locally and nationally, are doing well with their recruiting efforts. Name awareness is tied to market share. The best agents understand that the stronger the name/market share, the easier it is to compete for business.

#4: Education/ training: Agents are looking to fine-tune their skills. Many are staring down steep learning curves for technology and virtual presentations. Many agents know they need to get back to the basics and most realize the value of staying current in an ever changing real estate industry. The best agents also understand the value of securing specialized training or securing certain designations for areas of specialization. Such areas might include: Virtual presentation, social media and digital marketing, niche-market prospecting, and technology.

#5: Positive office attitude and healthy environment in the office: Agents want a positive work environment with competent and positive peers. It is easy for me to see that the offices with the best production and best attitude have brokers with a great attitude. Those same brokers spent the last 5 years getting rid of their dead weight and many are more profitable today than they have been in years!

#6: Mastermind Groups and networking opportunities with other top producers:  Many of the best agents enjoy connecting with the other successful agents. Their needs and approach to the real estate business is different from those just getting started, so why not give them the opportunity to grow and play together? Agents who work hard, play hard and spend time together are more likely to stay together

#7: Marketing support/tools: Marketing is the #1 thing that agents need to stay in touch with their sphere and past customers. What can you do to assist or support their marketing efforts?

#8: Client/ data management tools: Many agents struggle when it comes to managing their data and client info. Do you have an easy-to-use customer relationship management tool that allows them to input their data, send out marketing, and locate client data quickly?

#9: Coaching and accountability: We see many companies implementing very successful coaching programs, with some great results. If the company does not provide coaching, the agents might hire outside the organization. The cost can range from $500 -$1000. What that tells me is this: if they want it and it has value to them, they will pay for it! Your agents need accountability and sometimes a third party is the best way to keep them on track and accountable. Your best option is to coach them yourself or have someone else in house that can effectively coach them. If this isn’t possible, seek out a good coach and work out an agreement with them to coach those agents who want it.

#10: Administrative support: Agents are working harder, but most are not working smarter. What can you do to support them behind the scenes?  What can you take off their plate to give them more balance in their life and work?

#11:  Proven results with proven systems: It’s not enough to have systems and tools. Your need to know what the results are from each of the systems and tools you offer. Use exact results, NAR survey results, national brand results, testimonials from your agents as well as success stories. Bring those results into your interviews.  Everyone says they can help potential recruits, but those who can prove it are winning in today’s market.

#12: Security: The bottom line for any agent making a move is whether or not they will feel secure at their new location. The more answers you can provide on the above list, the better they will feel, and when they feel good…they join!

Take some time to sit down and determine what your best selling points are as an organization.  Ask your agents what they love most about being part of your business family.  Then couple these powerful 12 reasons with your own compelling attributes and get ready to knock it out of the park this fall!

Want to continue to learn how to be the turn-to broker in your market?  Bookmark our blog, and join The Profitable Recruiter today.  We have a full spectrum of membership benefits with all the tools, strategies and solutions you need to position yourself to win this year and every year. Our goal is for you to become the “turn-to” broker in your area for every agent.  

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any pro membership.  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training!  What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.

 

The 7-Step Interview Process

by Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

The problem with most interviews is that we spend too much time trying to sell them, and not enough time trying to determine what they want. By knowing what they want, there are very effective ways to help them see the advantages of joining your company. In fact, your presentation should only address their needs and should also show them how they can dramatically increase their income by joining your company.

The 7-Step Interview Process

(Hint: It is just like working with a buyer)

Step 1: The Set-Up = The Direction

  • Set up the interview by sharing your goals and agenda.
  • You should know if the agent is an emotional decision maker or a logical decision maker within the first 5-10 minutes.
  • You need to mirror your candidate for optimal results. Maintain a business-like manner for logical agents and a friendly, warm manner for emotional agents.

Step 2The Investigation = The Discovery Process

  • Ask questions designed to discover the agent’s concerns and needs.
  • This is your foundation and you should determine which systems to present at this phase.
  • Remember to stay relaxed and friendly for the emotional agents.
  • Remain business-like for the logical agents.

Step 3The Presentation = a discussion designed to deliver what they need and want

  • The presentation should be customized for each recruit.
  • It should include the systems or opportunities that the recruit is looking for or needs.
  • When you present the systems, you should build value and keep the recruit involved in the presentation.
  • Only present what the recruit wants to hear, not what you think is important!
  • For the emotional decision makers, this is where the sale must take place.

Step 4:  The Recap or ROI = to determine the Position of the Journey

  • Ask the recruit, “Can you see yourself working with
    ?” If he/she says yes, proceed forward with the recap of what was discussed and determined. Get their initial commitment at this stage.

Step 5The Details

  • Explain the details (i.e., your various compensation programs, costs, etc.)
  • You should explain details simply, as quickly as possible and in an assumptive format for emotional agents.
  • For logical agents, this is where the sale takes place. Give the logical agents lots of detail and answer all questions accurately.

Step 6The Close = The decision or arrival of the destination

  • Ask a question that causes the recruit to take action.

Step 7Handle Stalls and Objections = can be diversions

  • Use the same process to overcome stalls and objections that you use with buyers and sellers. Remember to close 3 times.
  • Use a value close to rediscover the value and show income potential with your company. The recruit should be able to increase his/her income by making the move.

Learn the in-depth strategies for all seven of these in the audio training available with your Profitable Recruiter Membership! 

Want to learn how to master these skills and build an extraordinary team?  Bookmark our blogand join The Profitable Recruiter today.  We have a full spectrum of membership benefits with all the tools, strategies and solutions you need to position yourself to win this year and every year. Our goal is for you to become the “turn-to” broker in your area for every agent.  

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any pro membership.  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training!  What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.

Powerful Phone Skills Can Be Easy!

Putting ALL the Pieces in Place for Successful Recruiting

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

What do top recruiters/brokers do daily to ensure consistent results in recruiting?   It is really pretty simple.  Most do what others are unwilling to do to get the desired results!  There are several steps to mastering phone calls and many great reasons to pick up the phone. Here are ten great reasons to call an agent:

  1. Your office has a co-op transaction with that agent.
  2. Your agent has identified them as a great agent to do business within your market.
  3. Invite them to a social or educational event that you are hosting.
  4. Pay them a compliment. It could be on their production or just the way they conduct business.
  5. Introduce yourself if you do not know them.
  6. Suggest getting together to meet and exchange information over coffee.
  7. Check the progress of a first or second-year agent.
  8. Follow up with agents that you have met with but did not YET hire.
  9. Call to tell them about the special systems and services that your company offers.
  10. Invite those who left to come back!

Regardless of why you call them, what to say seems to be the biggest challenge for most brokers and recruiters.  For your best results, you should follow a process that allows you to build the relationship and secure the info that you need when the time is right for that agent to make a move.

Our process teaches you how to diffuse the initial response of “I’m busy” or “I’m happy where I am.” When you can lower the resistance in the first few seconds, the call is much easier.  Many brokers jump right in and ask them to meet. That works occasionally, but asking a few questions and engaging them in the conversation will usually result in a better close ratio.

Most agents will say “no” at least two times before saying “yes”! The secret is asking them more than once in more than one way! Most agents will say no before even listening to what you have to say. It’s important to say something that will not only get their attention but pique their curiosity to learn more.

There are also days of the week and times in the day which will have better results. Those who understand the Rules Behind Successful Calling will have fewer no-shows and spend less time making the calls and more time face to face with the agents they want.

Do you want to hire more agents?  Mastering the phone is an important part of the puzzle! Not only will you learn many of these vital tools in the 7+ hours of audio training that you get as part of your Profitable Recruiter Pro membership – you have the advantage of learning on demand – individually or as a leadership team.

And if you HAVEN’T put systems in place to ALWAYS have the tools you need to grow your team with fewer headaches and more results – consider joining The Profitable Recruiter today.  Take 50% off with the promo code 50OFF — PLUS, can add up to 10 managers or admins to your account at no extra cost!  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – AND includes the SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training, webinars on demand, scripts, letters, social media tools and more!  What are you waiting for? Register today.

7 Strategies for Real Estate Recruiting Success

A LOT has changed in the last year – but some strategies are always in season. If you’re ready to take your recruiting game to the next level, let’s look at a few of our favorites that always seem to help real estate recruiters knock it out of the park. Some take just a few minutes of your day – but the results — are extraordinary!

Here are a few of our favorites: 

  1. Stay positioned with your entire recruiting list using the Profitable Recruiter Monday Morning email newsletters. These provide non-salesly, motivational, action-oriented touchpoints which keep you top of mind as a broker/recruiter so that when people ARE ready to make a move, they think of your organization.
  2. Customize those emails. While we love a good cut and paste, your emails should be branded to your organization.  Consider including links to agent testimonials, links to pages on your site that refer to compensation differentiators, a personal note from you or your leadership team, a spotlight of recent recruits, including their name, photo, and charity of choice, and links to upcoming training or networking events.
  3. Send Lumpy Letters to the top 25 recruiting prospects every month. Have some fun with them – and follow up with those prospects.
  4. Use LinkedIn to connect with potential recruits. Send your prospects a message, endorse them, write a reference on LinkedIn, then follow up. More often than not, you’ll have done more than their current broker.  While you’re in there – be sure to do the same for your CURRENT team of agents!  Set aside 15 minutes a morning to do this one simple strategy – you’ll surprise and delight yourself with the results!
  5. Sponsor fun events. We loved the Taco & Tequila Tuesdays, Wine Down Wednesdays, and even virtual happy hours that many of our members have hosted. They are fun networking opportunities where agents can connect, share ideas, and learn.  Some host it at a restaurant near their company headquarters and offer dessert back at the office, where they can tour the facility and learn more about what the company offers.  Their current team of agents’ “admission” to the event is to bring another agent.  Everyone has fun – and it’s bringing agents through the doors!
  6. Call at least ten agents a day for appointments. You won’t reach all ten more than likely, but you are making the calls and contacts and setting the stage for success.
  7. Let them know that you want them on board. Often brokers feel like it is too strong to ask for the commitment after the first recruiting appointment, but what they don’t realize is that often means the potential recruit isn’t even sure that you WANT to hire them. Be assertive and friendly – and try Judy’s classic handshake close that has helped brokers worldwide hire people on the spot.  (You can learn more about that in the interview skills section of your 7+ hours of audio training.)

These powerful steps are a great way to create the kind of dramatic momentum you are looking for. The right tools, strategies, and of course – perseverance as a recruiter is a win-win-win combination.

Stay positioned with the agents you are eager to recruit!  Join us today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any membership.  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training!  What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.    

How to Identify & Hire the BEST New Candidates

How to Identify & Hire the BEST New REAL ESTATE Recruiting Candidates

From Personal Experience…

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

There has never been a better time to hire new-to-the-industry agents. The great news is that the new agents WANT support, training, and a broker who cares and is there to support them. This describes many of the real estate offices out there, so let’s make hiring the “new ones” a priority.

What should you look for?  Is there a way to know who will succeed?  What does the right new agent look like? Here are some great guidelines to follow:

  1. Be honest about the position:  I think we owe it to them to be honest about the career they are about to embark on and their ability to work in a commissioned sales job. They trust us only to hire them if they can make it, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Tell them upfront. “If I think that you can make it in the real estate business, I will hire you today. If I don’t hire you today, you should reconsider your decision to go into real estate. I am telling you that because ours is an industry where anyone with a license can find a job somewhere.  But getting hired is not an indication that you will make any money. In fact, 90% of the people in this business earn a poverty-level income. But again, if I think you’ll make it, I will hire you. And if I do hire you, I will do everything possible to ensure your success. Does that sound fair?”  I always had their attention when I told them that, and they knew that I was serious.
  2. I would tell them the good stuff, as well as the challenges — and build some humor into it. Tell them that very successful real estate agent make well over $100,000.00 per year, and they can earn that after a few years. I told them that they could set their hours, because they were the boss. They could sleep late or leave early. I then explained that they could have any insurance policy they wanted and any retirement plan that they wanted as well. They could take unlimited vacations without asking anyone’s permission. I would then smile and say, “How does it sound so far?” Of course, they would say great. I would then continue with, “Of course, even though very successful agents earn over $100,000.00 per year, 90% of all agents earn under $30,000 per year. You can come and go as you please, but if you are not working, you are not earning any money. You should be prepared to work an average of 60 hours per week for the first year, and maybe every year! You can select an insurance and retirement policy because you pay for it. You can take vacations any time you want, but someone needs to cover your business, and if you are not working, you are losing money. Are you still excited?”  You would be amazed how many people do not know what it means to be an independent contractor. I was looking for an agent who understood the risks and still wanted “in.” I went on to explain that there are two types of jobs worldwide. High risk / high-income jobs, and high security /low-income jobs. The higher the risk, the greater the income potential. In the stock market, as well as the job market. That’s why banks pay very little interest on a savings account. There is no risk, and therefore, the return is low. But your money is very safe. That’s why you make more if you are willing to take a risk. I would then find out why they wanted to give up the security of a “real job”, and go into real estate. I looked for desire, motivation, confidence, passion, drive, and tenacity. I asked lots of questions, and I paid attention to how I felt as they talked. I looked at their past successes and failures. How did they handle problems?  How hard were they willing to work? Did I believe they could make it? If so, we continued.
  3. There are lots of other things that will increase their odds of making it.  A professional image, financial security, a strong sphere of influence, good eye contact, good people skills, and a need to make money. The more pluses they have, the greater their chance of success will be.

Create your own checklist. On the left, list those things you should be looking for in the interview, and then make notes after each item. The answer should be pretty clear by the end of the interview. By the way, I always told them up front that if they decided to go forward with a career in real estate and I decided to hire them, they would need to sign up for their real estate class that day. As a result, most of the good candidates signed up that day and got started with their careers.

Ready to kick up your recruiting and position yourself to attract the agents you want sooner rather than later? Join top brokers from around the nation who are members of www.TheProfitableRecruiter.com. You’ll get all the tools you need each month to position yourself as the broker to join when agents are ready to make a move. Fine-tuning your skills this summer? All pro members get access to over SEVEN hours of training via downloadable links, including interview skills, scripts, objection handlers, and more. PLUS, you’ll have access to entire libraries of recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media content, training webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best.

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any membership.  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move!

Are YOU Closing Three Times?

How to Get Better at Closing

By Judy LaDeur

When I ask Brokers what they need most, they almost always say that they need to become better closers. When I ask why they think they need to get better at the close, the obvious answer is that if they are better closers, they will sign up more agents.  To an extent, that’s true. Everyone needs to be a good closer to be at the top of their game, but what is a good closer?

A good closer is someone who does these five things:

  • They set it up properly. From the time the interview starts, they are closing them to join “if it’s determined that they are a good fit.”
  • They ask the right questions to know what it’s going to take.  If you know what it’s going to take, you will present the right tools and solutions.
  • When you present the right tools and solutions in a way that shows and proves value, the agent wants to join.
  • A good closer also knows HOW to close the agent. Amiable agents need assurances and security. Expressive agents need to “feel good” about the decision. Logical agents need to KNOW that it’s a good solid business decision.
  • And of course, you must ask them to join! Not just one time, but several times.

You may have heard about the Northwestern University Study that says that 78% of the time, you must close three times to get the sale, but most do not know what that really means.

Do you just keep asking them to join the same way? No! If you ask someone to join your team at the interview (that’s one), and they say “no, or sounds good BUT…”, just smile and say that’s fine, but if you were going to join today, what would it take? (That’s two).  Listen to what they say, feed it back, (so if I hear what you are saying, if you were going to join today, we would need to…” Then question it.  “Tell me why that is important. Tell me more about that, please. Why-what-how questions will help you to get more details from them.

When you have enough info, isolate the objection and offer to solve it. “Is that the only objection? If I could overcome that today, would you be willing to move forward?” (That’s three.) At this point, you need a “yes”. In the absence of a yes, you are dealing with a stall, and you can’t overcome a stall.  Start the process over again and ask, “What else is holding you back?”  However, if the person said, “Yes if you can overcome that, I would be willing to join…”, then simply overcome the objection and close again.

Remember the saying, Close often, and then close again. Just like you do with buyers and sellers if you saw the sale take place that day, work hard to put it together!

Remember there are seven and a half audio HOURS of dialogues, strategies, closes, objection handlers, etc. in your Profitable Recruiter System. Top brokers tell me they tap these resources at least twice a month to continuously fine-tune their recruiting skills. It’s no secret that’s why their recruiting numbers are so high! Be sure to listen to my signature handshake close (yes, that’s me in the picture above at a recruiting retreat).  It works like a CHARM.

Want to learn more about hiring the best agents for your team, and keeping your team happy and productive?  Join The Profitable Recruiter and gain access to 7 hours of training via downloadable links including interview skills, scripts, objection handlers, and more. PLUS, you’ll have access to entire libraries of recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media content, training webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best. Join today and take advantage of our special 50% off with the promo code 50OFF for any 6-month or annual membership.  

Not sure if this is the right thing for your company?  Watch this video on demand to learn why brokers of every company size are making it their turn to way to stay positioned for recruiting success in today’s market — and putting the fun back into their recruiting.  We’re taking the guesswork out of recruiting for brokers — and they are loving it.  We can do the same for you! Questions?  Email us today.  

 

Four Factors You CAN Control in Recruiting

Positioning Yourself for Exponential Results

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Bottom line? Recruiting is the lifeblood of your real estate brokerage. If you are not actively recruiting, you are on your way out of business. You can have the best team in the industry, but at some point, every agent that you have will leave. They will retire, they may get ill, and they might just get tired of working, or relocate. But for reasons out of your control, they will leave.  There are many things that you can control to keep them there for as long as possible.  Here are those things which you can control:

  1. Office Environment & Culture: The brokers I know who are excellent recruiters, also provide an exciting work environment for their agents. They are in the office to greet their agents daily, they create reasons for the agents to come into the office, they host fun events throughout the year in the office, and the office has a clean, professional look about it. Create a welcome, efficient place for your agents to network, meet clients, and impress your recruits and you’re one step ahead of your competition.
  1. Create a Written Profile of the Perfect Agent for Your Office:  By writing down what it would take him or her to be the perfect fit for your team, your mind will actively look for people who fit your profile. Have you ever noticed that if you buy a new blue car, that suddenly you see that color and model everywhere? Once you are aware of something, your mind will point it out.  The same is true for agents.  When you are consciously aware of what you are looking for, your mind will also quickly discount people who do not meet your profile. You will hire more of the right agents, and fewer agents who fall short of your criteria. The time to talk about your criteria and expectations for your agents is in the interview process.  Don’t be shy. During the interview say things such as “The ideal agent for our team is an agent who is looking for (quality). Our expectations of those who join our team are (expectation).  The typical agent on our team averages (annual income). Those who are right for your team will make statements that confirm they meet your criteria.  If you are hiring new agents, you may want a separate profile, which may encompass areas such as passion, drive, experience in other sales fields, and education. A new agent’s desire and persistence can overcome many obstacles. For experienced agents, you may want to consider things such as the time constraints each one will put on you or your staff. It seems there are always a few agents in each office that take up the bulk of the leader’s time.  Your focus should be to find good people so you can replace the ones who do not meet your criteria.
  1. Prospecting: Once you know who you want, you next job is to find those agents and position yourself and your company to recruit them. Prospecting effectively allows you to fill your office with the kind of agents who fit your profile, which will enable you to earn more money. Prospecting can take on many forms such as direct mail, social media, face to face interaction with agents, phone calls, texting, emails and anything which will allow you to connect with the right agent for your team. Prospecting does two things: It keeps you positioned with the agents that you want until they are ready to move. It also tells you which agents are ready to make a move that day.  For that reason, calling must be a daily part of your prospecting, but don’t try to recruit them over the phone. The purpose of the call is to get the interview. They can’t sign up over the phone. I am amazed at the number of brokers who do not prospect, and most prospect less than their agents do. The brokers with the most productive offices lead by example. They are always prospecting and building their business, just like they expect their agents to prospect. Are you willing to get in the mud with your troops? Are you willing to show and teach them by example the value of prospecting? Are you going to teach them through your actions what leadership is about?
  1. Powerful presentation: Just as your agents need to perfect their best listing presentation — you need to create a dynamic presentation which is customized to each agent. The agent needs to feel that you have a lot to offer him/her in knowledge and experience. Your presentation should be based on well-scripted questions to find their hot buttons as well as products and services that they currently need in their real estate career. The better you learn what the agent is looking for, the more powerful your presentation will be.  Focus on hiring agents on value. What is the value to them in joining your team? How much more can they earn as a member of your team? Just as agents can get more listings by reducing their commission, you can always get more agents by lowering your fees or increasing your splits. Do the best sales agents reduces their fees and profits just to get more listings? NO. And the best brokers do not “buy agents”.  They do, however, end each interview with an invitation to join their team, if the agent is a good fit.

Is recruiting a challenge for you?  We can help.  Join The Profitable Recruiter and gain access to 7 hours of training via downloadable links, hundreds of recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media contents, webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best. 

If you’re ready to get your recruiting ON TRACK and keep it there —  join today and take advantage of our 50% off special using promo code 50OFF.

Learn why brokers of every company size are making it their turn to way to stay positioned for recruiting success in today’s market — and putting the fun back into their recruiting. We’re taking the guesswork out of recruiting for brokers — and they are loving it.  We can do the same for you! Questions?  Email us today.