Author Archives: The Profitable Recruiter

How Not to Get Raided by Your Competition

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
12 Feb

And Stay on the Winning Side of the Agent Tug of WarBusinessman in tug of war concept

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Recruiting competition has skyrocketed. And during this time of great chaos and change – there can be even more vulnerability. Right now, agents are edgy and unsure about what all the industry change means to them, and they are looking to you to help them navigate it all.

My research has shown that if you consistently show your agents that they are valued and appreciated on a regular basis, and they know that they, and their needs, are your priority — you probably don’t have much to worry about. If not – let’s examine why an office becomes vulnerable.

Change is the #1 reason for vulnerability. When you implement change, a certain number of agents will be unhappy with the change, and therefore you could lose a few. In addition, if you lose a good agent, you can easily lose another one in the next 10 days. You could be in trouble if you lose 2-3 agents in a few weeks.  Why? The grass always looks greener on the other side… (But most agents forget that it is just as tough to mow!) You are most vulnerable if you lose an emotional agent. They usually leave if they are hurt or angry. Unfortunately, they will want their friends to follow them. You must always take proactive steps when an emotional agent leaves. You should have a one-on-one meeting with the agent who is leaving. If you can not correct the problem or convince them to stay, let them know that they are always welcome if they want to return. Keep it businesslike and professional. Do not get angry with them. You would not believe some of the stories that I hear, such as the managers who threw an agent’s belongings into the parking lot while demanding that they leave in front of their peers.

Next, have one-on-one meetings with their close friends and get their feedback on why the agent left. Ask how you can create a more favorable environment for the agents who are there. If the agent who left insists on calling your other agents, confront the agent who left. Let them know that you supported their decision to leave, but you are hurt that they would intentionally try to harm or disrupt your office. Emotional agents usually back off if confronted.

Also, you need to remember that about 70% of all agents are emotional in nature, so they make emotional decisions. For example, If you do something that they feel hurts them emotionally or betrays their trust, you can lose them. You can also lose them by not giving them the recognition they feel they deserve. The bottom line is this: If they are hurt, they might leave. The good news is that they usually do not leave for money.  They will say it is for more money, but that is rarely the case. Most agents do not worry about the money. They know that if they are happy, the money will be there. Here are a few tips:

With regard to change: It would be impossible to implement a change and have everyone happy with that change. When implementing change, try to involve your agents whenever possible.

Location: If you are changing locations, ask a few of your agents to help you locate a new location, then go out with them to scout out the options.  Let your agents sell the group on the new location.  You could also set up a committee to determine the new colors for the office and ideas for office design.

Compensation: If you are changing compensation, or implementing a new fee, try to time that change with the implementation of a new service. Such as: We are implementing a transaction fee of (dollar amount) but you will no longer be charged for (service). You can also “grandfather” the existing agents when you are changing the compensation.  Or, you can grandfather all agents whose production is above a certain amount. You could say, “If you are generating GCC of $90,000.00, you will be grandfathered with regard to the new changes.” You can also grandfather agents who have been with the company a long time.  For example, you can say, “If you have been with our firm for 10 years, or your production is (dollar amount), you will not be subject to the new changes.” Keep in mind that emotional agents will leave, not because of the money, but because they are hurt that after so many years, or at their level of production, that you would take money out of their pocket.

Management:  A management change is also risky. Whenever you change managers, you should consider the personality of the manager that is being replaced. If the manager that is being replaced was very friendly, emotional and well liked by the agents, you could be vulnerable if you put a logical manager in that office. Better to use an interim manager, or yourself, while they go through their mourning period over the loss of a manager they liked.  If you can keep the personality the same, that’s the best option.

My research has shown that 70% of agents are emotional in nature. What that means is that they need to feel appreciated, they need to like you, and also believe that you like them.  The competition is always “courting” the good agents. They enjoy the attention, but they like you best. If you suddenly get angry at them for talking to the competitor, you could lose them. When I knew that my agents were going to lunch with the competition, I would always say, “If you are not getting at least one call, letter, or invitation each week from my competitors, then you need to look at your production. The best agents are always being courted!” I would then ask them where they were going to lunch. If it was not an expensive place, I would say, “Are you kidding? You are one of my best agents! Call them back and tell them to meet you at (fine restaurant name).  Order something expensive! You’re worth it.”  I knew that if I worried about them going to lunch, or became defensive or angry, I was far more likely to lose them.

Bottom Line: I have discovered over the years that what it takes to get them is what it takes to keep them. They just want to be appreciated and know that you care about them, and their success.

Start today by sending three notes a week to your agents. Think of something nice to say about them and let them know who much you appreciate them.  If you always practice retention, the competition will have a tough time raiding your office.

Continue to learn how to be the master recruiting skills and be the broker to join 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 6 month or annual 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.

Recruiting: Are You a Farmer or a Hunter?

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
real-estate-recruiting-farming-and-hunting
27 Jan

Savvy Brokers Know the Difference

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Every broker or recruiter naturally falls into one category or the other:  Farmer or Hunter.  They are completely different ways of approaching recruiting.  Most brokers, just like most agents, are farmers.

Farming is the art of developing relationships with a specific group of individuals, educating them about why they should want to work with you, and being positioned when the time is right for that person to make a change.  A broker or agent who farms assumes, just like a farmer, that if they prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water the crops, and take care of the crops until harvest time, there will be a bountiful crop so the farmer will be able to eat and also feed his or her family.   Farming is a passive form of prospecting.

Some facts about farming are:

a)     Requires patience/waiting

b)     Takes 6-12 months to fill the pipeline

c)      Emotional agents need a relationship with you, so it works with most agents

d)     Education and information are consistently sent out to gain trust

e)     The goal is to stay positioned, educate them, to gain their trust so that when the time is right, the agent will join your team, or you will harvest your crop

Hunting is the art of full engagement. Going after the target, not waiting for it to come to you! The hunter assumes that he/she is not actively pursuing the target that they will not eat.  Think of the lion. The lion does not sit in the meadow, just waiting for his prey to appear. The lion tracks their prey and pounces on it when the opportunity presents itself.   A Hunter also looks for prey, stalks it, and pounces when they are not paying attention.  A hunter does not assume that the food will appear on their table. The hunter believes that if it is not out there hunting all the time, it might starve.  The hunter’s actions are assertive or aggressive forms of prospecting.

Here are some facts about hunting:

a)     It is a numbers game. Lots of contacts/ fast results

b)     Every day, someone is unhappy; the goal is to find that person each day, which means “who is vulnerable?”

c)      When agents are unhappy or unproductive, they want solutions and results more than they need a relationship

d)     You have more control over the numbers

e)     Instant gratification

Both are important for long-term success. However, hunting is the key to survival in this market for you and your agents.

Here are some Farming activities:

a)     Mailings to educate them about your company and to build the relationship

b)     Having coffee to build the relationship

c)     Invite them to company events

d)     Personal notes

e)     Calls, just to say ‘Hi’

f)      Social media interaction/comments

Here are some Hunting activities:

a)     Target Struggling agents

b)     Target New Agents who are in school or just licensed

c)     Target Logical agents from their photos

d)     Target agents who fit the company profile from their website/social media.

e)     Sending mass mailings/media/ email etc., playing the numbers game

f)      Using social media to place ads and target specific groups via Linked In and FB.

g)     Placing ads on the internet

h)     Career nights

i)      Approaching salespeople in other professions and suggesting a real estate career.

If you HAD to hire ten agents in the next 30 days or shut down your office, where would you look for them, and what would you do?  That is how the hunter thinks at all times!

The GOOD news is that most of you planted a crop over the last few months and nurtured it until now, so you can harvest your crop and go hunting…because it is hunting season!

Hunting season is the time of year when agents are most vulnerable. They are vulnerable for a variety of reasons:

  1. Inventory is low
  2. Many agents took some time off during the holidays and aren’t fully up and running to build momentum for the new year
  3. They are just going into the first quarter, and many are not happy with last year’s production
  4. The market is changing – leaving many agents fearful of what that means for them

Even farmers should go out and take advantage of the opportunities that hunting season brings to their tables, and they do!

Which method of hunting do you want to focus on?

1. Struggling agents

2.  New Agents

3.  Logical agents

4.  Career night seminars

5.  Cold calling

6.  Marketing to the masses

Here’s to your successful recruiting season! Remember, consistency is key! Good luck!

The Profitable Recruiter can help you with BOTH your FARMING and HUNTING techniques!  Learn more here. 

Do you want to hire more agents this season?  Learning to handle whatever objection comes your way with ease is an important part of the puzzle! Not only will you learn many of these vital tools in the 7+ hours of audio training – you get as part of your Profitable Recruiter Pro membership – you have the advantage of learning on demand – individually or as part of 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.  Make any Profitable Recruiter 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 – 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 hit the ground running for next year! 

 

Everything You Need to Recruit the Agents You Want in 2024

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
18 Jan

It’s Never Been MORE Important to have Systems in PLACE.

Real estate recruiting speaker and coach Judy LaDeur has worked with thousands of brokers over the past 30 years and has fine-tuned the art of successful recruiting.  Recruiting is essential to succeeding in today’s market. However, there are very few brokers who actually take the time to learn about recruiting and make it a priority. The truth is that a lot of brokers struggle. They struggle simply because they don’t understand recruiting. But the good news is that recruiting doesn’t have to be confusing or overwhelming! These are not complicated systems or techniques.

Judy started out as a highly successful REALTOR®. She figured out how to leverage the skills she already had to become a master recruiter. Now she will teach you how to do the same. In Judy’s systems, you’ll learn the tools necessary to increase your market position $50-100 million dollars, every single year. It all starts with simply recruiting two experienced agents per month. We’ll assume that these newly recruited agents are doing about $2.5 million in production each. That’s $5 million added to your bottom line each month, but more importantly, you are pulling $5 million from your competitor every month as well. That means in just 30 days; you would be 10 million dollars stronger in the marketplace. Or 120 million dollars stronger in just one year. What would that mean for your business? Would it make it easier to recruit the agents you want? When you increase your market position something very different happens…that “something” you’ve been trying to obtain all along. All of a sudden, your company has more signs in the market, and your agents get more calls. Your competition’s market presence suddenly drops – they have less signs and their agents get fewer calls. Your original group reaps the benefits of the bonus calls and the new activity, and each agent does a few more transactions every year.

Using the secrets that the top brokers in the nation already know, any company can bring in at least twenty-four producers every single year.

You already have 80% of the skills and talent that you need to be a dynamite recruiter. With the right strategies you can have agents lining up at your doors begging to work for you.  Recruiting is your one-way ticket to success. You will have the power to stop your attrition, increase your production and increase your market position. These are proven systems that you can use. Dominate your market by leveraging the power of recruiting!

It is very important to keep in mind that much of recruiting is timing. You must be patient. Send them information on a regular basis to educate them on who you are and what you can do. Then, when the time is right, that person thinks of you. It’s much like “farming your area” as a sales agent. The perfect way to stay in touch and be positioned when the time is right is to register today for The Profitable Recruiter Marketing Platform. You will receive motivational emails each week that your prospects will love. You’ll also have access to a library of letters, phone scripts, notes, social media content, and master-class webinars for recruiters — even webinars for your agents and prospects to attend.  All of this and more positions you to CONSISTENTLY get face to face with the agents YOU want to RECRUIT when they are ready.

How do I conduct the recruiting interview?

The key to the recruiting interview is…stay focused on them. It’s all about the agent. You must stay focused on them! In her advanced training audio system, Judy takes brokers through the 7-step process and teaches them how to know what the recruit wants, what to present and how to present your company and your systems in a way that builds value. When you hire on value, you do not have to “buy them” or compete on money. Judy will not only teach you how to conduct the interview, but you will hear Judy role-play the entire process with a broker. Every presentation must be customized to meet their needs.

How do I overcome stalls/objections from the agent?

The ability to overcome the stalls and objections that agents are giving you is one of the keys to a successful interview. However, we have found that the better your presentation skills, the fewer the stalls and objections. Brokers and recruiters who follow this process will hire an average of 70-80% of the agents that they interview that day, or they will get a commitment that day if the timing is right. It just goes back to making sure that you are not dragging people in off the streets who are not interested in joining your company and that you maintain that contact until the timing is right.

Every pro member of The Profitable Recruiter can now access Judy’s Profitable Recruiter Audio Training System (a $297 value). In this audio training package, you’ll have more than SEVEN HOURS of recruiting tools, scripts, dialogues, role-playing, and foundation builders.  In her Profitable Recruiter Membership Platform, you’ll have weekly eNewsletters, recruiting letters, lumpy letters, retention tools, social media tools, a full library of webinars on demand (for you and your agents), and new scripts monthly as well.  This power-packed duo of recruiting tools is literally everything you need to recruit the team of your dreams, but this offer won’t be on the table for long.

Register today for the six-month or one-year Profitable Recruiter pro memberships, using Promo Code 50OFF and save 50% off your memberships, and start using Judy’s incredible training tools right away. 

Got questions?  Email us for answers!  Good luck and happy Recruiting! 

Are You Communicating Your Real Value?

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
real estate recruiting, communicating value
13 Jan

In today’s market, simply offering “good stuff” isn’t enough to attract top agents. While most companies boast excellent tools and opportunities for agents to thrive financially, these alone won’t guarantee effective recruitment. The key lies in demonstrating the tangible value of your services. Without clear evidence of this value, agents may remain skeptical, rendering your value proposition ineffective. Utilizing concrete data such as studies, testimonials, and actual results strengthens your case and underscores the real impact of your offerings.

One of the most effective methods to showcase value is through agent testimonials. By letting agents share their success stories, you shift the burden of proof away from yourself. These testimonials inherently validate your services, making your job easier during the recruitment process.

However, articulating your value begins well before the interview stage.

Building trust and relationships with potential recruits through thoughtful engagement lays the groundwork for a smoother recruitment process. Leveraging social media and strategic marketing, such as “Just Hired” announcements, can pique interest and showcase your team’s accomplishments. Regular communication, whether through phone calls or other channels, also plays a crucial role in discussing and reinforcing your company’s value.

This moment is also opportune for reevaluating your value proposition. Remember, your value proposition extends beyond tools and systems; it encapsulates the overall benefit and impact of your services in exchange for an agent’s effort or investment. Your proposition should not only highlight these benefits but also provide compelling evidence of their effectiveness.

In today’s competitive market, identifying what sets you apart from competitors is crucial. Ask yourself:

  • What unique advantages do you offer over other brokers?
  • What innovative practices or services do you provide?
  • How do your systems and tools help agents maximize their earnings?
  • What enhancements do you bring to your agents’ work environment?
  • What tangible results have agents achieved a year after joining your team?

Once you’ve pinpointed these unique selling points, tailor your presentation to address the specific needs and desires of potential recruits. Use a structured approach:

  1. Reiterate their needs as identified during the questioning phase.
  2. Present a solution or tool that addresses those needs.
  3. Reinforce your solution with visual aids and testimonials to demonstrate real-world results.

By adopting this focused and evidence-based approach, you’ll not only reinforce your value proposition but also significantly enhance your recruitment efforts in a changing real estate market.

Recruiting is about staying top of mind. The more contacts you make CONSISTENTLY, the more recruits you will have. Need help? Join The Profitable Recruiter.

In addition to the weekly emails, the recruiting platform is loaded with scripts, lumpy letters, seasonal letters, notes, social media content, and various other recruiting tools each month. We also have seven and a half hours of intense recruiting training and articles with some of the top brokers in the country and industry experts sharing their tips for success on our blog. Check it out at www.TheProfitableRecruiter.com

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF for any 6-month or annual membership.  It includes up to 10 manager seats per 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! In addition, you can add up to TEN managers for each membership. Questions? Contact us today at 813-957-2989. 

7 Steady Strategies for Today’s Real Estate Recruiters

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
7 Strategies for Real Estate Recruiters
06 Jan

Real estate recruiters face the constant challenge of attracting and retaining top talent in a highly competitive market. To stay top of mind with their prospective agents, recruiters need to implement effective strategies that build positive relationships and foster growth. In this article, we’ll explore seven things that real estate recruiters should be doing right now to stay top of mind with their prospective agents.

  1. Regular Communication: Recruiters should be regularly communicating with their prospective agents through email, phone calls, and other messaging channels to provide updates on market trends, new properties, and industry news.
  2. Personalized Outreach: Recruiters should customize their outreach to each prospective agent based on their interests, background, and experience. This can include sending personalized messages or inviting them to industry events or networking opportunities.
  3. Social Media Presence: Real estate recruiters should have a strong social media presence across multiple platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. This will help them reach a wider audience of prospective agents and share relevant content.
  4. Offer Training and Development: Recruiters should offer training and development opportunities to help prospective agents improve their skills and knowledge of the real estate industry. This can include webinars, seminars, or workshops.
  5. Be Responsive: Recruiters should be responsive to prospective agents’ questions and concerns. This shows that the recruiter values their time and is committed to building a positive relationship.
  6. Show Recognition and Appreciation: Recruiters should show recognition and appreciation to prospective agents who demonstrate exceptional performance or potential. This can be done through public recognition, incentives, or bonuses.
  7. Create a Positive Culture: Finally, recruiters should create a positive culture that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and support. This will attract and retain top talent and help build a successful team.

Lastly, real estate recruiters need to stay proactive and innovative in their efforts to attract and retain top talent. By implementing the seven strategies outlined in this article, recruiters can build positive relationships, provide value, and create a culture of support and growth. By staying top of mind with their prospective agents, recruiters can build a successful team that delivers exceptional service and results in the competitive world of real estate.

Recruiting is about staying top of mind. The more contacts you make CONSISTENTLY, the more recruits you will have. Need help? Join The Profitable Recruiter.

In addition to the weekly emails, the recruiting platform is loaded with scripts, lumpy letters, seasonal letters, notes, social media content, and various other recruiting tools each month. We also have seven and a half hours of intense recruiting training and articles with some of the top brokers in the country and industry experts sharing their tips for success on our blog. Check it out at www.TheProfitableRecruiter.com

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF for any 6-month or annual membership.  It includes up to 10 manager seats per 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! In addition, you can add up to TEN managers for each membership. Questions? Contact us today at 813-957-2989. 

Make Those Calls!

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
11 Nov

A Recruiting Pep Talk

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Now, more than ever, making your phone calls should be your priority if your goal is to continuously build a great team. I do know that everyone has the best of intentions, and life happens. The world is crazy right now. There is so much distraction.  However, now is the best time to get a great return on your investment of time spent on the phone and getting those appointments booked!

If you don’t make your phone calls, you could miss out on some great recruits this season.  BEFORE everyone is in full winter mode – this may be a good time for agents who have not yet ramped up their business to make a move. That’s why we are seeing so many agents doing just that. I recently talked to one of my clients with a team of 12 managers that recruited 59 experienced agents in one month!  Their combined production is $189,000,000! What would a month like that do for your results? The only way to know is to get on those phones. Of course, marketing, promoting your results, and networking also plays an important role. Marketing, promotion, and networking should enhance your results when calling.   Would it be easier to make calls if you had just hired 59 top-producing agents in the past 30 days? Of course, it would, but it all starts with the call.

This time of the year, if you are not going to make the calls to book appointments, then hire someone who will.  Someone recently told me that they thought that making calls was right up there with flying on airplanes, going to the dentist, or having a spider crawl up your leg as the greatest fears to the Broker owners of the nation.  What are you afraid of? I have literally made thousands of phone calls, and I can count on one hand how many times someone has been rude to me.   If someone even thinks of taking a tone with me, I’m quick to remind them, “I just wanted to remind you the fact that I’m calling you is a compliment to you today.”  Usually, I’ll get a change of heart “I’m sorry, I appreciate your call; I was just…” Whatever their reason, stay on task and stay positioned.

One of the best movies I have ever seen that helped me with sales calls is the movie Boiler Room.  Ben Affleck plays the role of a recruiter for new sales reps in a finance firm.  While training a group, he tells them, “There is a sale made on every phone call; either you sell them to buy something, or they sell you why they can’t, but either way, a sale will be made.”  What a powerful reminder.  Keep Ben’s line in mind as you make your calls this month.  Set yourself up for success.  Plan your calls out ahead of time.  Know who you are calling before you get to work. Many of the top recruiters still use the “old school technique: which includes a notebook with the names and numbers of those they are going to call written out.  In the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, the true success story of Chris Gardner, this is the best example of discipline in phone prospecting I have ever seen.  Chris is limited in the time he can call prospects, so he doesn’t drink water, which saves trips to the bathroom, and he never hangs up the phone, which saves him eight minutes a day.  I’m not suggesting anything that extreme; however, have a plan before you arrive at the office tomorrow of who you will call and have their numbers handy.  This organized plan will hold you accountable for your success.

Bottom line? Fire up those phone lines and make the calls. There are six specific audio-training downloads that revolve around phone scripts and strategies in your Profitable Recruiter classroom.  The tools are right there at your fingertips – let us know if you need help accessing them!

Continue to learn how to be the master recruiting skills and be the broker to join your market. If recruiting is a challenge for you, we can help. Join The Profitable Recruiter and gain access to 7+ hours of audio training via downloadable links, powerful recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media tips, 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 for any pro membership.  

We’re taking the guesswork out of recruiting for brokers — and they love it.  We can do the same for you! Questions?  Email us today.  

Change Your Thoughts and Change Your Results

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
13 Oct

Recruiting Mindsets for Success

By Real Estate Recruiting Speaker and Coach Judy LaDeur

Recruiting remains the #1 challenge for most brokers and managers. Why? For many it feels overwhelming. Especially in today’s world of global distraction!

What can help? Keep it simple. Recruiting is just a process. It’s about building relationships, and being there when the time is right for an agent to make a move. It does not have to be stressful or even difficult. Here are a few reminders:

  • You can’t make someone move if they are not ready, which means they are not rejecting you.
  • Most agents need to like you and trust you to place their career in your hands.
  • What that means is that you should spend more time building the relationship and less time worrying about how to get them on board.
  • It’s just real estate! Combine the Art of Farming and staying in touch with your clients to build your system and stay positioned. When they are ready to move, it’s just like working with a buyer!

You can’t make anyone move until they are ready, but once they are ready, if they trust you they will work with you. What’s the secret to selling a home to a buyer in 1-2 showings? If you ask the right questions, understand that they are looking for and know where to find their home, it’s easy!

The same applies to recruiting.

Here are some tips that you can follow, as well, which should make it easier to get the agents you want.

The entire interview process needs to stay focused on what they need and what is best for them, not you. A very common phrase that many of the brokers in our coaching program hear is “You were the only broker who took the time to ask questions about what I needed, and what was important to me. That’s why I choose your firm.” Sound too easy? It’s true! When they come into your office, tell them that your goal is to find out what is important to them, and to determine what their needs are so that you can help them make the best decision for their career. Then spend 20-30 minutes just asking questions in a very reflective way, and think carefully about what they are saying, and what they are looking for.  Think of it as solving a problem. Pretend that they are a friend who has come to you for advice, and your goal is to help them make the right decision. If you focus on them, you will be less inclined to try to sell them. You will be amazed at how easy it is to hear what they need, or want. After you have asked your questions, and assessed their situation, you should present only those systems that address their needs, and solve their issues. After presenting the “right systems”, watch their body language, and ask yourself, “Are they sold?” If so, very calmly, and very confidently, smile, sit back in your seat, and say “When you came in today, I said that my goal was to help you make the best decision for your real estate career. Based on everything that we have discussed here; it seems as though you’re right. You’ve gone as far as you can with your current company, so let’s take you to the next level in your career. We have a transition packet that is designed to make your move as smooth as possible.” At that point, you should begin reviewing compensation as well as those details that are necessary to make the move. After you have presented the necessary details, smile and say, “I’d like to invite you to join our team!”.

When you hear stalls and objections, don’t panic, and don’t try to talk them into joining. Just keep asking questions.  Two-year-olds are great closers. Why?  They just keep asking questions, until they hear the answer they want. Here are some great responses to the objections you hear at the end of the interview. “Why?” “Why not?” “Why do you feel that way?” “What makes you say that?” “Why would that keep you from making a move today?” “Really? Hum.”  “How would you propose that we solve that problem?” Here’s a sample of how it works. If you ask them to join, and they say they can’t do it today, just smile and say, “Why Not?” You’ll be amazed at how often they say, “I don’t know”. You would respond with “I don’t know either, so let’s do it!” You have to keep smiling, and keep it fun. If they say they can’t move because they are good friends with the broker, you might say, “Really? Hum…”(smile) and make them justify that statement before going further. After that you might ask, “If someone approached your broker and offered to buy their firm for a lot of money, would they consult you prior to making their decision about selling their company?” You’ll have to practice it a few times to get into the habit of asking verses selling, but you should see great results.

Recruiting is vital to your success and survival as a company. Start with a few small steps, and move forward from there. If you need help building relationships with the agents that you want, the absolute best tool in the industry to stay positioned is The Profitable Recruiter.  We’ve got the strategies, tools and training that make connecting with agents incredibly simple – and amazingly effective.  Our brokers tell us we’ve made recruiting fun again for them.  We tell them THAT’S THE GOAL!

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 of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any pro membership.  That’s 45% 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. 

 

 

 

 

Creating Your Fall Recruiting Hit List (Don’t Wait)

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
09 Sep

Overcoming One of the Biggest Recruiting Hurdles Brokers Face

Hands down, one of the biggest obstacles brokers have to kick off their recruiting efforts is building the list.  It’s a little funny because most of these same brokers would be first in line to teach their AGENTS the importance of building THEIR list – their farming/prospecting pipeline.  In a time where competition is high, and recruiting isn’t a ‘should do’ but a ‘MUST do’ – it’s time for all brokers to ‘walk the same walk’ that they encourage their agents to walk.  In other words – build your list! And don’t wait until October to do it!

Here are three great places to start:

  1. Competitors:  List ten companies in your market that are at an equal or just below market share level comparatively to your office and identify the 5-10 agents you would most like to recruit from each and put them into your database.  Jot down any facts you know of these agents; the more information you have on the front end – the easier it is to identify their hot buttons during your marketing and, eventually, in your interview.
  2. Your Agents:  Some brokers find this a little tricky, but here’s a great approach for making that conversation easier. Here’s a sample dialogue for you:  “Hey Bill, I’d love for you to do me a favor.  Take out two of your business cards.  Now flip the first one over and write co-broke on the top for me.  Please share the name of an agent with who you really had a great co-broke experience within the last 90 days.   Awesome – now, flip the other card over and write One Desk on the top.  Now, if you don’t mind sharing  the name of the person who, if we ONLY had room for ONE AGENT in our market, you’d think would be a great fit for our office and you’d be proud to be associated with – who would that be?”  Then you can quickly discern who the top agent fits would be by comparing all the cards from your agents. Follow up with these agents is a very ‘warm’ recruiting call.  “Hi (name) – I asked my agents recently to let me know if we only had ONE desk, who their top choice in the market would be to fill it.  Your name came up seven times! I’m very impressed.  I’d love to make a little time for us to get to know each other better and discover how we might be able to make that happen!”  You won’t get all of them right away – but put those in your database as well – with an identifier as “co-broke” or “one desk” and stay in touch!
  3. Your local board:  The agents most likely to make a move fall into the 1-7 year category.  We’ve shared strategies and dialogues before for recruiting those 12-24 month agents that are usually great prospects.  Look at the top 200 agents in your market and find common denominators that would make them a good fit for your company.  A good rule of thumb is for every 100 agents on your prospecting list…10 should be top producers, 20-30 new agents, and everyone else should fall into that mid-range producer level.  The last group will have the most turnover and the highest potential for recruiting.  Put them all in your database with identifiers for the level they are at and their time in business – as well as any other information you can find.

Now, start marketing!  Connect with them all via your weekly eNewsletter.  Next, segment your top hit list (A-Group) and send lumpy letters to these top 25 or so per month.  Stay in touch, follow up, and be present in the marketplace.  Recruiting is all about POSITIONING yourself to be the broker agents WANT to call when they are ready to make a move!

Is recruiting a challenge for you?  We can help.  Join The Profitable Recruiter and gain access to 7+ hours of audio training via downloadable links, powerful recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media tips, over 30 webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best. Take advantage of our special offer and save 50% on YOUR New Pro Membership with Promo Code: 50OFF.

Not sure if this is the right thing for your company?  Watch this video on demand to learn why brokers across the country 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.  (Which is way better than dread – right?) 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.  

Why Use “Lumpy Letters” in Your Real Estate Recruiting?

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
14 Jul

Because They WORK!

tpr lumpy letters

Lumpy letters are a great way to get your correspondence to potential recruits OPENED, NOTICED, and TALKED about because they are different, stand out, and include something in the envelope that is bulky so it piques the curiosity of the agent and makes them want to OPEN it to see what’s inside. Each month, we deliver up new lumpy letter ideas for members to try. We get really creative with these, and brokers love them because they are fun to use, but even more so because they get RESULTS.  They are a great way to have agents buzzing about YOUR creativity, sharing that information with their fellow agents and helping you position yourself as the broker to call when they are ready to make a move!

Here’s how it works: 

Every month you get at least TWO or THREE lumpy letters to send to your recruiting hit list.  At the bottom of each letter, we share a link or suggestion for where you can purchase the ‘gift’ or token that you will send each month to your recruits.  The gifts are always inexpensive but are always creative, fun, and attention-capturing.

  1. Order the item, or head to a local store to acquire the number of gifts you want to send for the month.
  2. Get padded large mailing envelopes big enough for your item.
  3. Copy and paste your message onto letterhead or into a card.
  4. Create your list of the top 10-50 agents you’d like to connect with in the next 30 days.
  5. Address and mail to your VIP hit list.
  6. Follow up with a call to touch base, and use the fun lumpy letter as an ice-breaker for the conversation.

Staying positioned in the minds of the agents in a market is a critical priority for brokers looking to grow their team with the right people at the right time.  Lumpy Letters are a great way to help them do that.

Here’s an example: 

You have a lot to smile about …  

It’s so good to see agents who project so much positivity in our market. Agents just like you who are crushing it – hitting goals and setting new ones. Setting great examples for others. Being the best of the best for their clients.

This week, I just wanted to send you a little note to say everything you are doing is getting noticed in the best possible way. You inspire others, and I hope every day brings you something to smile about! I would love to sit down with you and discuss how we can take you as far as you want to go in this business (and maybe even further!)

I’m around if you need anything. Until then – keep smiling!

(Handwritten signature)

Broker Name  |  Company Name  |  Broker Phone   |  Broker eMail  |  Website

Use with:  https://www.4imprint.com/product/108463/Smiley-Adhesive-Notepad

Our Profitable Recruiter Members tell us this is some of the most enjoyable parts of recruiting. Picking out which lumpy letters to send each month and to who. They love the calls they get from agents, some laughing and appreciative, some genuinely grateful for the personalized attention and out-of-the-box ideas. They also love how it creates opportunities to stand out in a market as a broker who not only gets the job done – but appreciates the “little things” that differentiate and make people feel valued and special.

The key to making recruiting easier – and even more fun is to dare to be different. To set yourself apart from your competitors.  Our members tell us that we make that so much simpler by providing creative how-to’s every month so they can focus on getting face-to-face with new recruiting prospects.  Every month they can choose from new lumpy letters (for top rung recruits), seasonal letters (for B & C lists), and they stay positioned with all of their recruiting lists by using their Monday Morning Wake Up Call eNewsletters and social media tools. Then they use the training they get from the 7+ hours of audio training and 35+ webinars on demand to feel confident, competent and ready for anything when they have that recruit on the phone or in an interview.  

You can too!  Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any membership.  

Not sure if this is the right thing for your company?  Contact us today 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.  

4 Keys to Keep CHANGE from Creating VULNERABILITY

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
07 May

Recruiting Secrets to Stay AHEAD of the Competition

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Agents are, understandably, nervous about what market change and looming headlines mean for their businesses, and they are eager for the skills and tools they need to navigate an industry that has seen tremendous CHANGE, especially in the last year and a half.

We have all heard the saying; the only constant thing in life is change.  The same is true for your business.  Change is necessary and needed to move forward. However, change is also the #1 reason for vulnerability in a real estate office.

When you are vulnerable, you can lose agents. There are also times when you should NOT implement a change.

Change is the #1 reason for vulnerability. When you implement change, there are a certain number of agents who will be unhappy with the change. It has the potential to create some resistance in your office.  We understand that it’s impossible to implement a change and have everyone be happy. But here are some tips for implementing change to control vulnerability.

#1: Try to involve your agents whenever possible: If you are changing locations, ask a team of agents to help you locate a new location. Go out with them to scout out new office space. Let your agents sell the group on the new location.  You could also set up a committee to determine the new colors for the office and ideas for office design. Let them spend their time with the designer, but you can make the final decisions.

#2: Use the exchange method: When you take away or add a service, use that opportunity to evaluate all your existing services and tools.  Whenever a company tells me that they are going to add a tool or service, I usually ask them, “Are you planning to discontinue any services or tools in the near future?”  Or if they want to discontinue something, I want to know their plans for the near future.  This allows you to hold a business meeting with your agents and explain that after careful evaluation of all your tools and services, you are making some changes to support them in their business better. You can explain that a certain tool or service is not yielding great results, so you are implementing something better for them.  Another example is: If you are changing compensation, or implementing a new fee, time it with the implementation of a new service.  “We are implementing a transaction fee of ($Amount), but you will no longer be charged for (service).”

#3: Grandfather your existing agents whenever possible when you are changing compensation or fees:  Money is always a tricky change, possibly the most delicate one. When possible, “grandfather” the existing agents and apply the change to those new agents who will be joining after the implementation.  Another idea is to grandfather all agents whose production is above a certain amount. You could say, “If you are generating GCC of $90,000.00 or more, you will be grandfathered with regard to the new changes.”  You can also grandfather agents who have been with the company a long time.  “If you have been with our firm for 10 years, or your production is $(Amount), you will not be subject to the new changes.”  Keep in mind that emotional agents will usually not leave because of the money, but they are hurt that after so many years, or at their level of production, that you would take money out of their pocket, or not honor the original agreement that they had.

#4: A management change is also tricky:  Whenever you change managers, you should consider the personality of the manager that is being replaced. If the manager that is being replaced was very friendly, emotional, and well-liked by the agents, you would be more vulnerable with a new logical manager.  If the manager that you want to put into place is a different personality, you can decrease your vulnerability by putting in an interim manager, or yourself, while they go through their mourning period over the loss of the manager they liked.  What I found worked well was to personally manage the office for a period of 6-12 months. During that time, I would look for a new manager. When I found the new manager, I would bring them in as a manager in training and co-manage with them for 3 months. After 3 months, I would turn the office over to the new manager and ease out over the next 30 days.

Times to avoid change:  There are two times that you want to avoid making a change, if possible. Do not make changes during “recruiting season” or when their production is at a low point. The months of August/September and December/January are probably the two most vulnerable times to make a change. Agents typically have fewer listings and pendings during this time, so making a move is easier. You also do not want to make a change while you are already vulnerable from a prior change. For example, if you just changed the name of your company, don’t change the compensation plan the following week.

Bottom line: The best way to retain your agents if you are vulnerable, is always to be working on retention. Start today by sending thee notes a week to your agents. Think of something nice to say about them and let them know how much you appreciate them.  If you always practice retention, the competition will have a tough time raiding your office.

Continue to learn how to master recruiting skills and be the broker to join in your market. If recruiting is a challenge for you, we can help.  

Join us today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any 6-MONTH or ANNUAL 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 which covers:

  • interview skills
  • objection handling
  • phone calls
  • recruiting strategies
  • handling stalls
  • recruiting to specific personality types
  • and so much more…

What are you waiting for? Join today and save 50% — and add up to 10 managers on your account at no additional cost.  

Not sure if this is the right thing for your company?  Learn why brokers across the country 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.  (Which is way better than dread – right?) 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.