Being a first-time real estate agent in Central Alberta is a challenging feat. Many have tried but only a few survived and those who did have a secret to share.   

Christina Grall, mother, entrepreneur and first-time Alberta realtor, finds the first year of being a Central Alberta realtor taxing. But, she was able to manage the industry successfully in her first year with the help of her supportive mentors and team members. 

Here are some secrets to surviving and thriving in your first year as a real estate agent.   

1. Find Balance  

As a real estate agent, you will work long hours and be expected to accommodate your clients' schedules. Some buyers might not be able to see homes between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., so you must cater to their schedules-- even at the expense of your own! 

One could imagine how stressful it could be to work on one's license while being a mother to a toddler. But for Christina, balance is key. 

“(There are) a lot of long nights and stressful moments because I was home with my daughter, at the time, just under 2 years old. So, on the days where she was in childcare, I could really put my head into the books and get down to work,” Christina said.   

To succeed in your first year, expect to work long hours, especially at the beginning of your career. 

Watch her full interview here: How to be a successful  first-time real estate agent 

2. Value connections  

Real estate is a people-oriented business. You help clients make one of their biggest investments; as a result, you build relationships with them. 

Start your career’s first year strong by building the right connections.   

“It's all about connection and I think that's the biggest superpower any real estate agent can have. If we're not connecting with our clients, there's going to be a really low success rate because that's where it starts and that's where it ends,” Christina said.   

“And that's how we build those relationships to move, through the next stage of their life when we might meet again or become friends so that you know, it's just like it's a lasting life, long connection,” she added.  

As a first-time real estate agent, it’s important for you to become a local expert. You need to know about the schools, restaurants, parks and even the local crime rate.   

Providing your clients with valuable information about the place they will be moving to will help them feel at home, fostering a lasting sense of trust that will only benefit you along the way. 

3. Find supportive mentors and colleagues  

When Christina was considering a career in real estate, she did not let her concerns overwhelm her and continued working toward licensure while caring for her daughter, who was under two years old at the time. 

In finding success during her first year, the most important thing she did was to find the right people to support her. 

“With the support of the team I got to learn a lot of the background of how things work and what kind of the workflow looks like which only led me to be more passionate about this and really want to get that license so I speed through that process as quick as I could while absorbing all the information,” Christina said.   

Training and coaching are among the things the Lapp Team prides itself on. The team understands that the agents come from diverse backgrounds and may be new to sales and real estate.  

The team offers training on the following customer relationship management platforms and models, which will help your first year as a real estate agent be smooth sailing: 

1. RECA licensing 

2. Follow Up Boss 

3. Ylopo 

4. Inside Sales Agent (ISA)    

5. Buyer Presentation 

6. Listing Presentation 

“Without this team to back me, I think it would have been 10 times more challenging than it already was. Because I at least had someone to go to about what I thought were stupid or silly questions and get the answers that I needed to say,” Christina said. 

Lapp Realty is proud to be one of the top teams in the Central Alberta real estate market.  Kevin Lapp, team leader, was recently awarded the Double Diamond Chairman‘s Excellence Award.   

This award speaks volumes about how dedicated Kevin and the whole of Lapp Realty’s team are to make their client’s real estate dreams come true.   

If you’re looking for a real estate team to join in Central Alberta, look no further. At Lapp Realty, you’re in good hands. Talk to us now!