Hiring Do’s and Don’ts (Part 1)

This is a two-part article on the do’s and don’ts of hiring. In this issue, we will discuss Hiring Don’ts. Next month we will cover Hiring Do’s.

First a question: Do you believe successful hiring is an art or a science?

Many real estate agency leaders will say that hiring is an art. Without  effective hiring and induction systems, they’d be right. But with systems, you have more certainty of finding and developing winners, moving hiring from art to science. Continue reading Hiring Do’s and Don’ts (Part 1)

The Pretence of Social Media


Social media marketing is, or should be, a company function, and not a task undertaken by individual salespeople. Real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, says, “The pretence of social media is that it is a viable replacement for prospecting. It is not.” In this short leadership session, we discuss the folly of wasting too much time on social media at the expense of speaking with people by telephone or face-to-face.

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How To Make More Sales

Let’s give some thought to how we can make more sales despite the gloom and doom about the current state of the real estate market in many regions.

Reality

The market is your reality. As professionals, we must learn to thrive in all markets, whether booming, static, or down-turning. If you don’t like the reality of this market, ask yourself, “Can I change this?” Continue reading How To Make More Sales

The Game of Life


In this short sales session, real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, discusses the importance of clear and precise communication. He also points out the dangers of failing to push the ‘pause button’, instead sending abusive messages that you may later come to regret. Negotiation is the Game of Life, says author Chester Karrass. The better we are at communication and negotiation, the better our professional, and personal, lives will be.

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Reviews: Your Name in Lights

Here in the digital world of the 21st century, let’s give some thought to happy client reviews and, in particular, how we use them.

Some salespeople appear to be more interested in seeing their ‘names in lights’ on sites like the major property portals and Rate My Agent.

Less, if any, attention is given to Google and Facebook. Continue reading Reviews: Your Name in Lights

Know Your People, Encourage Your People


In his final ill-fated expedition in Africa, explorer Henry Stanley paid the ultimate price for straying from his usual practice – he didn’t choose his people and he didn’t know them. This short leadership session from real estate agency profit consultant Gary Pittard reminds us of the importance of knowing and encouraging our people.

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Two Types of Salesperson

A change in the market has exposed many of those who looked like winners during the boom. Back then, it was easy to look like a hero – if you could get the listings and held onto them long enough, prices would rise to the sellers’ enthusiastic expectations and you’d make a sale.

Times have changed. Now skill is required to make sales.

In the down-turning markets of Sydney and Melbourne I have noticed the emergence of two distinct types of salesperson: Continue reading Two Types of Salesperson

A Deeper Understanding


In this short sales session, real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, discusses one major difference between the order taker and the professional salesperson. That difference can be summed up in one word: understanding. The more you understand your clients’ needs, the better placed you are to not only make a sale, but to have all parties leave the negotiation feeling satisfied with the result. A sale and a delighted client is the ultimate reward.

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Create A Success Environment


Real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, says, “Real estate agency owners have the options to build their companies into success environments, or do nothing and create mediocrity environments by default”. In this short leadership session, Gary shows how to create a success environment – always the most profitable option.

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Are You Sure It’s the Market?

A lot of leaders and salespeople are complaining about the ‘tough market’. But is the market really the whole problem?

The advice I’ve been giving to Pittard clients is that we can’t change the market – it’s the hand we’ve been dealt – and so instead let’s concentrate on what we can control. Continue reading Are You Sure It’s the Market?

Love Of Quality Work


Are you the type of person who does just enough to get by at work, or does quality work mean something to you? Real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, says that a love of quality work is one thing that differentiates winners from their mediocre counterparts.

This is not ‘going the extra mile’, it’s doing what you said you would do, in the manner you said you would do it, when you said you would do it.

How much better would many salespeople’s careers be if they delivered quality work? If you love quality work, you will deliver it.

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A Sure Way to Higher Profits: why coaching salespeople pays dividends

Many offices struggle and so do their salespeople.

In the nineties, salespeople wrote on average $135,000 in fees. Since 2010 we have seen little evidence that this average has changed much, despite selling fees trebling over that time and markets booming in many regions. Continue reading A Sure Way to Higher Profits: why coaching salespeople pays dividends

Your Number One Leadership Asset


The number one asset for all leaders is their integrity, their character.

Real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, says that integrity and character lead to trust, and when your people trust you, they will follow you and help your company grow, no matter how tough the market.

Little things make a difference. For example, asking the receptionist to tell a client that you are not in, when you are, erodes your integrity in the eyes of all team members present.

“Little white lie” – there’s no such thing.

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Competence Doesn’t Just Happen

Let me introduce you to Joan Carter, who retired on 30 June 2018, ending a successful twenty-four year career in real estate sales.

Before real estate, Joan was a school teacher. Throughout her career, she was often in the Top Ten Salespeople in the Pittard rankings. She was part of a very impressive pool of winners whose results far exceed typical industry averages. Joan was often in the top three. Continue reading Competence Doesn’t Just Happen

Work Is A Verb


“Bye Darling, I’m off to work”. Salespeople say this every day, but what exactly are they talking about?

Real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, says that work is a verb, and not a noun. We do work, we don’t go there.

That place we call ‘work’ is your office. And when you’re there, let’s hope you DO work – work that takes you closer to your goals. Work is a verb!

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Out of Control: What to do when salespeople won’t do the actions

Leaders often complain that their salespeople won’t do the right actions. It’s one of the biggest complaints that leaders make. They fear putting pressure on their salespeople to do the right actions out of fear they will leave.

These leaders have no control, and without control they will never develop winning teams.

A large part of this problem stems from the reward structures these agencies use – commission-only definitely, but debit-credit is no better. When salespeople are in credit, they are fundamentally the same as commission-only salespeople. In their minds, they work for themselves and will resist leaders asking them to do any actions they don’t want to do (like prospecting). Continue reading Out of Control: What to do when salespeople won’t do the actions

Habits Reign Supreme


Whether a real estate agency leader, or a salesperson, good habits propel you toward success, while bad habits hold you back.

Real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, believes that repeated actions become habits over time. Repeat the right actions and good habits form. Unproductive actions, or inaction, also become habit – bad ones.

Habits reign supreme – wouldn’t it be better to develop habits that lead to success?

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When the Market Turns

During the boom, I heard many salespeople talk up their results. Many of them are quiet now that the market has turned. Now I see many leaders and salespeople in a state of panic. They’re not making sales and they’re blaming the buyers.

It’s time to get out of panic mode and get to work. You need to get into the mindset of what a seller wants by reading guides like this.

Do you have listings? How many are you personally managing? If you have stock, you can talk to the owners about the state of the market. If they want to sell, they must understand that their properties are commodities on a market. Overpriced properties don’t sell. Continue reading When the Market Turns

The Right People Make Life Better


One of the biggest waste of a salesperson’s time is to spend it with the wrong people. This applies in business and in our personal lives.

In this short sales session, real estate agency profit consultant, Gary Pittard, suggests that the right people – buyers and sellers – make life easier. Higher income and work enjoyment are the reward for being choosy.

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Data Theft: Disease or Symptom?

You may have read about the highly publicised court case in South Australia where Harris Real Estate and agent Arabella Hooper were ordered by the court to pay $750,000 in damages. The judgment cited that after leaving Toop & Toop for Harris Real Estate, Hooper used data to develop business using data taken from her former employer.

It’s refreshing to see that the courts are now taking data theft seriously, but if you find yourself overly concerned with this, ask yourself, is data theft a disease, or is it merely a symptom? Continue reading Data Theft: Disease or Symptom?