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By Emily John
Introduction
Networking is a skill, not an event. Networking works best when you’re intentional about it. Find the right events to attend. Use the power of one. Embrace your role in the network. Real estate is about relationships, so get out there and build them!
Real Estate Networking Overview
Real estate networking is a great way to meet new people and build relationships. It also helps you develop your skills as a real estate investor or agent, which can lead to more investment opportunities, clients and sales. But for this, you really need to be honest with yourself, your partners and your clients — first focusing on what you are your investment goals or on what you are selling. If, for example, you are selling a property, see if the house is worth the money, look for any faults and go for home renovations if any!
You can find out more about how to network effectively by reading the rest of this article!
Building Relationships
Real estate networking is a great way to build relationships and make vital business connections. It’s also an excellent way to help you grow your business, whether you are an investor, broker or individual agent.
The first step in building relationships is asking questions. You should always be prepared with questions that will make people feel comfortable talking about themselves and their businesses, such as:
- What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
- What brought you here today? (This question shows them that you are interested in what they have to say.)
Once the conversation starts flowing, it’s important not only for them but also for yourself as well!
How to Become a Masterful Networker and Connector
- Be a good listener
- Ask open-ended questions that allow the other person to talk about him or herself
- Listen for the other person’s needs, wants and desires without judging or interrupting them
- Give genuine compliments (you can even ask them what they think of your outfit if you’re feeling awkward)
- Be authentic and make sure your interactions are real–not fake or forced in any way
Networking is a Skill, Not an Event
Networking isn’t about making connections or getting a job; it’s about building relationships that can lead to those things. It’s a way of life, not something you do once in a while at an industry event or conference. If you’re going to go out of your way to meet new people, then make sure they’re worth meeting! Networking involves being authentic and honest with people–and this means being yourself instead of putting on airs or pretending that everything is perfect when it isn’t (because no one will believe you anyway).
Networking Works Best When You’re Intentional
When you start networking, it’s important to define the problem before you begin solving it. What do you want to accomplish? What are your goals and how can networking help achieve them?
For example, let’s say that one of your fitness goals is to run a 10K race in 3-6 months. Your first step should be identifying a few people who have already achieved this goal and figure out what they did to make it happen. You could ask them directly or read about their experiences online or in magazines–whatever works best for you! Once you’ve identified what worked for others (and which parts didn’t), then take action by following those same steps yourself!
Find the Right Events to Attend
- Look for an event that is relevant to your business and goals.
- Look for an event with a high attendance of potential clients or partners, or at least people who will be interested in what you have to offer.
- Look for an event where you’ll have the chance to meet new people (and not just old friends).
- Look for speakers who are knowledgeable about the topic they’re speaking on, so they can provide valuable information rather than simply being entertaining or funny
Use the “Power of One”
One of the most important things you can do to build your network is to actively help others. You don’t have to be a philanthropist or charity worker; simply lending a hand when someone needs it will go a long way toward establishing yourself as someone who cares about people and wants to see them succeed.
The power of one: The ability to make a difference in the lives of others around us.
The power of one: The ability to help others achieve their goals and dreams.
Embrace Your Role in the Network
- Be confident in your abilities.
- Be yourself.
- Don’t be afraid to share your accomplishments, but don’t brag about them either! Showing off is not networking; it’s more like networking with one hand behind your back. Instead, focus on building relationships and exchanging value with others by sharing what you know or helping them out when they need it most (and vice versa). When people feel that they can trust you enough to ask for help along the way, then they will see how great of a partner/friend/mentor/etc., you are–and that makes all the difference in getting ahead at work and beyond!
Share Your Accomplishments, but Don’t Brag
One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to networking is sharing too much. They are so eager to tell others about their accomplishments that they forget to listen, which is not only rude but also counterproductive. When you’re in a conversation with someone else and you start talking about yourself instead of focusing on them, it makes them feel like they’re less important than your own achievements–and nobody likes feeling unimportant!
You can still share your success stories without coming across as arrogant or self-centered by using examples that are relevant to the conversation at hand and giving credit where it’s due (i.e., “I had help from my team” or “We were able to achieve this because we worked so hard”). Don’t ignore other people’s accomplishments either; if someone mentions something great that happened at work today, ask how he did it!
Conclusion
In the end, real estate networking is about building relationships. These are the people who will refer business to you, help you find new leads and give honest feedback on your business practices. It’s important to remember that networking isn’t just about getting referrals–it’s also about building relationships with other professionals in your industry who can support each other through both good times and bad ones.
