Solo Agent

A Solo Agent may enjoy the flexibility of the hours yet understands the client demands of working some evenings and weekends.

In your life, you are often most comfortable doing the job yourself, to get the job done right. You may have an admin assistant, but no agents to support you. Most of the 1,600,000 agents in America are SOLO.

Why You May Qualify

Are you a natural idea person and consider yourself creative? Do you prefer to “do it yourself so it’s done right?”

Would you consider yourself to be a strong negotiator to resolve building inspections, to win when there are multiple contracts when you represent a buyer, and you win when competing for a listing?

TRAITS OF THE NAVIGATOR

Many of the traits of the SOLO agent can be found in the traits of the Micro Navigator. They are the actual building blocks for the NAVIGATOR program.

The most expressed objection by a SOLO agent to leading or joining a team is that there is not enough revenue to go around for themselves, the broker and a “team leader.”

From experience with SOLO agents we have discovered that “the model they have in mind” of teams, often is one of a poorly executed team or simply not enough information to say “yes or no’ to the team concept.

If indeed you feel you have leadership skills along with problem solving skills we would encourage you to review the Navigator Micro Program as it historically launches SOLO agents into higher earnings and with the added bonus of living a more balanced life. The Agent Wealth Team would love to explore your best options ahead of you.

HOW WE SUPPORT YOU IF YOU CHOOSE THE SOLO PATH

For the first 2 years of my career I was a SOLO agent. I had been a sales manager for Prudential (now Berkshire) and led an office of 70 SOLO agents. Our program will support you in the development of your skills in all “10 Cycles” that represent your typical real estate transaction. We support your dream if you desire to go the SOLO route.

The strength of all of our programs is in setting expectations for clients, vendors, and other agents. We are “fire preventers” in that our programs anticipate possible crisis moments and help prevent them or equip you when they occur.

Real estate is not as easy as it looks. We provide strategies for lead generation: marketing, prospecting, networking and the training in lead conversion. Lead gen does not matter if lead conversion is not mastered.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING TO SUPPORT IN THE SOLO PLAN

Are you at an independent real estate company and feeling a bit abandoned by your manager? You would say that perhaps “I feel like I am on my own.”

Are you feeling stuck at an income level and are receptive to gaining insight into “why you may be stuck?”

Are you at the point in your life that you are ready to shift from part-time to full-time?

Who is often a great fit for the SOLO CAREER?

After observing the real estate business for 3 decades, there is clear evidence as to who is and who is not a fit for an agent SOLO career.

Those who desire to SOLO often prefer to oversee every aspect of the sales and service processes. Much like a homebuilder that builds one property at a time. The builder clears the ground, digs the foundation, erects the framing, inserts the plumbing and electrical, the drywall, the painting, the installation and the flooring and painting. The SOLO building process takes longer, requires great skills in every area, but is often limited to their production numbers.

In real estate, the profile person is tremendously independent and self-reliant. They enjoy the variety of skills needed and enjoy both the admin side of the day to day business and the sales side that requires building the business.

What skills is a SOLO agent known for?

CYCLE

1 – The listing interview – the gathering of data. The ability to analyze the data for your interview. The ability to persuade the seller to price the property where you recommend and for them to choose you over any other competitors.

2 – The admin process – processing paperwork. Getting the property disclosures, implementing marketing programs, complying with the MLS processes.

3 – The seller servicing – communicating with the seller. Some sellers are objective and in tough markets, most sellers are not. This cycle is truly the clients experience with you, how you communicate bad news to them as to why there are few showings, or why there are no showings, or why there are dozens of showings and yet no offers. Sellers want an offer but never “want to give it away.”

This cycle is possibly the most difficult as seller emotions are often running high. They have their own set of expectations and when they are not met frustration comes through and trust is often fractured.

4 – Contract negotiations – handling the offer. The offer process is often only a few hours however things are moving at a fast pace. The buyer wants the offer accepted and oftentimes the seller may be offended by their terms. Much like the SOLO builder needing to be skills at over a dozen aspects of building a home, the SOLO agent must be an “effective negotiator”.

5 – The admin process – processing paperwork. When you reach this milestone the property is under contract. Now multiple checklists are required to ensure that you, the listing agent, the title company, and even the other agent and all the vendors stay within their deadlines. A project management skill is valuable at this juncture.

6 – The building inspection – round two of negotiations. This has been called the “cycle that deals go to die.” In some instances this is where the buyer over asks for things for the seller to repair or replace or give credits. Sellers call it “the money grab.” At no time are emotions running higher than cycle 6. It is a prolonged negotiation yet with the clock ticking.

7 – The repairs – oversight of the inspection repairs. Again as a project manager there will often be a need to obtain contractors to provide bids, to acquire permits in some cases, get approval from both buyer and seller, coordinate payment and obtain receipts.

8 – Neverland. It is called neverland because you hope you never land in this cycle. If the deal has, it could be one of several things such as a need for loan extension, a buyer being turned down for the loan, a party needing to change the close date but the other party sees no benefit, the survey found encroachments, the property did not appraise, the title search discovered issues. Cycle 8 requires experience problem solving and keeping impulsivity in some parties from terminating the deal.

9 – The final process. This would include there being no surprises on the buyer’s final walk through. Which often triggers last minute negotiations and changes for the title company. This process is also on the project management list as there is a long checklist of things to wrap up.

10 – Post closing. This cycle is to insure all compliance issues have been met.

There is more to each cycle but this is a general overview. As a SOLO agent your commitment to your client and the broker is that you are skilled in all areas. For some agents, this is a challenge they will accept.