Practical Career Tips for Real Estate Agent in Kansas – Career Series Part 4 of 4


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So are you an aspiring real estate agent or someone in the field looking for ideas to refine the business process? If so, this is the post for you!

To become a successful real estate agent in Kansas, one needs to have a systematic approach to generating high-quality leads and effective techniques to close deals. Sales agents need to understand the clients’ needs and guide them through a complicated process. This takes years of experience, knowledge about trends in your area, and understanding what clients are looking for.

There are many activities that can contribute to success in the real estate business. For example,

  1. Work on developing relationships with potential clients and referral sources. 
  2. Have an effective marketing strategy to reach your potential customers.  
  3. Join professional organizations like the National Association of Realtors (NAR). 
  4. Attend conferences and educational seminars for realtors. 
  5. Keep your license current by taking continuing education classes.

In this blog post, I will go over practical strategies that can be applied to your real estate practice in Kansas.

But before we start, I want to give a brief disclaimer. This post is not intended as legal advice or state/federal real estate training. It is for general information only. Please always follow your State laws and best practices. Business result is not guaranteed as your success really depend on the effort you put in.

Define your business niche

At the beginning phase of the business, it’s likely that you don’t have many clients, so you would have the urge to take up whoever comes along. However, this might not be a good strategy to grow your real estate business in the long run. After all, you cannot be everything to everyone.

It’s better to clearly define your ideal client segment so you can focus your marketing budget, time, and resources on them. You may define your niche based on the properties’ location, type of real estate, the client’s family condition, occupation, or income range.

Here is a real estate agent who specializes in Wichita, Kansas!

I came across the Youtube channel by Karen Wright, Realtor® at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty., as I was researching for this post. She did an amazing job in showcasing different neighborhoods in Wichita – for example, below is a clip where Karen talks about the cost of living in Wichita.

Focusing in a specific region truly help them to stand out from the crowd in such a competitive space. Karen has a blog section in her website where she talks about different topics in Wichita. (i.e. restaurants review, things to do in Wichita.)

If you were searching for a property in Wichita, would you hire Karen or just a random agent you see on a newspaper ad?

Their channel provides valuable information to viewers and helps to brand them as an expert in the area. There are also many engaging comments in her videos, which I believe could turn into a great source of leads for their business.

Build your brand in the local neighborhood

Real estate agent successful branding in local neighborhood

After you define your targeted audiences, you need to think about how you can reach them. The traditional advertisement (i.e., flyers, bus stop ads) could still be useful, but you need to do so in a much more strategic way. For example, rather than spending a fortune in national newspapers and radio, it’s better to place ads in the neighborhoods you are servicing.

Is there any magazine that people in a specific neighborhood loves to read? If so, you may reach out to see if they are accepting any guest posting. To showcase your real estate expertise, you should share helpful ideas that are relevant to the readers. (i.e., The Top 10 Home Maintenance Tips for this Summer; The Best Kid-Friendly Activities in the Neighborhood.)

You may want to check out the following publication:

Effective ways to generate leads

Real estate agents reviewing online leads

Unless you are a multi-national large corporation who just wants to build brand awareness, the ROI of your advertising must be justified.

The importance of generating online leads can’t be overstated for real estate agents. With the rise in popularity and accessibility of homebuyers through the internet, it is imperative that you are promoting your business through social media and different online platforms.

Numerous online advertising tools allow you to reach your targeted audience in a very effective way. Facebook can display your ads to viewers with a precise criteria (i.e., age, location, interest), while your Google ads would show up when someone enters a particular search term.

You may direct the ad viewers to a landing page, where you capture that contact info, such as email address. With their consent, you may keep in touch with them and continue to build trust virtually.

According to the 2020 NAR Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report, 93% of all buyers used online websites as information sources in their home search. Here’s a guide that explains how having a professional website can benefit your real estate business, the features you should include, and affordable ways to build it.

Keep up with the Kansas real estate laws

Studying real estate laws

Real estate agents are constantly tasked with new responsibilities and challenges. With the rise of technology, and compliance requirements, it’s important for sales agents to be up-to-date on the real estate laws and best practices.

The best is to review the following:

They pretty much covers most of the rules you need to know about the Kansas real estate profession.

As part of the requirement to stay in good standing with the Licensing Commission, you must complete the required Continuing Education. The Colibri is an online school that I like and received excellent feedback from its students. You may check out their CE courses here. (**)

Differentiate your practice with expert knowledge

real estate agents attending class

Rather than being just another sales agent, you may consider getting a Professional Designation or Certification. National Association of REALTORS® is one of the largest trade associations in the real estate industry. They offers designations such as Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and many more.

I personally like the Green Designation. It can equip you with the knowledge to help clients make informed choices about the resource efficiency and performance of the homes.

Even though the Designation Courses are not part of the pre-license education requirement, your enhanced knowledge will help set you apart from others in such a competitive market.

You may click here to check out the NAR Designation and Certification courses. (**)

Select areas with strong housing demand

townhouses

When you are deciding the regions to conduct your real estate business, you should target areas that have a high housing demand. After all, transactions can only occur when there are potential buyers. Consider cities that where the housing price is on the growing trend.

Here are the Top Metros with the Fastest Growing Sales Price in Kansas:

  1. Spring Hill
  2. Leawood
  3. Shawnee
  4. Gardner
  5. Kansas City
  6. Leavenworth
  7. Mission
  8. Olathe
  9. Lenexa
  10. Overland Park

Source: RedFin (Sept 2021)

Join the Kansas Association of REALTORS

The Kansas Association of REALTORS is the leading advocate for real estate professionals in Kansas.

The benefits of joining are great. You get to attend conferences, trade shows, and other events that will help you grow your business. This allows you to connect with other real estate salespeople and brokers, thus learn from their valuable experience and share ideas with one another. 

You’ll have access to cost-saving resources to increase productivity, high quality real estate education and exclusive discounts on essential services.

To become a REALTOR® in Kansas, you must obtain a real estate license from the Kansas Real Estate Commission, affiliate with a sponsoring Kansas REALTOR® broker, apply for the membership and submit the membership fees.

Learn from other successful real estate agents

real estate agents meeting

What’s a better way to learn about the real estate business than from the best agents in the field? RealTrends is a trusted source of news, analysis, and information on the residential real estate industry. Every year, they will compile a list of the most productive real estate professionals in the field.

Here are the most productive Kansas real estate agents in 2021.

RankFirst NameLast NameCompanyCityTransactions
1AmyPreisterKeller Williams Hometown PartnersWichita142.55
2GreggAhnemannKeller Williams RealtyOverland Park127
3SunniGoentzelJ.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.Belle Plaine124
4MariLoderColdwell Banker Antrim-Piper, Wenger, RealtorsSalina121
5LisaReesColdwell Banker Reilly & SonsLeavenworth117
6AndrewBashBash & Co. Sotheby's International RealtyMission Woods101.42
7LaceyPoolBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed RealtyArkansas City101
8StarlaElliottCENTURY 21 Grigsby RealtyPratt100
9KellyKemnitzReeceNichols South Central KansasWichita99
10PatsyLovettJ.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.Hutchinson95
11MaryFroeseNextHome ProfessionalsTopeka94
12BobbieLaneKeller Williams RealtyWichita93.75
13AmberRenfroColdwell Banker Antrim-Piper, Wenger, RealtorsSalina91
14LukeThompsonColdwell Banker American HomeTopeka83
14MichelleCrouchBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed RealtyWichita83
16PeterColpittsReeceNichols Real EstateLeawood82
17VickiSmithColdwell Banker Hancocks of Dodge City, Inc.Dodge City81.75
18PatriciaStullColdwell Banker Executive RealtyHays81
19AnnetteHarperColdwell Banker American HomeTopeka77
20SueWaltonRE/MAX Premier RealtyPrairie Village76
21LisaBunnellReeceNichols Real EstateLeawood75
22KelliBecksColdwell Banker Good Life Real Estate GroupOverland Park74.55
23Jose-PepeMirandaKeller Williams One Legacy PartnersTopeka73.75
24KaleenaSchumacherKeller Williams RealtyOverland Park73
24LesDavisRealty Executives of Kansas CityLeawood73
26LoriFrankColdwell Banker AmericanaHutchinson72
27JamieHansonKeller Williams RealtyWichita71.65
28KristenCummingsBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices First, REALTORSTopeka71
29SaraFoxColdwell Banker American HomeTopeka70
29StephanieCarlsonJ.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.Wichita70
31BrianDelzeitColdwell Banker Hancocks of Dodge City, Inc.Dodge City69.2
32GinaWaltonKeller Williams RealtyOverland Park69
33RobinMartinoNextHome UnlimitedJunction City68
33MarcosChavezKeller Williams RealtyOlathe68
33MeredithVertreeseRealty Executives of Kansas CityLeawood68
36VinceWalkRE/MAX Realty SuburbanShawnee Mission67
36TravisHechtColdwell Banker Real Estate AdvisorsManhattan67
38MyronKlaassenColdwell Banker Plaza Real EstateWichita66
38BryceJonesBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed RealtyWichita66
40ChrisLaryRE/MAX PremierWichita65
40LauraKrierColdwell Banker Kaleidoscope RealtyConcordia65
40TylerFrankKeller Williams RealtyTopeka65
40GailYancikRealty Executives of Kansas CityLeawood65
44EarvinRayKeller Williams RealtyPrairie Village64.7
45JenniferChaseColdwell Banker Reilly & SonsLeavenworth64
45BradKornKeller Williams RealtyOverland Park64
47BarbSellersColdwell Banker Antrim-Piper, Wenger, RealtorsSalina63.5
48AntoineAgnewKeller Williams RealtyWichita63.38
49DawnWadeRE/MAX PremierWichita63
50MichelleLeeperJ.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.Derby62
51CoryClutterBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices First, REALTORSTopeka61
51KyleBlakeBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kansas City RealtyLenexa61
53ShirleyLebienColdwell Banker AmericanaHutchinson60
53SallyBrookeColdwell Banker American HomeTopeka60
55KyrstenRossRE/MAX Signature PropertiesJunction City59
55Sharon G.AubuchonRE/MAX Premier RealtyPrairie Village59
55RyanGarrisonNextHome UnlimitedJunction City59
55ColeCookBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices First, REALTORSTopeka59
55AustinShortBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices BHHS Kansas City RealtyLenexa59
55BethMersmanThe Kansas Property Place, LLCGarnett59
61RondaWelshKeller Williams RealtyWichita58.6
62TimSeiboldColdwell Banker Regan RealtorsShawnee58.2
63AnjelaLopezColdwell Banker Hancocks of Dodge City, Inc.Dodge City58
63CathyLutzBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices First, REALTORSTopeka58
63SissyKouryBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed RealtyWichita58
63BrianWoodRealty Executives of Kansas CityLeawood58
67MarshaAllenRE/MAX SolutionsDerby57
68ShelliSeegerColdwell Banker Reilly & SonsLeavenworth56.25
69SherriHinesBetter Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City HomesOverland Park56
69NelaBayouthColdwell Banker Plaza Real EstateWichita56
69HeidiMorganNextHome UnlimitedJunction City56
69BrendaHaaseKeller Williams RealtySalina56
69JackieStahlKeller Williams Diamond Partners, IncOlathe56
74RicciDillonERA High Pointe RealtyManhattan55.95
75NicoleKennedyReeceNichols South Central KansasWichita55
75DebMcFarlandColdwell Banker American HomeTopeka55
75MeganWellsColdwell Banker Sell Real EstateGreat Bend55
75TylerJohnsonBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices First, REALTORSTopeka55
75LisaAndersonJ.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.Wichita55
80SethFroeseNextHome ProfessionalsTopeka54.5
81TobiCastelliKeller Williams RealtyWichita54.2
82StefanieZimmermanRE/MAX Signature PropertiesJunction City53
82LesleyHodgeWichita Area Real Estate ExpertsWichita53
84MissyBlacketerNextHome UnlimitedJunction City52
85TheresaBonebrakeCENTURY 21 GHC Associates, Inc.Concordia51.5
86JoelWeiheBetter Homes and Gardens Real Estate AllianceWichita51
86ArtBuschColdwell Banker Plaza Real EstateWichita51
86MakaylaGirodatBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices First, REALTORSTopeka51
86SteveCourtneyKeller Williams RealtyOverland Park51
86GinetteHuelsmanJ.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.Wichita51
91JessicaDeckerRE/MAX Advantage RealtorsSalina50
91GaryGrigsbyCENTURY 21 Grigsby RealtyPratt50
91SallyEstesColdwell Banker Reilly & SonsLeavenworth50
91SandraMumawColdwell Banker American HomeTopeka50
91GlennaAchatzColdwell Banker Sell Real EstateGreat Bend50
91BarbMaleyKeller Williams RealtyWICHITA50
91MarkBrewerRealty Executives of Kansas CityLeawood50

Source: RealTrends.com

I don’t have any personal connection with them. But if they could close so many sales in a year, they must be doing something right. You may try to connect with them through LinkedIn or their websites. Learn about their process of doing business. Furthermore, if they are expanding their team, perhaps, it could be an excellent opportunity to join their force.

Even if you are unable to connect with them directly, you may be able to pick up some helpful ideas by reviewing their online marketing.

Build your own real estate firm

sales agents working in real estate broker

If you have been working as a real estate salesperson in Kansas for some time, and wish to bring your business to the next level, then upgrading your license to become a real estate broker could be a sensible choice.

Rather than making income solely based on your sales production, being a broker allows you to build a team of real estate agents. You’ll be recruiting, providing training and support to your underlying agents. In return, you would get a share of their commission.

To become a real estate broker in Kansas, you must:

  1. Be at least 18 years and have a valid SSN;
  2. Hold a high school diploma or equivalent;
  3. Meet the required minimum years of active real estate salesperson experience;
  4. Complete 60 hours of broker courses from an approved provider;
  5. Pass the Kansas Real Estate Broker Exam;
  6. Go through a criminal background check;
  7. Submit an application and fees to the Kansas Real Estate Commission

Keep in mind that if you were setting up a real estate brokerage, the cost of getting a broker license is only part of the expenses. There is also other expenses such as marketing, salary of administrative staff, office lease, furniture, equipment, software subscriptions.

[Read: 30 Mind-Blowing Tips to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent]

Here are more incredible resources to learn about the Kansas real estate career!

This article is part of the “Kansas Real Estate Career Series.” If you want to know more about being a real estate agent in Kansas, I invite you to check out the following articles: 

Looking to succeed in the real estate industry? Subscribe to our exclusive email list today and gain access to expertly curated real estate guides from industry leaders, as well as discounted CE courses and the latest industry updates. From marketing strategies to virtual staging techniques, our handpicked resources cover everything you need to know to stay ahead of the game. Click here for more details!

(**) Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you. Our company, JCHQ Publishing will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking on the link. Please understand that we include them based on our experience or the research on these companies or products, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something through the links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

Disclaimer: The information in this post is for general information only, and not intend to provide any advice. They are subjected to change without any notice, and not guaranteed to be error-free. Some of the posts on this site may contain views and opinions from individual not related to JCHQ Publishing. They do not necessarily reflect our view or position.

Reference:

  • RedFin – Kansas Housing Market (source)
  • RealTrends – 2021 Kansas Top Real Estate Agents (source)
  • Kansas Real Estate Commission (source)
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics – Real Estate Agents (source)
  • Blogger Local Kansas City (source)

Author

  • Jacob Coleman

    Jacob is a content writer and a real estate investor. He has experience working with different real estate professionals throughout the years. (i.e., appraisers, real estate agents, property managers, home inspectors.) In order to build a career you love, Jacob believes not only you need a thorough understanding about the profession, but you also have to find out what type of jobs could match your personality, lifestyle and expectation.

Jacob Coleman

Jacob is a content writer and a real estate investor. He has experience working with different real estate professionals throughout the years. (i.e., appraisers, real estate agents, property managers, home inspectors.) In order to build a career you love, Jacob believes not only you need a thorough understanding about the profession, but you also have to find out what type of jobs could match your personality, lifestyle and expectation.

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