Real Insights: The No-Nonsense Guide to Success as a Real Estate Agent

I just received this book today and I couldn’t stop reading it, seriously. Most real estate books don’t usually tell it like it is but this book gives you a realistic view on what to expect. Oh how I wish I had this book when I passed my exam last year :( as a matter a fact it should be included with every “Congratulations you passed” letter that new agents receive after the exam. Not overreacting, God knows I wanted to throw in the towel a few times. John is an awesome broker with years of experience and he thoroughly covers so much valuable information and details that agents NEED to know. Trust me you will save a lot of time if you follow these tips. After reading this book I realized all of the things I was doing wrong myself so I will definitely be using this as my guide and implementing these tips in my business from now on. Definitely a great book, highly recommend.

California author John Graff has served on the boards of the National Association of Realtors and the California Association of Realtors and has been successful with his own Graff Real Estate as well as addressing public policy, appearing in important media sites and winning awards and honors from US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Inc Magazine and National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals.As the title suggests, this guide is designed for nascent real estate agents, advising on the facets of dealing with buyers and sellers, the intricacies of the real estate business exploring all the facts that lead toward gaining a position as a real estate broker, the ethics, and some very solid tips on growing into a successful and rewarding life in the field of real estate. But in addition to that very substantial aspect of this book, the information contained herein is informative for everyone considering selling or buying property – the ‘insider facts’ of how contracts are reached and the aspects of how brokers relate to clients about such things as pricing, mistakes to avoid, things to research in finding a trustworthy and reliable broker. There is significant information in this book we all should know, both for potential brokers preparing for licensing exams and for the people on the other end of the contact! Grady Harp, December 21

This is a well written, reality based, logically structured book about becoming a real estate (RE) agent, by an author with an impressive bio and celebrity creds in the RE industry. One minor complaint is the eBook’s Table of Contents links don’t work. The book appears aimed at readers considering becoming RE agents, but offers enough information and tips to be useful to those already on board. As to its content, it starts with basics and follows with what’s in between to the verge of retirement. A sketch of these steps includes INTRODUCTORY STUFF such as how to get a RE license, requirements & procedures, why most new agents quit, successful agent behaviors (responsive, communicative, knowledgable, etc.), tips on finding the right brokerage to join; the BUSINESS SIDE of RE in terms of commission expectations vs. reality, property pricing strategies (seller vs. buyer’s market, area salability, etc.), the art of negotiation (psychology of, attitudes, etc.), importance of interpersonal relationships such as why clients choose particular agents, tips aplenty on working with sellers and buyers (communicating, honesty, qualifying, preapprovals, etc.); MARKETING OF SELF AND RE INVENTORY (online presence, website, open houses, live-streaming, social media, etc.); GENERATING BUSINESS (referrals, expired listings, for sale by owners, etc.); and MISCELLANEOUS (future of the RE industry, planning for retirement). All in all the book provides a wealth of useful information about the real estate business in general and what one needs to know before quitting a day job and taking the leap.

Real Estate is challenging. According to statistics, only 13% of new agents build a career and thrive in this industry. However, there are hints that can help people who are trying to make a living and to succeed in this difficult business; and what can be better than hearing these pieces of advice from a man who forms part of that 13 percent. John Graff is an award-winning real estate expert and in this great book, Real Insights: the No-Nonsense Guide to Success as a Real Estate Agent, he guides readers through the turbulent waters of the industry with useful and easy to understand and follow tips to achieve success. People will get information about how to pass exams and get a licence, strategies for building a career, how to attract clients and much more. I found this book essential and it helped me a lot with my business. I recommend it.

Working in real estate may sound like an easy job for some people, actually, most of my friends think it is just selling a house. It definitely goes beyond that.John Graff guides readers into how to navigate the entangled paths of the real estate field and its main aim is helping readers avoid making the same mistakes most agents make and start looking at this fascinating world with eyes of success.Practical tips are given and the key to success is revealed in this book through language which is easy to grasp by any type of reader, whether knowledgeable on the theme or not.Beginning agents would really profit from this book, they would be provided with good-quality information which I, as an ex-realtor, would have loved to have when I first started.