Three Best Practices for New and Experienced REALTORS®

Louisiana REALTORS • March 29, 2019

Whether you’ve recently planted your first sign in a yard, or have been selling real estate for years, it’s important to understand the basics and let them work for you.  For new REALTORS® , this could mean learning the ropes and creating good habits.  For seasoned pros, this could be mean re-evaluating what’s working, what isn’t, and why; resetting your routine to include some of these simple best practices could pay serious dividends.

Face-to-Face Meetings

This may seem like a no-brainer, but with the ease of texting, email, and social media, face-to-face meetings can easily be replaced.  In 2018, the NAR Profile of Buyers and Sellers showed that 75% of sellers only interview one agent.  This makes creating opportunities to meet in person very valuable.  Whenever possible arrange to meet your prospects and clients physically.

Contracts and Documentation

Your knowledge and expertise are what sets you apart.  While the process of buying and selling a home is a complex one, your clients depend on you to not only understand it but to clearly and effectively communicate with them.  Everything that is printed, read, and signed plays a significant role in the transaction.  Being able to smoothly fill out each item from a purchase agreement to disclosure documents is a valuable skill.  If you are just starting, begin reviewing these contracts and practice filling them out.  If you’ve got your system down already, see if there are any improvements you can make to either streamline the process or make it a better experience for your client.

Leverage Referrals

Referrals continue to be a tried and true source for prospects and clients.  Leveraging the relationships that you have and that you are establishing is a very productive way to keep your pipeline filled.  Remember to ask for referrals throughout a transaction with an existing client.  Ask when you begin working with them, again when you have a property under contract, and again at the closing table .  If you have former clients, they are an excellent resource for referrals as well.  It never hurts to reach out and see if they know anyone that could use your services.

Consumer Guide Update: Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants

By Louisiana REALTORS® • July 1, 2026
It’s not unusual for people to enter the homebuying process with a priority list that needs to be whittled down once they see what’s on the market. NAR’s latest consumer guide, “Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants,” is a decision-making tool that can help. It’s a simple checklist to help home buyers identify their needs, wants and deal-breakers. Using the form, or something like it, will help buyers remember what’s most important to them as they view and compare homes. There’s even a fillable PDF available for download. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants NEW: 10 Tips For Unpacking Smartly After A Move UPDATED: Multiple Listing Services Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase How Solar Impacts a Real Estate Transaction Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Check out the next consumer guide for sellers on how to ease the transition for the new owners.

Consumer Guide Update: 10 Tips for Unpacking

By Louisiana REALTORS® • June 18, 2026
NAR’s latest consumer guide, “10 Tips for Unpacking Smartly After a Move,” was developed to help ease the burden buyers may feel when surrounded by boxes. For your clients on the cusp of a move, the guide suggests establishing a priority unpacking order, wiping down each room before unpacking, discarding boxes quickly, having garbage and donation bags at the ready, and more. Share the new guide along with the companion guide “10 Tips for Packing Smartly for a Move.” As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: 10 Tips For Unpacking Smartly After A Move UPDATED : Multiple Listing Services Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase How Solar Impacts a Real Estate Transaction Navigating Interest Rate Shifts Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Check out the next consumer guide on identifying homebuying wants vs. needs.
Benefits of homeownership

Why Buying a Home Still Makes Sense: Long-Term Benefits of Homeownership

By Louisiana REALTORS® • June 15, 2026
Thinking about buying a home? Discover how homeownership can help build wealth, increase financial stability, and create lasting value.
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