Setting Yourself Apart From the Competition – Andrew Beitler
If there’s one thing Andrew Beitler has learned after jumping into real estate full time, it’s that differentiating yourself from thecompetition is critical if you want to succeed.
“In the world of real estate, the barrier to entry is low and you can get your license in a month,” said Beitler, who founded Minnesota My Home Real Estate with his marketing expert wife, Tiffany, three years ago. “You have to figure out what you have to offer, what your niche is and why someone should choose you over everyone else.”
For Beitler, who has a background in corporate retail but has dabbled in real estate as an investor for more than two decades, it was important to wait until he had built up his portfolio of rental properties before choosing to focus solely on real estate.
“It takes time to ramp up a business,” Beitler said. “You’re not just going to come right in and have a big base of customers or a bunch of referral business right away.”
During his “ramp up” period, Beitler put a lot of thought into how he would position himself in such a competitive industry. His answer? To join forces with Tiffany, the founder of Cooks Bay Marketing, and have her company serve as the creative arm of Minnesota My Home Real Estate. By combining their skill sets from the corporate and marketing worlds, they’ve been able to provide their clients with an innovative real estate experience and have generated many glowing reviews about their marketing savvy, negotiation skills and dedication to outstanding service.
Stand Out From Competitors
If you’re looking to build your business and want to set yourself apart from your competitors, here are a few of Beitler’s suggestions:
- Provide value: No matter what industry you’re in, being able to provide value to clients is incredibly important. In Beitler’s experience, for example, he’s found that many sellers he meets with don’t know what to ask of a real estate agent because the process is unfamiliar to them. By coming from a value-driven perspective, Beitler turns this experience into a teachable moment by sharing a list of questions they should pose to prospective agents. He also encourages them to interview a few of them before deciding on who to work with. When you take the time to be a resource and an educator, everything else will fall into place.
- Ask open-ended questions: Rather than being in a hurry to make a sale or close a deal, slow down and take the time to get to know the person you’re talking to. Find out what’s most important to them. Then ask them what you can do to help. This is a powerful way to build trust with your clients and prospects and show them that they’re more than just a transaction to you.
- Be open to new things: Because Beitler has been involved in real estate for so long, it would be easy for him to assume he knows everything there is to know about the industry. Instead, he takes the opposite stance. “I talk to as many people as possible with the mindset of always learning,” he said. “I’ll often come away with ideas for things I can do better or viewpoints I may not have considered before.” Networking groups can be great places to learn strategies that have worked in other industries. Plus, they can be a valuable pipeline for referrals and partnerships.
- Take a long-term approach: Yes, it’s always nice to finalize a transaction because it means you’re going to get paid. However, it’s also important to think about what you’re doing to keep your business moving forward, especially in a relationship-driven field like real estate. Always be mindful of taking care of your clients and making sure they feel like they’re your top priority. This can lead to repeat business and referrals, both of which can contribute to your long-term success.
- Have a sense of humor: Most of us see dozens of signs each day advertising everything from auto insurance to legal representation, but how much actually sticks with us? Probably not a whole lot. By using marketing strategies with a sense of humor, you can cut through the noise and stand out from the crowd. Thanks to Tiffany’s creative thinking, Beitler has been able to generate buzz from his real estate signs and attract some new business. After all, why purchase a home that might have a few ghosts in the attic when you can purchase a home that’s not haunted?
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