Working with Realtors: Dos and Don'ts

Working with Realtors: Essential Warnings and Tips

• Have a backbone: Be confident and know your self-worth when working with Realtors to avoid being taken advantage of.
• Set boundaries: Establish clear boundaries to avoid being walked over by Realtors.

Key Lessons to Avoid Getting Screwed

• Don't take on a job without a deposit: Ensure a deposit is paid before starting a job to avoid not getting paid.
• Know your Realtor: Build a relationship with your Realtor to understand their needs and expectations.
• Be clear about communication and expectations: Establish clear communication and expectations about deliverables, timelines, and working style.

Maintaining a Good Profit Margin

• Don't take on too many jobs: Be realistic about your workload and avoid overcommitting to maintain a good profit margin.
• Focus on quality over quantity: Prioritize quality over quantity to maintain a good reputation and profit margin.

Networking and Sales

• Know your audience: Understand your target audience and tailor your approach to their needs and preferences.
• Constantly network and show off your work: Continuously network and showcase your work to attract new clients and opportunities.
• Embrace sales: Recognize the value you bring to Realtors and embrace sales as a necessary part of your business.

Creating a Smart Contract

• Build a contract that works for you: Create a contract that protects your interests and sets clear expectations for clients.
• Use a 50% deposit upfront: Require a 50% deposit upfront to secure bookings and ensure payment.
• Automate the process: Use tools like Square to automate the booking and payment process.
• Set clear expectations: Establish clear expectations for deliverables, timelines, and working style.
• Include a weather provision: Account for weather-related issues that may impact job completion.
• Set boundaries for client requests: Establish clear guidelines for client requests and changes to avoid scope creep.

Review and Revision Provisions

• Set a review period: Establish a review period for clients to provide feedback and request changes.
• Charge for additional edits: Charge clients for additional edits or changes beyond the initial review period.
• Use a revision clause: Include a revision clause in your contract to protect your interests and set clear expectations.

Delivery and Upsells

• Set reasonable delivery expectations: Establish realistic delivery timelines and communicate them clearly to clients.
• Offer upsells: Provide opportunities for clients to purchase additional services or products, such as prints.
• Automate the delivery process: Use tools to automate the delivery process and reduce administrative tasks.

Protecting Your Intellectual Property

• Don't provide raw photos and videos: Only provide edited photos and videos to clients to protect your intellectual property.
• Charge for raw files: Charge clients a premium for access to raw photos and videos.

Working with Realtors

• Establish a strong sense of self-worth to avoid being taken advantage of
• Set clear boundaries to maintain control and avoid being walked over

Key Lessons to Avoid Getting Screwed

• Always require a deposit before starting a job to ensure payment
• Build a relationship with your Realtor to understand their needs and expectations
• Clearly communicate expectations about deliverables, timelines, and working style

Maintaining a Good Profit Margin

• Be realistic about your workload and avoid overcommitting
• Prioritize quality over quantity to maintain a good reputation and profit margin

Networking and Sales

• Understand your target audience and tailor your approach to their needs and preferences
• Continuously network and showcase your work to attract new clients and opportunities
• Recognize the value you bring to Realtors and embrace sales as a necessary part of your business

Creating a Smart Contract

• Create a contract that protects your interests and sets clear expectations for clients
• Require a 50% deposit upfront to secure bookings and ensure payment
• Use tools like Square to automate the booking and payment process
• Establish clear expectations for deliverables, timelines, and working style
• Account for weather-related issues that may impact job completion
• Set boundaries for client requests to avoid scope creep

Review and Revision Provisions

• Establish a review period for clients to provide feedback and request changes
• Charge clients for additional edits or changes beyond the initial review period
• Include a revision clause in your contract to protect your interests and set clear expectations

Delivery and Upsells

• Establish realistic delivery timelines and communicate them clearly to clients
• Provide opportunities for clients to purchase additional services or products, such as prints
• Use tools to automate the delivery process and reduce administrative tasks

Protecting Your Intellectual Property

• Only provide edited photos and videos to clients to protect your intellectual property
• Charge clients a premium for access to raw photos and videos