There are more than 8,785 real estate agents in San Francisco according to the experts at HomeLight. With so many agents out there, many people who are just starting out or who are trying to grow their businesses may be wondering how to get ahead. The San Francisco market is also on the decline with home prices down more than 10 percent in the last year, selling on average for 51 percent under the list price, according to Zillow. With these statistics, San Francisco real estate agents are looking for ways to grow their businesses and stand out from the crowd. Tips that apply to other industries and are specific to real estate can help deliver optimal results.

Know your market 

While there may be thousands of agents in San Francisco, for buyers and sellers, it’s all about finding the right fit. One way is by knowing who you are targeting, and developing a niche. Whether it’s a certain neighborhood, luxury properties, or international clients, if you create a persona showing your specific market it will be easier for your ideal clients to find you. That can help them narrow down the pool from those thousands, especially for people who want to sell a San Francisco home fast.

Work as a team

Depending on how many clients you are intending to work with, chances are you won’t be able to run your business alone. It also isn’t efficient to spend your time on projects like marketing and scheduling when lasting connections will mostly be made face-to-face. Even if you are just starting out, hiring an assistant for administrative tasks, social media, and maybe even answering emails can free up your time.

Get organized with customer relationships

If you are still using a spreadsheet to manage your customer relationships, then it’s time to upgrade. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools are used in businesses across all industries to keep track of leads and relationships. Beyond telling you who you have in your network, these tools can also be used to send out messages, and track email open rates. Depending on how advanced you go, you can also report trends and manage chat interactions.

Upgrade digital tools

A CRM is just one of the digital tools that successful real estate agents are adding to their toolkits. Adding options for virtual showings both live and on-demand, can open your listings up to international clients. Sellers too, will appreciate having more options to sell their home faster and for the ideal price.

Show up as an expert

Because the San Francisco real estate market is in flux, there are many opportunities to talk about it. You can start showing up as an expert with a blog on your company website, or by writing guest articles about real estate for publications. As an expert, you will help people trust you as they buy or sell a home.

While the San Francisco real estate market may be saturated with real estate agents, there are still many ways to take your business to the next level.