We get it, writing is not a craft that everyone is skilled in. And while we aren’t talking about writing the great American novel here, writing a real estate agent bio can be tricky business if you don’t know where to start.
Don’t get discouraged; we’ve got your back! We’ll give you a list of the elements your bio needs, some examples of Realtors who have cracked the code and gotten it right, and even a couple of templates you can use today to write your very own real estate agent bio.
As a full-time writer for The Close, I can attest to the fact that writers are often times very “unique” individuals. We work quietly and often alone, we get hung up on whether to comma or not to comma, we obsess over every semicolon and special character. But, we are a lovable band of weirdos, and even though full-time writing may not be your calling, I’d like to personally welcome you to our crew.
If writing a real estate bio is new for you, or if you’re having a hard time getting started, we’ve put together the Ten Commandments of crafting a great real estate bio.
The Ten Commandments of Real Estate Agent Bio Writing
To get you started, here are ten rules that everyone writing a real estate agent bio should follow. Remember, your bio is your chance to introduce yourself to a prospective client, to share what you are all about, to give them your history and direction, all at once. This is valuable, *ahem*, real estate, so choose each of these words carefully.
1. Thou Shalt Use a Quality Headshot
Unless you’re Annie Leibovitz, don’t use a photo that you took yourself. Pay a pro who can give you great advice about lighting, clothes, makeup, etc. You know the feeling you get when someone says, “I’m just going to sell this house FSBO?” Photographers get the same feeling when you say, “I’ll just use a photo from my Facebook page.”
2. Thou Shalt Not Sell Services
Your bio is a place to tell your story, not sell your services. People are coming to your bio because they want to know about who you are. The services you offer are plastered all over the rest of your website and media, no need to use valuable line space for that sort of thing.
3. Thou Shalt Connect Thou’s Bio to Thou’s Community
Very, very few of us run a real estate business that isn’t rooted in a particular community. Real estate is a hyper-local venture, and even though you may work in different cities and towns, you are still a local SOMEWHERE. People crave connection with those who they identify with. Talk about where you are and why it matters to you.
4. Thou Shalt Keep it Short and Sweet
According the smarty-pants researchers at Chartbeat, about 50% of readers who land on text (like your bio) won’t make it past having to scroll on their phone. Every word counts, so keep it short, concise, and on topic. If you can keep it under 200 or 300 words (that’s about two or three paragraphs), you’re in good shape.
5. Thou Shalt Share Your Journey
A big part of the reason people read your bio is to see if they identify with you. Share a little bit of where you’ve come from and what brought you to real estate. If you have something compelling to say about the future, share that too.
6. Thou Shalt Provide a Glimpse Of Your Life Outside of Real Estate
Your readers don’t need to know your high bowling score or the precise mixture of gin and tonic your prefer (⅓ Bombay Sapphire, ⅔ tonic water, and lime). Just a little peek behind the curtain of your life helps to humanize and give readers a continuously clearer picture of who you are as a person.
7. Thou Shalt Not Forget Thou’s Social Media Links
Remember, you aren’t selling services here, but a well written bio is itself an implicit call to action. When someone reads your bio, you want them to say, “Wow, this is the sort of person I want to work with.” Don’t forget to include social media links and your contact information so readers can follow through on that urge.
8. Thou Shalt Tell The Truth
This seems obvious enough to not have to actually include it here, but hear me out. You aren’t embellishing a resume, you’re telling YOUR story. If you embellish the truth a little bit to sound more successful than you are, there will inevitably be a time when someone calls you out on it. The repercussions from that sort of social and credibility damage run deep, so don’t do it!
9. Thou Shalt Not Forsake the Ideals of Thou’s Company
Undoubtedly, your managing broker spent a lot of time (and money) investing in establishing the ideals and foundations the business is built upon. As a member of that team, your ideals and story should be consistent with the company’s. Use their clout and brand development to enhance your own narrative.
10. Thou Shalt Scrutinize Thou’s Final Product
All your hard work to tell a great story about yourself will go down the drain if readers are distracted by silly things like spelling or grammar mistakes. Have someone (or multiple someones) read your bio and give you some feedback. Edit, make changes, chisel it down to its strongest and best form.
Looking For a Little Professional Help?
There are only so many hours in the day, and if your time needs to be spent with clients and closing deals, writing a bio might not make it on to your to-do list.
Luckily, in today’s gig economy, for every task you don’t have time for, there is someone available to do it for you at a great price.
Fiverr has dozens of writers who specialize in writing real estate agent bios. Prices start at just $5.
Supply some basic information, help in the editing process, and a great bio is coming your way in no time.
Example Real Estate Agent Bios We Love
Let’s look at some realtors who have embodied these ten ideals and put together a solid, effective bio.
1. Ellen Grubert, Managing Director of Ellen + Janis Team, Compass Realty
Originally from New York, Ellen moved to Boston to earn a graduate degree in business communications at Emerson College. This knowledge, coupled with her undergraduate degree in psychology and teaching, has provided her with valuable skills that she uses daily in real estate negotiations, educating home-buyers and sellers, and effectively marketing the team’s listings. Ellen has been working in Boston real estate for over 30 years and is an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES). Ellen’s clients often describe her as detail-oriented, proactive, and fun to be around. After living for many years in the South End and Roslindale, Ellen currently resides in Jamaica Plain with her wife, Janis Lippman. She enjoys spending time on the Cape, riding her bike, and traveling. Ellen proudly volunteers at Speakout and Keshet and supports several great non-profit organizations, including Community Servings, The Home for Little Wanderers, Victory Programs, and PFLAG.What We Love About Ellen’s Bio
Ellen does a great job of talking about her background and how it has prepared her for success in real estate, as well as giving readers insight into the things that are important to her outside of work.
2. Brendan Bartic, CEO of the Bartic Group, Keller Williams Realty
As a Colorado native, and a seasoned real estate professional, I recognize and value the trust my clients place in me and I strive every day to exceed their expectations. I have been a leading top producer for over 18 years. My sales consistently rank in the top 1% of all Keller Williams Teams Internationally. Prior to entering real estate, I served my country in the United States Army Infantry with multiple tours in Iraq and Kuwait. These experiences instilled in me the discipline it takes to build the most powerful real estate team in Colorado. Outside of real estate, I take pride in giving back to the community and serve as a Board Member of Third Way Center which helps high-risk, disadvantaged youth become successful adults.What We Love About Brendan’s Bio
Brendan does a great job of giving his readers some of his personal history prior to joining the real estate profession. Most Realtors these days are choosing to write their bio in the third person, but Brendan takes a bold step and writes in first person. This comes across as strong and effective, we can feel Brendan’s leadership qualities just from reading.
3. Jennifer Grandjean, Broker, Keller Williams Realty
Representing NW Oregon and SW Washington buyers and sellers, Jennifer’s enthusiastic, can-do attitude and caring nature is ideal for identifying each client’s desires and skillfully guiding them to fulfill their real estate goals. Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Jennifer understands and appreciates the many unique benefits of life in the Willamette Valley with its unmatched beauty, culture, and amazing restaurants! Jennifer has knowledge in all aspects of the real estate process with her start in the administrative field and then on to Operations preceding her success in selling real estate. Educated at San Diego State University and Western Oregon University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, she returned to the Portland area in 2011 to pursue her career in real estate. A very active and connected community member, she regularly choreographs for local professional, college and high school dance teams. In her spare time she also enjoys traveling, working out and being on the water during Portland’s perfect summers!What We Love About Jennifer’s Bio
Jennifer does a great job of calling out not just her community, but her favorite parts of the community as well. This sort of attention to detail lets sellers know you are aware of the things that matter to the residents of their community. And, knowing what matters will certainly help you market homes better too.
3 Free Real Estate Agent Bio Templates
We’re sure that you’re chomping at the bit to get started on your brand new bio by now. But if you are still feeling a little unsure of yourself, try one of these templates. Fill in your info, take it and run with it, or use it as a tool to get inspired on your own piece.
New Realtor Bio Template:
This template is perfect for brand new Realtors without a lot of experience to lean on. Focus on your community ties, your excitement and enthusiasm, and show your potential clients who you are.
<Realtor Name> has been an active member of his/her real community for <years of experience> now, and is so excited to be turning that community focus towards real estate. With a passion for service in the <your community name> area, <Realtor Name> is ready to help with your home buying and selling needs. As a proud member of the <brokerage name> family, <realtor name> carries the values of hard work, integrity and outstanding client service into everything he/she does.
When <realtor name> isn’t making home ownership dreams come true for his/her clients, he/she enjoys spending time <leisure activity 1> and <leisure activity 2>. <Realtor Name> lives in <locality of residence> with <family members>.
Successful Agent Bio Template:
Your bio isn’t written in stone; you should revisit it at least once a year to see what sort of tweaks you can make to sharpen your message. Here’s a bio template perfect for Realtors who are coming off a very successful year and want to further that momentum.
<Your Locality> and <Your Broader Regional Locality> are great places to live and work, which is why <Realtor Name> chose to call it home. With roots in <hometown>, <Realtor Name> came to <your locality> in <date you arrived>. Real Estate is a passion for <Realtor Name>, and with his/her background in <former career or education>, it is easy to see why more than <clients serviced last year> families in 2018 called <Realtor Name> for help buying and selling.<Realtor Name> has been a part of the <Brokerage Name> family for <Amount of time with the brokerage> years, but he/she isn’t just passionate about helping families find their next home. <Realtor Name> has served on his/her local <charity organization> and loves being a part of other <Your locality> community events.
A passionate <hobby>, when <realtor name> isn’t in the office or volunteering, you’ll often find him/her at <location where the hobby takes place> enjoying time with his/her friends and <family members>.
Long Form Bio Template:
Sometimes you’ve got a little more room to write, but that extra space can be intimidating. Here’s a good bio template for times when you have room to really express yourself.
(Realtor Name), of (Brokerage name), based in (Your Locality) is a (years in the business) veteran of the real estate industry and has represented clients all over (larger regional locality) in all sorts of real estate transactions. (Realtor Name) has built a solid foundation of clients in this community through her/his professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to always put his/her client’s needs first.
He/She studied (academic focus) at (school name) and afterwards began work in (previous industry or “real estate”). Passionate about (a particular aspect of real estate), (realtor’s name) has continued to leverage his/her knowhow and experience to exceed his/her client’s expectations.
Active in the community, (realtor name) is a proud part of the (non-profit organization)’s effort to (community initiative). (Quote from realtor about their non-profit community work).
In his/her free time, (realtor name) is an avid (hobby) and (another hobby). Spending time in the (location one of the hobbies takes place) together with his/her friends and (family unit) as well as his/her (pet name and type) is never something (realtor name) takes for granted. (Quote from realtor about how lucky they are to have the chance to do their hobby in this place).
Bringing It All Together
Remember, someone who’s chosen to read your bio is clearly interested in you. They want to see if you are a good fit with them both personally and professionally. They want to get an idea of what it would be like to work together.
Why not give them what they’re looking for? If you’re authentic and let your personality come through in your real estate agent bio, you can use it as an effective first rung on your new client ladder.
Have questions about writing your own bio? We’re all ears, leave us a comment below!
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