How Long Should It Take Me to Close My First Deal?

Alright, rookie. Let’s get real about this: closing your first deal? It’s kinda like trying to bake a perfect cake without ever having seen an oven before. Everyone tells you it’ll happen, but they leave out the “how long” part because, well, it’s complicated.

Here’s the truth: it could take a couple of weeks, or it could take months. I know, I know—that’s not what you wanted to hear, but the timeline depends on a bunch of factors. The market, your hustle, your network, and maybe a sprinkle of luck. But let’s break it down:

1. The Learning Curve: You’re learning everything on the fly—how to handle clients, what a contract looks like, and why you need to know the difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification (you do, by the way). Don’t expect to close a deal on Day 1. Your first couple of weeks (or months) are about absorbing info like a sponge.

2. Building Trust: Unless you’re a networking wizard with a Rolodex the size of Texas, you’ll need to build relationships first. Clients have to trust you with one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. And trust? That takes time. Think of this as planting seeds that you’ll harvest later.

3. The Market Plays a Role: If you’re in a hot market where homes are selling faster than Beyoncé tickets, maybe you’ll snag something quick. But if you’re in a slower market, patience is key. You can’t control the speed of the market—only how you show up to play in it.

4. Your Hustle Game: Here’s where you actually can control things. The agents who get deals done faster are the ones who hit the phones, knock on doors, go to networking events, and constantly follow up. This is a numbers game, and the more swings you take, the better your odds of getting on base. You gotta out-hustle the competition if you want to shrink that timeline.

5. First-Time Deal Fumbles: Your first deal might take longer because—let’s be real—you’re probably gonna fumble the ball a few times. Maybe you didn’t price something right, or maybe you misread a buyer’s signals. That’s fine. Mistakes are part of the game, but those rookie fumbles add time to your clock.

So, What’s the Bottom Line?

Expect your first deal to take 3 to 6 months on average. Could it happen sooner? Sure. Could it take longer? Yep. But here’s the kicker: once that first deal is under your belt, the next ones tend to come faster because you’ve got momentum, experience, and (most importantly) confidence.

Remember, closing your first deal isn’t a race—it’s about setting yourself up for a career full of ‘em. So, keep grinding, stay patient, and know that every cold call, email, and awkward conversation is getting you one step closer to that finish line.

Now go out there and crush it.

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