15 Proven Ways to Get Listings as a Real Estate Agent (& Keep Them Coming)

Key Points

• Listings bring leverage – buyers bring burnout. Focus on where the control is.
• Use cash offer programs to start seller conversations fast.
• Ditch Zestimates. Offer detailed home valuations with real market insight.
• FSBOs and expireds aren’t cold leads – they’re unfinished business.
• Farming still works – when you show up like a brand, not a billboard.
• Client referrals don’t happen unless you give them a reason to refer you.
• Divorce attorneys, local events, and small businesses = secret seller pipelines.
• Social media done right is a modern-day listing machine.

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If you’ve ever cried in your car after another buyer ghosted you post-showing, welcome. This one’s for you.

Because no matter how many times the industry changes or the NAR rewrites the rules, one thing hasn’t changed: listings = leverage. Listing agents still get more control, less chaos, and let’s be real, less time chasing texts that start with “we’ve decided to wait.”

Yes, being a listing agent costs more upfront – photos, marketing, staging – but you’re also not spending your weekends unlocking doors for people whose “budget” is a Pinterest board and a dream. With the shift in buyer agent compensation (thanks NAR!), more buyers than ever are skipping agents altogether, but sellers? Sellers still need you. Badly. Especially if they want to avoid turning their property into a Zillow punchline.

So let’s get serious about how to get listings as a real estate agent, even if you’re new, rebuilding, or just tired of crossing your fingers at open houses. Here’s your handy-dandy index:

Understand the Market First

If you’re serious about figuring out how to get listings as a real estate agent, you need more than a surface-level market update. Sellers don’t want a weather report – they want you to tell them whether it’s raining inside their zip code. So before you even think about sending another “Just Listed” postcard, do the homework.

Start with the Big Picture (a.k.a. Why Your Sellers Are Freaked Out)

Demographic changes also matter. Are retirees moving in? Are millennials cashing out of downtown shoeboxes for suburban space? Understanding who’s coming and going helps you identify which homes are likely to list next – and what kinds of features will actually sell.

Then Zoom in Like You’ve Got a Microscope on Their Block

This is where you dominate – if you do it right. If you want to be the agent who lands more real estate listings, this is where you ditch the cookie-cutter comps pitch and show them what really sells.

Here’s what you need to do (no, really):

• Walk every comparable like a detective, because photos won’t tell you if the layout feels awkward, if the house smells like wet carpet and regret, if the neighbor’s dog has a barking problem, or if the traffic noise sounds like a freeway in the foyer. Use that information when you:
• Pull recent sales in the neighborhood and break them down by feature. Are homes with pools moving faster than homes with two-car garages? Is a remodeled kitchen getting offers in three days while grandma’s house with shag carpet sits for three months?
• Look at days on market, sale-to-list ratio, and price-per-square-foot trends. What’s the tipping point for price? What’s the bare minimum upgrade that gets attention?
• Analyze what actually makes the “sold” column – was it the open floor plan, the quartz countertops, or just the fact that it wasn’t painted beige?

Now take those insights and build a real estate listing presentation that doesn’t just show comps – it translates them into action steps for your sellers. Use Canva to spruce it up.

And be clear about how you’re going to help them prep. Are you partnering with a company like Curbio or Freemodel to front the reno costs? Will you book the contractor, oversee the install, and babysit the painter? Let them know you’re not just throwing advice at them – you’re managing the whole listing prep like a project boss.

When you walk in with hyper-local insights and a clear listing checklist for getting the house market-ready, you’re not pitching. You’re proving. And that’s exactly how you get listings.

Proven Strategies to Secure Listings (That Don’t Involve Begging Your Aunt’s Hairdresser for a Referral)

Let’s be real: if how to get listings as a real estate agent were as easy as mailing one postcard or boosting a Facebook post, every agent would be buried in listings and sipping LaCroix on their Tuesday afternoon “CEO hour.”

But here’s the truth – real estate listings don’t fall from the sky. You earn them by being visible, credible, and freakishly consistent. Especially in a market where homeowners are bombarded by “I have a buyer for your home” flyers from agents who couldn’t find their own name on the MLS.

So whether you’re brand new and wondering how to get listings as a new real estate agent, or a seasoned pro looking to reboot, these listing strategies are designed to work now – not five years ago when inventory was falling out of the sky.

1. Offer Cash Deals That Flip the Script

Want a shortcut to seller conversations that don’t start with “I’m just curious”? Offer them something no Zestimate ever will: an actual offer.

• Mention it in your mailers, ads, and open house flyers.
• Use it to stand out from other agents who are still pitching “free home evaluations” like it’s 2009.
• Let sellers know they have options – instant cash or a smarter listing strategy.

It’s a modern strategy for agents who want more real estate listings without begging.

2. Offer a Real Home Valuation (Not a Sad Zestimate Clone)

Everyone and their algorithm offers a home value. But when you show up with a 30-page custom CMA, neighborhood data, buyer trend insights, and a breakdown of ROI upgrades? Now you’re the expert – not the spammy postcard.

This strategy works whether you’re going after expireds, farming, or just trying to get a foot in the door.

• Promote your free in-depth home valuation across social, your farm, and landing pages.
• Make a clean QR code that drives people to a simple form (bonus points if it feeds straight into your CRM drip).
• Use visuals, charts, and real data. Show them their online home value is a guess. Your data is the strategy.

Want more listings? Offer more value than the robots.

3. Turn Open Houses into Listing Traps (The Good Kind)

Most agents treat open houses like a passive hope-fest. You? You’re about to turn them into lead machines.

Before the first looky-loo walks in, hit the pavement:

• Door knock the neighborhood with a one-page flyer: the home, the recent comps, and your QR code to join your market update email list or request a home valuation.
• Mention you’re the listing agent in the area, and you’re actively connecting with homeowners about upcoming inventory needs.
• Ask if they know anyone else thinking of selling – you’ll be surprised who spills the tea.

Spoiler: you’re not just holding an open house – you’re interviewing the block.

4. Rescue Expired Listings with Empathy (and a Game Plan)

Expired listings are the heartbreak kids of the MLS. Someone already wanted to sell – they just didn’t have the right agent (you know, like you).

If you want to know how to get expired listings in 2025, it starts with empathy, not ego.

5. Target FSBOs (a.k.a. For Sale But Still Very Unsold)

For Sale By Owner listings are like DIY haircuts – usually well-intentioned, sometimes passable, and often in need of professional help by week three.

FSBOs already made one key decision: they want to sell. That’s half the battle. They just don’t yet believe they need you… until their inbox fills with lowballs, scammers, and people asking if “rent-to-own” is an option.

This is where you step in – not with pressure, but with clarity and actual value.

• Build a FSBO-specific marketing kit with before/after listing photos, staging tips, pricing strategy breakdowns, testimonials, and a sample real estate listing presentation template.
• Offer easy-entry resources like a detailed CMA, home-selling checklist, or a newsletter that gives them real, actionable steps – without strings attached.
• Focus on what keeps them up at night: safety, time, liability, and paperwork nightmares. Let them know you’ve got it handled.

Follow up like a human. Consistently – but never pushy. Keep adding value. That way, when they’re finally ready to stop playing listing agent, you’re the first one they call.

6. Implement Geographic Farming (No, Not the Corn Kind)

Want to know how to get more listings in real estate without chasing random leads all over town? Pick a patch and dig in. Hard.

Geographic farming still works – if you do it like a marketer, not a mailman.

• Choose your farm based on turnover rate, neighborhood growth, and your own market familiarity. This is about smart strategy, not just convenience.
• Mailers should give real value – like recent real estate listings that sold nearby, equity updates, or seasonal prep tips.
• Be present offline too: block parties, PTA meetings, school functions. Show up, be helpful, don’t be weird.
• Double up by hosting open houses for other listings in your farm and door-knocking the block with market data and that same irresistible home valuation offer.

Track everything – mailers, events, ads. You’re not farming for likes; you’re farming for listings. And yes, it takes repetition. Think 11+ touches minimum before someone even thinks about calling you. Stay visible. Stay valuable. Stay consistent.

7. Turn Happy Clients into Walking, Talking Billboards

• After closing, deliver a thank-you card with a subtle referral line like, “Now accepting amazing humans you know who need to sell.”
• Don’t push right away, but circle back later with your latest promo – “If you know someone looking to sell, I’m currently covering seller’s insurance” or whatever you’re offering this month.
• Schedule an annual equity checkup with a fresh CMA and home update report. Remind them of their home’s value and your value at the same time.
• Celebrate their home-iversary. Drop by with a coffee or mail a card. Make it personal, not pitchy.

The key? Stay top of mind without being annoying. You’re not a pop-up ad. You’re the helpful friend who always knows what homes are worth.

8. Partner with Divorce Attorneys (The Quiet Goldmine)

If you want to get strategic about how to get listings as a real estate agent, look for professionals who know when someone’s about to sell – before anyone else does.

Enter: divorce attorneys.

• Start by building connections with local family and estate attorneys. Go to their networking events. Offer coffee, not contracts.
• Create a seller guide for divorce situations, or co-host a seminar with a legal pro who can walk through timelines and division strategies.
• Drop off sleek, non-cringey brochures at law offices that outline how you help sellers navigate tense transitions with empathy and results.

This is long game work – but the listings? They’re real, they’re often time-sensitive, and they need a listing agent who knows how to get things done without drama.

9. Host Seller Workshops That Don’t Feel Like Timeshares

Workshops and seminars are the ultimate credibility builder. You get to show off your expertise, earn trust face-to-face, and connect with would-be sellers who haven’t yet raised their hands.

But the key is making it about them, not a weird sales pitch.

Workshops not only give sellers clarity – they give you contact info, follow-up permission, and expert status. Total win.

10. Work Your Sphere Like a Pro (Not Like a Desperate Cousin)

Here’s a wild fact: most agents are sitting on a goldmine and don’t even realize it. If someone owns a home, they’re a future seller. Maybe not today – but someday. And if they already know you, that’s half the battle.

You don’t need to be salesy. You just need to be visible, valuable, and slightly less forgettable than their last agent who vanished after closing day.

• Send handwritten notes, birthday cards, or just a “thinking of you” text that doesn’t start with “just checking in…”
• Share real value: neighborhood sales updates, home equity estimates, and market trend emails that don’t make people’s eyes glaze over.
• Host low-key client events like happy hours, backyard BBQs, or coffee shop pop-ins.
• Schedule a quick “home equity check-in” every year – show them how much they’ve gained and offer a personalized CMA.

This is how you stay top of mind without being that agent. You’re not just building trust – you’re building a listing pipeline that doesn’t rely on strangers or cold calls.

11. Show Up at Local Events (and Talk Like a Human)

Want to know how to get listings as a new real estate agent? Step one: leave the house.

Local events – yes, even the ones with questionable lemonade and school choirs – are where real conversations happen. Because sellers aren’t looking for an agent when they’re ready… they’re looking for one they already know when the time comes.

• Set up a booth at fairs, festivals, or community yard sales. Offer something simple: a home valuation QR code, a “what’s your home worth?” flyer, or just free bottled water.
• Volunteer for local causes. Show you care about more than closing deals.
• Go to events even when you’re not promoting. Chat. Be seen. Be helpful.
• Collect contact info (nicely). Offer to add them to your monthly newsletter full of local tips, home equity insights, and fun facts – not just boring listings.

Real estate is still a relationship business. So put on your shoes, bring your smile, and maybe a few listing presentations in your trunk – just in case.

12. Partner with Local Businesses (Because Visibility = Trust)

Still wondering how to get more listings in real estate without blowing your budget? Collaborate instead of advertise.

Local businesses are also trying to build trust, get foot traffic, and look like community rockstars. That makes them ideal co-marketing partners.

Bonus: These businesses often know before you do who’s thinking about selling. Why? Because sellers vent about their life changes everywhere. Be the agent every business wants to refer.

13. Run Smart Ads That Speak to Sellers

Paid ads don’t have to feel like throwing money into the algorithm void. When done right, online advertising is one of the fastest ways to land real estate listings – especially if you use the right hook.

• Focus your offer around real value: a no-obligation cash offer, a free 30-page CMA, or a “What’s My Home Worth?” equity report.
• Run ads on platforms where your potential sellers actually hang out: Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, Google, and even LinkedIn.
• Target by zip code, home value, age, and life stage. A 62-year-old in a 4-bed suburban home? Yeah, they might be open to downsizing.
• Use video tours, carousel ads, or short punchy clips to grab attention fast.

Track performance weekly. Double down on what’s working. Kill what’s not. You’re not just spending ad dollars – you’re buying attention, seller conversations, and future commissions.

14. Tap Into Pre-Foreclosure Leads (the Right Way)

No, it’s not slimy. Done well, helping people in pre-foreclosure is one of the most ethical and impactful ways to build your business and help your community.

These homeowners are under stress. But they also need options – and most of them have no idea what those options are. Be the person who shows up with empathy and answers.

• Use tools like PropertyRadar or or follow DistressedPro’s four-step guide to secure foreclosure listings directly from banks.”
• Offer real solutions: short sales, fast cash offers, or a traditional listing with a timeline they can manage.
• Build relationships with foreclosure attorneys or financial counselors who can refer clients that are overwhelmed.
• Provide printed guides or a custom listing checklist for sellers in distress.

Show up not to pitch, but to help. Do that, and you won’t just earn listings – you’ll earn a reputation for being the agent who actually cares.

15. Leverage Social Media (Without Turning Into a Cringe Reels Influencer)

Social media doesn’t need to be a parade of pointing, lip syncing, or dancing (unless that’s your vibe – no judgment). What it does need is relevance, consistency, and a little humanity.

If you’re wondering how do you get listings as a real estate agent in today’s digital world – start here.

• Post weekly updates about the local market, like “3 homes sold in XYZ neighborhood last week under 7 days.”
• Share before and after staging photos, sold stats, or a behind-the-scenes look at your listing presentation prep.
• Get in on neighborhood Facebook groups, local Reddit threads, and Nextdoor conversations.
• Ask for engagement: “Curious what your home is worth now?” or “Want to see what your neighbor’s home just sold for?”

Stay real, helpful, and just the right amount of visible. Social media isn’t magic. It’s just a modern version of door-knocking – with way better reach.

You Don’t Need Luck – You Need Leverage

There you have it: 15 no-fluff strategies for how to get listings as a real estate agent. Whether you’re chasing expireds, building a referral engine, or running smart ads, the truth is this: listings go to the agents who show up, follow up, and back it all with real strategy. For more great ideas to up your game, be sure to check out our Agent Success Hub and other ideas to get clients.

And here’s the part most agents miss – you don’t have to do this alone.

At eXp Realty, and especially with sponsor Smart Agent Alliance, you get powerhouse FREE sponsor team that actually helps you implement this stuff – so you don’t spend another month reinventing the wheel or staring at your CRM like it owes you a favor.

Smart Agent Alliance: Where Your Listings (and Revenue) Get a Boost

Most agents join eXp for the training or tech – but the ones who thrive? They figure out how to tap into eXp’s revenue share model. That’s where Smart Agent Alliance comes in. We’ll help you attract agents, grow passive income, and build a business that pays you long after the deal closes.  Curious what you could earn in passive income?
Play with the revenue share calculator here.

And, with SAA, you get two FREE value-packed sponsor teams because we’re part of the Wolf Pack, one of the highest-producing teams at eXp, with access to:

• Elite coaching like Mike Sherrard’s Social Agent Academy Pro
• Live mastermind calls and marketing breakdowns every week
• Women-led masterminds and collaborative culture (not a hype group – we actually help each other)

Why try to do this solo when there’s a team already doing the heavy lifting – for you?

Learn more about eXp Realty and  Smart Agent Alliance today. Your future self will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get listings as a real estate agent?

You get listings by building trust, showing market expertise, and following up consistently. Use strategies like home valuations, expired listing outreach, geographic farming, and referral systems.

How do new real estate agents get listings?

New agents can get listings by leveraging their sphere of influence, offering free value (like a CMA), and focusing on areas with high turnover. Visibility + consistency = traction.

What is the fastest way to get more listings in real estate?

The fastest way is to offer cash deals or in-depth CMAs to spark conversations. Focus on sellers who’ve already shown interest – like FSBOs, expireds, or pre-foreclosures.

What is a listing presentation in real estate?

A listing presentation is your pitch to a homeowner about why they should hire you. It should include market data, pricing strategy, staging help, and your full marketing plan.

Is it better to work with buyers or sellers in real estate?

Most top agents prefer working with sellers. Listings offer more control, better leverage, and generate inbound buyer leads – helping you scale faster with less chaos.