Insights from Megan Beechen of Realty Executives: 30 Under 30 Honoree

“It’s pretty challenging to get someone who is three times your age to trust you to handle what is likely to be the most important investment of their lives. By proving that I know what I am doing and what I am talking about, I eliminate any doubts my clients might have had about my age.”

--Megan Beechen, Realty Executives Elite Millennial Agent Who is KILLING it in Real Estate

What does it take to beat out hundreds of other broker and agent candidates across the United States and rack up a spot in REALTOR® Magazine’s 2019 Class of 30 Under 30?

For Megan Beechen of Realty Executives Elite in Lemont, Illinois, the answer is simple, albeit not easy.

“I work hard. This job is not for everyone. It’s important to realize that if you don’t put in the work, you won’t see the results... I’ve never expected business to just fall into my lap. I know to be successful in any career, you have to give it all you’ve got,” said Megan, who started her real estate career at just 22 years of age and in less than five years has grown into a multi-million dollar producer with a thriving real estate business. Her latest accolade comes from REALTOR® Magazine, naming Beechen among just 30 young professional honorees in the May-June issue of REALTOR® Magazine.

It helps when you have a laser focus on where you are going and know who you want to take along with you on the journey: top-notch mentors and colleagues who add up to an overall killer office culture.

“I have been licensed since 2014. I graduated from DePaul University on a Sunday and jumped right into my accelerated pre-licensing class the following Monday morning. It’s been nearly five years now and I’ve never looked back,” Megan said.

Megan Beechen closed 33 transactions in 2018 totaling over $8.3 million in sales volume. Her first quarter of 2019 was significantly better than Q1 of 2018, so she is anticipating another record-breaking year. For peers looking to break into the business, Megan clues us in on how she’s achieved success and staying on track to break her own records:

• Get a Mentor -- “I have some really great mentors, one of whom is a $60+ million dollar producer in our office. From day one, I’ve tried to do everything I could to learn from her, mimic her, and identify what she does differently that has made her so successful. I have taken so much advice from my mentors and implemented it into my own business. Having the right mentors on your side is crucial.”

• Treat Your Business Like a Business -- “Right from the beginning, I knew that I had to invest in myself and my business in order to make it work. This is no easy task when you are just starting out, and the costs of doing business (right) are exponential in our industry. I spend thousands of dollars a month on marketing both myself and my listings. Presenting my listings properly ends up working in my favor, because the public starts to recognize that I take my marketing seriously and do it right. My marketing is a representation of me.”

• Be Prepared -- “For sellers, I show up with a binder (yes, a binder) of information about me, my marketing plan, and all the necessary data about a seller’s marketplace. For buyers, I show up with a binder about my recommended professionals, information about the properties they might be interested in, and other pertinent information. When all is said and done, my clients know that I know what I am doing. Starting out so young was definitely an uphill battle, but it made me the expert that I am because I simply couldn’t afford to be any other way."

• Mind The Company You Keep -- “My brokerage is composed of really great, hardworking, dedicated real estate professionals. We all have similar mindsets, and so learning from those around me has been so beneficial to my business. Having a strong, international brand like Realty Executives behind my name was very helpful when I was that brand new 22 year old REALTOR® and I feel that the brand gave me credibility when I needed it. We have a strong presence in our community.  I am also very involved in our local association, the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®. I serve on multiple committees, including the Education Advisory Committee, Government Affairs Committee, and Young Professional Network (of which I am currently the 2018-2019 Chair). I strive to make other REALTORS® better, as well, and I am happy to give back to the industry that has given so much to me.”

Although there is no substitute for hard work, finding a mentor, developing the right mindset and putting down roots in a nurturing environment all came more naturally to Megan because of her alignment with Realty Executives Elite.

“Our office is very different from most others. We truly are like a family. While most other offices are competitive, we strive to help each other out whenever we can. I know my colleagues would help me anytime I need it. They all contributed to my success in that first year, with so much advice on what has worked for their business. I don’t think you’ll find that at most other offices. In turn, I now strive to help any new agents that come into our office and give them as much guidance as I can. This helpful, collaborative structure we’ve developed here at Realty Executives Elite has made us all better and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Megan explained.